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Of the estimated 40,000 new HIV infections each year, more than 50 percent occur among African Americans. To address this shocking statistic, Hughes UMC in Washington, created a ministry to serve as a resource center for Ward 7 and the entire D.C. metropolitan area.

Hughes Hope now serves the infected and the affected.

The ministry began in 2006, when we began to lift the issue of HIV/AIDS from the status of taboo and denial and raised a greater awareness on the issue within the congregation through preaching, testimonies, candlelight vigils and observance of special occasions.

We wanted to let others know that our church is equipped and ready to talk about HIV/AIDS and to offer a place of worship, spiritual nurture and Christian fellowship for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. This is our mission and we began to speak to the issue within the limits of our church budget.
 
Then God opened a door for us to explore funding through partnerships with secular organizations. Vincent C. Gray, serving as Ward 7 Council member, advocated on behalf of his constituency and, with a $25,000 grant, this Ward 7 faith-based initiative was formed.

With the grant money, we were able to conduct community assessments, provide HIV/AIDS testing to the church and community with our Ward 7 collaborative partners, and host a series of workshops.

We used our grant money wisely and we were honorable.

Since we were faithful over a couple thousand dollars, the late First Lady of the District of Columbia, Effie Barry, encouraged us to apply to the Capacity Building Initiative for a $50,000 grant. This grant was a blessing and allowed us to develop a more comprehensive approach to our ministry and form invaluable partnerships with secular organizations, which has resulted in a rare partnership of unity called the Ward 7 Collaborative.

With these funds we have created the Hughes HOPE Education and Resource Center, refurbishing a small room in the church to be a resource library where printed HIV/AIDS materials are displayed and stored. The room, staffed by four volunteers, is open to the church and community and has computers with Internet access.

We've also created a HIV/AIDS Web site (Hugheshope.org), started a monthly newsletter, purchased a tent for community outreach and brought in an in-house tester.
In addition, we bought materials to create 300 ?survival kits.? These contain a prayer, abstinence brochures and condoms.

The grant allowed us to birth a unique faith-based model, which we are excited about sharing with other faith-based institutions.
 
The Effie Barry Capacity Building Initiative grant has taken our ministry to another level. It has allowed us to collaborate with several community groups.
The grant is just the beginning. We are excited about expanding our horizons in areas yet to be discovered.

This article is taken, in part, from remarks made by the Rev. Connie Smith at a government hearing Nov. 1.