Focus Text: Acts 9:36-43
Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.”

Pastoral Reflection by Rev. Carolyn McClendon, Director, Alliance of AIDS Services
Raleigh In the past twenty-five years, the face of the AIDS epidemic in this country has shifted dramatically. Initially, gay white men were most identified with the epidemic. Today, the reality is that HIV looks like all of us – regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, or faith tradition. The epidemic is growing most rapidly, however, among minorities who have historically experienced a higher risk for poverty, lack of health insurance, co-morbidity, and disenfranchisement from the health care system. The result is a growing number of individuals living with HIV disease who are living at or below the federal poverty level and who have limited or no access to life-saving, life-extending medications.

Personal Vignette by John Paul Womble
So, today in this arena let me say: I am 38 years old and have been HIV positive thirteen years. I have worked in the field of HIV/AIDS for many years and am now the Director of Development and Public Affairs for the largest AIDS service organization in North Carolina. And I am still in the fight of my life, for your life and the world as a whole…

Key Fact
About 33,000 North Carolinians are living with HIV/AIDS right now.

Image adapted from original by Lel4nd at http://www.flickr.com/photos/22779530@N02/3985490626/