New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is launching a full-scale community health initiative on Sunday as it hosts World AIDS and HIV Awareness Sunday, offering free HIV testing, on-site screenings, take-home test kits, and education aimed at combating one of Georgia’s most persistent public health crises.
The event began at 9:30 a.m. on December 7 and is led by the church’s Health Ministry in partnership with several major public-health organizations, including HealthyMD, DeKalb Public Health, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC), and AID Atlanta.
Senior Pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant says the focus is simple: reduce stigma, expand care, and meet the community where it is.
“Our responsibility as a church is to help protect the whole person,” Bryant said. “Far too many of our brothers and sisters are living with HIV without access to testing, treatment, or the resources they need. WORLD AIDS + HIV AWARENESS Sunday is our commitment to confront stigma, expand access to care, and stand with our community in truth, compassion, and action.”