HIV/AIDS in the Church, Pastor Tackles Tough Topic
Sacramento Mega-church Lead Pastor Rick Cole of Capital Christian Center has a tough task in front of him. He must communicate hope on what was once considered a taboo subject from the pulpit. The HIV/AIDS pandemic will be the topic his Sunday sermon concluding with an offer of free and confidential HIV/AIDS testing from Sacramento Center For AIDS Research, Education and Services (CARES).
Sacramento, CA, November 30, 2008 --(PR.com)-- In recognition of World AIDS Day, Capital Christian Center will tackle the global HIV/AIDS pandemic on Sunday November 30, 2008. Pastor Rick Cole will present Mary and the Box – a multimedia sermon designed to de-stigmatize the disease.
Cole believes the price may be criticism for tackling such a tough issue. At the same time, he is no stranger to controversy. Many Sunday’s, protestors line the streets leading to Capital Christian Center, a church of more than 4,000. The picketers are usually part of fringe religious groups that do not believe Cole’s message of grace, hope and inclusion contain a strong enough confrontation of “sin.” Regardless, Cole continues to bring cutting edge and often once taboo issues to the pulpit.
Sunday’s presentation, Mary and the Box will be no different. Cole and other members of his staff recently visited a Sacramento AIDS Clinic where they were tested for HIV with a rapid response test. His hope is to help remove the stigma and anxiety that comes with being tested for HIV/AIDS and stir his congregation to include AIDS Clinics as places to volunteer.
A portion of Cole’s Sunday message will include Sue’s story. Sue is a 60-year-old heterosexual white woman. In 1993, following a devastating divorce, she contracted HIV from a boyfriend. Given three years to live, instead of harboring ill will toward him, Sue cared for him until he died. Sixteen years later, Sue still lives with HIV. She has no major symptoms of AIDS and has lived far beyond what doctors projected. Sue’s story is one of forgiveness and grace.
As a woman infected with this deadly virus, Sue has asked one thing of the faith community- “just love me”. On November 30, Sue will go public with her diagnosis…for the very first time.
In addition to the message Mary and the Box, Capital Christian Center is partnering with Sacramento Center For AIDS Research, Education and Services (CARES) to provide free AIDS testing after the presentation.
Capital Christian Center is located in Sacramento, California and has three Sunday morning services, 8:00, 9:30, and 11:15 AM.
Interviews with Rick Cole and Sue (last name withheld) are available on Sunday and Monday, World AIDS Day.
For more information, please call 1-866-31-REACH or visit them online at www.ccconline.cc
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Cole believes the price may be criticism for tackling such a tough issue. At the same time, he is no stranger to controversy. Many Sunday’s, protestors line the streets leading to Capital Christian Center, a church of more than 4,000. The picketers are usually part of fringe religious groups that do not believe Cole’s message of grace, hope and inclusion contain a strong enough confrontation of “sin.” Regardless, Cole continues to bring cutting edge and often once taboo issues to the pulpit.
Sunday’s presentation, Mary and the Box will be no different. Cole and other members of his staff recently visited a Sacramento AIDS Clinic where they were tested for HIV with a rapid response test. His hope is to help remove the stigma and anxiety that comes with being tested for HIV/AIDS and stir his congregation to include AIDS Clinics as places to volunteer.
A portion of Cole’s Sunday message will include Sue’s story. Sue is a 60-year-old heterosexual white woman. In 1993, following a devastating divorce, she contracted HIV from a boyfriend. Given three years to live, instead of harboring ill will toward him, Sue cared for him until he died. Sixteen years later, Sue still lives with HIV. She has no major symptoms of AIDS and has lived far beyond what doctors projected. Sue’s story is one of forgiveness and grace.
As a woman infected with this deadly virus, Sue has asked one thing of the faith community- “just love me”. On November 30, Sue will go public with her diagnosis…for the very first time.
In addition to the message Mary and the Box, Capital Christian Center is partnering with Sacramento Center For AIDS Research, Education and Services (CARES) to provide free AIDS testing after the presentation.
Capital Christian Center is located in Sacramento, California and has three Sunday morning services, 8:00, 9:30, and 11:15 AM.
Interviews with Rick Cole and Sue (last name withheld) are available on Sunday and Monday, World AIDS Day.
For more information, please call 1-866-31-REACH or visit them online at www.ccconline.cc
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Contact
Capital Christian Center
Jason Harper
1-866-31-REACH
www.ccconline.cc
Jason Harper
1-866-31-REACH
www.ccconline.cc
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