Delaware, PA: Community Health Initiative
• Black Americans make up 13% of the United States population, but account for over 50% of all new cases of HIV.
• Almost 70% of all newly diagnosed HIV positive women in the United States are black women.
• AIDS is the leading cause of death for black women ages 25 to 34 and black men ages 35 to 44, according to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
Churches are traditionally the most powerful source of political and social activism in black communities in America and Pastor John Mitchell of the Lighthouse Community Church in Delaware County, Pennsylvania is taking full advantage of that fact. Using CHARACTER COUNTS! as a framework for instruction he is educating his congregation and community on the realities of AIDS and HIV infection.
Delaware County ranks third among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties for the number of AIDS cases. “The demographics of our community are African-American and it’s the African American community that is less knowledgeable about what’s going on,” said Mitchell.
A Common Vernacular
He is expanding the church’s after-school CC! program, the Lighthouse Academy, into the church community as one tactic in his fight against AIDS. After attending the CDS training last year, Pastor Mitchell recognized that the vocabulary and ethics of CC! and the Six Pillars was essentially the core of the gospel. “The Six Pillars are aspects we all want whether consciously or unconsciously, even gang-bangers and drug dealers want respect,” Pastor Mitchell said.
• Almost 70% of all newly diagnosed HIV positive women in the United States are black women.
• AIDS is the leading cause of death for black women ages 25 to 34 and black men ages 35 to 44, according to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
Churches are traditionally the most powerful source of political and social activism in black communities in America and Pastor John Mitchell of the Lighthouse Community Church in Delaware County, Pennsylvania is taking full advantage of that fact. Using CHARACTER COUNTS! as a framework for instruction he is educating his congregation and community on the realities of AIDS and HIV infection.
Delaware County ranks third among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties for the number of AIDS cases. “The demographics of our community are African-American and it’s the African American community that is less knowledgeable about what’s going on,” said Mitchell.
A Common Vernacular
He is expanding the church’s after-school CC! program, the Lighthouse Academy, into the church community as one tactic in his fight against AIDS. After attending the CDS training last year, Pastor Mitchell recognized that the vocabulary and ethics of CC! and the Six Pillars was essentially the core of the gospel. “The Six Pillars are aspects we all want whether consciously or unconsciously, even gang-bangers and drug dealers want respect,” Pastor Mitchell said.
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