2007 Honorable Mention
Heirs Covenant Church of Cincinnati
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Recognized for providing testing and other services to 8,000 homeless, ethnic minorities, incarcerated youth and adults and the underserved who are unable to afford HIV/AIDS services in the Cincinnati area. |
Name and location: Heirs Covenant Church, Cincinnati, Ohio
Denomination: Non-denominational
Pastor: John Stevenson
Date Founded: 1997
Total Church Membership: 300
Website: www.4charis.com
Outstanding Involvement and Effectiveness in the Fight Against AIDS:
Heirs Covenant Church, through its ministry, Compassionate Hearts, Assisting, Rebuilding, Instructing, and Serving (IV CHARIS) conducts HIV testing, counseling and education in the Cincinnati inner city. It is the only faith-based organization in Cincinnati that has been certified by the state of Ohio to perform these services. Since 2001, more than 8,000 individuals have been tested for HIV and more than 2,000 youth ages 10-18 have participated in abstinence education programs. Funding for IV CHARIS comes from grants from the Ohio Department of Health, as well as local organizations, and with only two full-time staff, much of the direct services are delivered by individuals who have volunteered more than 10,000 hours over the past seven years.
Impact on the Congregation:
The congregation of Heirs Covenant Church believes that the church is not only responsible for ministering to the needs of the poor and under-served, but that it is also a biblical mandate to serve individuals in need. Education and training sessions for church members are on-going, and volunteers for IV CHARIS are recruited from the congregation. Moreover, more than 10 percent of the church’s budget is devoted to this ministry.
Pastor’s Quote: “All of us are affected by HIV/AIDS. ... This health ministry has allowed the membership to serve as Jesus served, ministering to today’s outcasts, people living with HIV and AIDS. The membership (of the church) has become immersed in the struggle of the AIDS crisis, and has accepted this health ministry as a way of life in terms of what it means to be a Christian.”
Comment from the Judges: “With the spotlight often shining on Sub-Saharan Africa, it is easy to lose sight of the impact of AIDS on some of America’s poorest neighborhoods and families. Heirs Covenant Church provides desperately needed testing, education and prevention programming where it is needed most.”
