Members of the Anguilla Community Action Network (ACAN) and the National AIDS Committee attended Sunday Morning Worship service at Destiny Church on Sunday February 9th, 2014 and made several presentations to the congregation there. In his welcome statement, Pastor Gareth Hodge stated that the ministry of the church, and therefore of Destiny Church, while being primarily about spiritual things, was a holistic ministry which must deal with all aspects of one’s life, including his/her health, social, financial and emotional well-being. As such, he was happy to have what he hoped was the first of many such presentations at Destiny Church.
Mr. John (Pow) Lake, CEO and Director of the Anguilla Community Action Network (ACAN), who is a Community Educator on HIV/AIDS, spoke first about his experiences and about initiatives which his network has been undertaking to spread awareness about this subject throughout Anguilla. He challenged the church to take up the battle, stating that HIV/AIDS is in the church, and (as Pastor Hodge had stated) the church’s mission includes dealing with those infected and affected with HIV/AIDS as well as educating its members about the issue. In this regard, Mr. Lake stated that a Pastor’s Workshop is being organized for February 25th, 2014. He apologized for the unavoidable absence of Ms. Kim Cutler from the Governor’s Office which has been providing finance for Project HOPE in collaboration with ACAN and the National AIDS Programme. The objective of Project HOPE, as he explained, is to break the silence and stigma of HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses in a way that will inspire hope and behavioural change for persons infected and affected – this through education, community support, development of pycho-social support, training and advocacy.
Mrs. Pamela Fleming, Director and Assistant CEO of ACAN, and a pre-school teacher, spoke next, and presented a statistical picture of HIV/AIDS in Anguilla, and the need for behavioual changes particularly among young people. Mrs. Ronya Foy-Connor, Gender Affairs Coordinator in the Ministry of Home Affairs, spoke about the need to end the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS, and about gender-based discrimination and discrimination and abuse in general. She noted that that morning’s Sunday School lesson at Destiny Church delivered by Mrs. Ethne Richardson had in fact dealt with the same subject of not discriminating against others based on their circumstances, and therefore her message was founded on scriptural principles. Her emphasis was on domestic violence and the impact abusers could have on the spread of HIV/AIDS in the community.
Other members of the visiting group were Ms. Michel Wilson and Mrs. Ludencia Davy-Maronie and members of their families. The visit to Destiny Church was among similar visits being organized through the efforts of Pastor Dexter welcome, who is ACAN’s Chaplain. Following the presentations, Pastor Hodge thanked the visiting group, and stated that the presentations were very timely, and well received by the Destiny Church congregation.
– Contributed
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
