RAIN/ AIDS ministry
Mission: RAIN engages the community to transform
lives and promote respect and dignity for all people touched by the
AIDS crisis through compassionate care, education and leadership
development.
Services:
CareTeams
CareTeams are groups of individuals from congregations or other
caring groups who are trained by RAIN to support to persons living
with HIV/AIDS. CareTeams provide practical, emotional, spiritual
support to CarePartners (individual living with HIV/AIDS). CareTeams
can provide assistance to one or more CarePartners or can provide
specialized tasks such as: Transportation, Pastoral
Care/Companionship or Events.
Prevention
Education and HIV/AIDS Awareness
RAIN provides prevention education and awareness about HIV and
related psychosocial issues of living with HIV/AIDS to faith and
community groups, young people and clergy. Formats vary including
presentations, CareTeam trainings, Red Ribbon Days and pastoral
summits. Specialized program are offered on spiritual and pastoral
issues related to HIV/AIDS.
Pastoral
Services
RAIN provides pastoral support in area medical clinics, hospitals,
extended care facilities, in the individual's home and by telephone.
RAIN also offers support groups for individuals living with HIV/AIDS
and worship services.
Minority
Programs
RAIN hosts the nation’s largest minority CareTeam program. The
Minority program targets the African American community through
African American congregations. RAIN is a national partner with the
Balm in Gilead
and sponsors the Black Church Week of Pray for the Healing of AIDS.
The minority program staff hosts Pastors Summits providing
culturally appropriate theology training for ministers and lay
leaders.
Advocacy
Congregations play a leading role in Southern communities, where
messages from the pulpit influence policy makers, human service
organizations and the ordinary person. RAIN engages the religious
community in conversations about HIV/AIDS and encourages a theology
of love and care for all persons affirming their inherent worth and
dignity in the face of social structures and policies that too often
overlook or deny their needs.
History:
Since 1992, RAIN has:
-
Provided 101,441 volunteer hours to people
living with HIV/AIDS,
-
Reached 29,000 individuals with HIV Prevention
Educational Presentations,
-
Assisted over 525 individuals living with
HIV/AIDS and their families,
-
Trained 2, 500 individuals to serve on
CareTeams,
-
Coordinated programs in 100 different
congregations from 20 denominations & faith traditions, in 13
counties in North & South Carolina.
National
Recognition:
-
Search for Common Ground: Community Peace
Building Award 2004
-
Leadership For A Changing World: 2002 Recipient
-
AIDS & Religion in America Convention: The Carter Presidential
Center, Atlanta, GA
-
Presbyterian Church CareTeam Conference, Atlanta, GA
-
U.S Conference on AIDS:
Miami
, FL;
Washington,
DC; Denver,
CO; and Anaheim, CA
Local
Recognition:
-
Charlotte Observer: Organizations to be
Thankful for in 2003
-
Nancy Susan Reynolds Personal Service Award
2003 Finalist
-
National AIDS Fund: Caring Count Award for
youth peer HIV/AIDS Education and community leadership
-
North Carolina Governor’s Award Volunteer
Appreciation Award for Distinguished Community Service in the
fight against HIV/AIDS
-
Unsung Hero’s and Heroines Award: South
Carolina HIV/STD Conference
-
Regional HIV/AIDS Consortium: Community Service
Award
Publications:
HIV
Plus:Preaching for the Seroconverted
A&U
Divinity: Duke University
Film/Video
Featured in
“God Cares, We Care: Congregations Concerned about HIV/AIDS”,
produced by the office of Health Ministries,
Presbyterian Church,
USA
United Methodist Television: Feature Story 2003
Partnerships: Balm in Gilead
For information contact Margot
Morgan at (704) 545-8715
mdmorgan@carolina.rr.com .
