Faith in Action in Philadelphia

Greater Than AIDS, in partnership with Philly Faith in Action, is launching the first Greater Than AIDS faith focused campaign in Philadelphia with billboard placements starting September 3, 2012. The Greater Than AIDS public service announcements will be featured in the greater Philadelphia area and highlight the importance of HIV testing. To find free and low cost testing near you, including in the Philadelphia area, visit hivtest.cdc.gov. Free testing is also available on weekdays at the following two locations in Philadelphia.

Health Center 1
1400 Lombard Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146
215-685-6570

Health Center 5
1920 North 20th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19121
215-685-2930

In addition to billboards, the new faith focused media campaign includes videos from each pastor. Learn more about the faith leaders representing the campaign below:

Pastor Alyn Waller, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church

Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller has been the Senior Pastor of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, which has more than 15,000 members, in Philadelphia for 17 years. Dr. Waller is a passionate advocate in the fight against HIV/AIDS and a renowned revivalist, lecturer, author and musician. Dr. Waller established the Enon-Coulter Community Development Corporation, a non-profit community development corporation that provides educational and support services to children and families. Under Dr. Waller’s leadership, ECDC sponsors innovative programs, including a pre-school preparatory program for neighborhood children, an after school advanced computer program for teens, and a Christian summer camp.

Pastor Arthur White, Christ Community Baptist Church

Pastor Arthur White has served the Christ Community Baptist Church in the East Parkside Community of West Philadelphia for the last 31 years. He has been involved in HIV/AIDS prevention in West Philadelphia for the last seven years. Pastor White has served as the President of The Baptist Minister’s Conference of Philadelphia and Vicinity, President of the Pennsylvania Baptist State Convention, Inc, and is presently one of the Assistant Deans of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, an Auxiliary of The National Baptist Convention. He has been married to Thelma for 40 years and has three daughters, two sons-in law, and three grandchildren.

Brother Rafiyq Friend, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

Brother Rafiyq Friend is a lifelong Philadelphia resident. Rafiyq has been involved in grass root organizing and community activism for the last 35 years. He became involved with the inter-faith community over 10 years ago. His recent efforts include participating with Philadelphia Mayor Nutter’s Office of Faith Based Initiatives to raise HIV awareness with other faith leaders from across the city. Rafiyq has worked as a Judicial Aide to Philadelphia Judge Honorable Craig M. Washington for the last 13 years and has been married to his wife Hasina for 20 years.

Pastor Jonathan Ford, Taylor Tabernacle

Born and raised in the Germantown and Mt. Airy sections of Philadelphia and educated in the city’s finest educational institutions, Pastor Jonathan Ford is a true Philadelphia son. He is the pastor at Taylor Tabernacle and has been charged with leading the church into the twenty-first century. Pastor Ford also serves as the executive director of Turning the TIDE, a technology and employment training center operated as a separate non-profit subsidiary of the church. Under Pastor Ford’s leadership, Turning the Tide has also become one of the leading faith-based organizations providing HIV/AIDS education (including counseling and rapid-testing services) in the city of Philadelphia. In addition, Pastor Ford is the managing partner for Urban Harvest Partnership, LLC, a U.S. Small Business Administration certified firm specializing in wireless technology solutions for commercial businesses and municipalities across the country.

If you are the leader of a faith community, there are many ways you can be Greater Than AIDS and help address HIV/AIDS in your community:

Knowing>Doubt- Know the facts about HIV/AIDS.
Talking>Silence-Spread the word about regular HIV testing
Support>Stigma-Help Support those with HIV/AIDS through outreach ministries
Take Action by promoting HIV testing in sermons and outreach. Educate your community.

If you are a member of a faith community that is working against HIV/AIDS in your area, share your story with the Greater Than AIDS Facebook community of more than 200,000 people! Join the movement here.