KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Instead of preaching from the pulpit, pastors were on parade Saturday, shouting from the street to urge people to get tested for HIV and AIDS.
They call it a “parade of healing” and they’re hoping their message of safe sex will spread faster than the AIDS epidemic. Organizers used a hearse and coffin to lead the precession.
Rev. Eric Williams who organized the event says his organization, the Calvary Community Outreach Network, received push back for its aids awareness efforts when it began in the 1990’s.
Despite the flap, Rev. Williams says he pushed forward with his message about unprotected sex, because people are becoming infected with HIV at alarming rates.
In fact according to Williams’ network, African American women between the ages of 25 and 44 make up 68-percent of the people who are newly infected with HIV in the Kansas City metro area.
If you don’t know your HIV status, organizers of the parade of healing says it’s time to get tested. For more information, call the KC Care Clinic at (816) 777-2787.
Related Link:
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