March 7, 2011

CLEVELAND, OH – The United Church of Christ, in conjunction with the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS (March 6-12, 2011), is holding a press conference to announce the online release of "Affirming Persons, Saving Lives," its faith-based comprehensive HIV prevention curriculum, as a free digital download.

Scheduled for 2:00pm in the Amistad Chapel of the UCC's national headquarters at 700 Prospect Ave E in Cleveland, the press conference will feature Pernessa Seele, founder and CEO of the Balm In Gilead, Inc. – a Richmond, Va.-based health advocacy group, the press conference will demonstrate Cleveland's participation in the 2011 National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS and launch "Affirming Persons, Saving Lives" as a digital resource.

The National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is the inclusive, expansion of the highly successful Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, which concluded its 20th year anniversary in 2009.

"As we march into the second decade of this extraordinary millennium, our country continues to be at war with a virus," Seele said in a letter to supporters. "Right now in this moment, I invite all believers to step forward beyond the walls that divide us into the circle of conscious prayer for the healing of AIDS."

Cuyahoga County reports 4,176 persons living with HIV (December 2008) and the epidemic is growing, especially among young people and disproportionately among people of color.

"Education is a vital component of stopping HIV and caring for those affected," said the Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer, Executive Director of UCAN, the United Church of Christ HIV and AIDS Network, which provided significant support to the project. "During this week when faith communities around the country are praying for the healing of AIDS, we want to share information and a very practical resource that people can use to help stop this epidemic now."

The curriculum deals forthrightly with the many complex issues that must be addressed to save lives, responding to the real concerns of real people facing the realities of HIV and AIDS. Designed for multi-cultural Christian education settings, the resource can be adapted for use by health and human service institutions, schools, health departments and community based organizations. People of every age can use this curriculum to get the information they need to make healthy and responsible decisions about their lives and their relationships.

United Church of Christ News Service