Pastors Lead the Way in HIV Testing
By Joy Hurlow

Many people look to the church for what is culturally and socially acceptable.  Pastors and church leaders, in particular, have a great responsibility to care for their members in all areas of life.  While often times people come to church for their spiritual needs the church really is a place for the whole person – spiritual, social, emotional, mental, as well as physical.  For this reason the church needs to lead the way in encouraging people to be tested for HIV.   Pastors can play a huge role in educating their communities on treatment and life saving practices in many different ways.  There are many things a pastor can do to make their church a safe place to talk about HIV, to encourage people to be tested, and to provide support for people who are HIV positive. 

Often times people do not want to face realities in their lives that may be painful or areas where they may be rejected.  Many people have been involved in situations where they have been exposed to HIV; and yet even if people do not think they have been exposed to HIV, it is important for everyone to be tested.

Being tested for HIV can help reduce the spread of the virus because people become more educated about how HIV is transmitted.  In addition, if a person finds out they are positive they are able to get treatment and reduce the spread of HIV.  If a person finds out they are negative they want to stay negative and will likely reduce risky behavior where they may be exposed to HIV.

HIV is a highly relational disease.  Most people have gotten HIV as a result of intravenous drug use, by a sexual interaction with a person who is positive, by child birth or breast feeding from an HIV positive mother to her child.  Due to the intimate ways HIV is transmitted, it is important for people to have a safe place to find out their status, and to walk through life with people who will love and accept them the same way that Jesus does. 

There is a lot of stigma that is socially associated with HIV all over the world, and yet, it is not a sin to be sick.  The role of the pastor in talking about HIV is very crucial to the health of their community and to the social acceptance of individuals who are infected or affected by HIV.  The only way for people to know if they are HIV positive is to be tested.  Since most people in the United States have strong immune systems many people go years before they start feeling the effects of HIV.  When pastors take an active role in educating and caring for their communities in regards to HIV, incredible healing can take place.

Pastors can:
- Have a message on God’s compassion for the sick.
- Discuss the ways Jesus responded to the sick people He encountered.
- Use illustrations and applications on how to care for those who are HIV positive.
- Have someone who is infected or affected with HIV give a testimony.
- Offer to go with people to get tested.
- Set up a testing site at their church.
- Show an educational movie about HIV. 
- Be tested publically to set the example of the importance of testing as well as to reduce the stigma associated with HIV.
- Set up ministry opportunities to serve at a local AIDS service foundation.
- Visit people who are HIV positive in the hospital.
- Encourage jail ministries and support groups for people who are HIV positive. 
- Offer food assistance to people who are positive.

Most people do know someone who is HIV positive – yet they often do not know the person is positive because they are not considered to be a “safe” person. Many people do not expect the church to get involved with HIV because it is a disease that historically has had a lot of controversy surrounding it.  The church has many times turned its back on these important discussions thus leaving a huge void in society.  It is time for the church to take its place again and truly care for those infected and affected by HIV.   Pastors and church leaders need to take a stand and lead the way for people to honestly face the reality of HIV by encouraging people to be tested and to walk with people through every area of their lives.