Chicago Tribune - April 30, 2007
Jeff Long, jjlong@tribune.com, Tribune staff reporter

"HIV and AIDS is the leprosy of the new millennium," he said, as many church members nodded in agreement, some murmuring, "Amen!"

"It is an epidemic in our community," Jenkins said. "It's affecting people all around us, every day."

Jenkins' message echoed from pulpits at nearly 100 black churches throughout Chicago, according to organizers of I Need You to Survive Sunday.

Despite comprising about 13 percent of the U.S. population, African-Americans represented nearly half of all new HIV/AIDS cases in 2005, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Chicago-based Let's Talk, Let's Test Foundation organized Sunday's coordinated pitch by pastors across several denominations.

The collection plate was passed at the churches to help programs that raise HIV/AIDS awareness in Chicago's black community, according to Let's Talk co-founder Lloyd Kelly.

In 2000, Kelly helped state Rep. Constance Howard (D-Chicago) put together a town hall meeting about the effects of HIV and AIDS on the black community. They had hoped for a large turnout, having reached out to 85,000 residents of Howard's district, which stretches from South Side neighborhoods to parts of Burnham, Calumet City and Lansing.

Twenty-seven people showed up.

"That was an eye-opener," Kelly said.

It also helped explain the disproportionate AIDS statistics among African-Americans, he said.

"That's the way people thought about the disease -- 'It doesn't affect me,'" Kelly said. "'That's on the North Side of Chicago, in Boystown.'"

Ignorance isn't bliss, Kelly said. Ignoring AIDS helped it spread throughout the community.

Getting black churches such as Fellowship Missionary Baptist to help educate people has been a huge step forward, he said.

Jenkins said before Sunday's service that his church has had an HIV/AIDS ministry for about four years, working to help people infected with the virus or living with the disease find the assistance they need. On some Sundays after services, HIV tests are available.

Members of the church have been supportive, Jenkins said. And some who have been tested learned they were infected with HIV.

"The church is that place to be empowered and encouraged," he said.

Providing information and help like the testing is at the core of what any church should be about, Jenkins said.

"Jesus wasn't just concerned about people spiritually," Jenkins said. "He was concerned about people physically too, and emotionally.

"Jesus didn't move away. He moved in when people were dealing with all kinds of circumstances."

Jenkins praised members of his church and others such as Kelly who have helped bring the issue to the attention of church leaders.

"You can be slow to speak when you're not informed," Jenkins said. "If it's not put on your plate, you're not going to be concerned with it."

Sunday's special collections will help with organization of the fifth annual African-American HIV/AIDS Walk, Run and Bike Ride on May 19. It will stretch from Tuley Park at 90th Street and King Drive to Washington Park at 57th Street and King.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m., and the walk will begin at 11. There also will be a health fair and HIV tests available, Jenkins said. For more information, call 773-821-2795 or visit ltltfoundation.org.

"The insidiousness of this disease is that you don't know who has it, and if there isn't regular testing it can spread exponentially," Kelly said.
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