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Dear Pastor: I have HIV
A reader shared this with us. Because of concerns for his family, he asked that his identity not be revealed.
Dear pastor,
I am a person with HIV. I have accepted this fact and have decided to take responsibility for my health and well-being.
Yes, I was deeply hurt and frightened when I received my diagnosis. However, my pain and fear have been overshadowed by God's grace and love!
I no longer fear this disease or am fearful about the future and what God's plan is for me.
That said, I would hope you will not be afraid to talk with me or ask how I am doing or how God is using me – because he is. And the life I have now, as strange as it seems, I would not trade for the world.
So don't feel as though you have to tiptoe around me; don’t hesitate to ask me to be involved or to just hang out and talk.
I'm an open book, so speaking for myself, you can ask anything you would ask anyone else about their health. I will probably tell you more than you asked for because I am passionate about my desire to tell my story so others may benefit.
I don't feel ill. I work full-time. I'm very active, and I dream of and strive for a reasonably happy and productive life, in the same ways a person without HIV does.
I'm not a poster child, but rather one of God's trophies of grace and love!
We must endeavor to make the church a safe and accepting place for people with all diseases, including HIV, Hepatitis C, and cancer.
Please help remove the stigma, because if HIV has not affected your congregation yet, stay tuned, it will – probably sooner than you think.
Here’s a suggestion for your church’s ministry to those with HIV/AIDS: Educate yourselves about community resources and access to care and counseling. I have just found a free source for my medicine which costs $1,000 per month without insurance. There are tremendous resources available that will help you make your church a real source of help and hope to those newly diagnosed, unemployed, underinsured, or not insured.
If I could, I would give you a hug and pray that God would help you overcome any fear you have about reaching out to all of his children.
God bless,
A fellow follower of Jesus
“The Spirit is life! The flesh counts for nothing.” John 6:63
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