Victory Church Pastor Kenneth Dupree takes an AIDS test with Nashville Cares volunteers at church Sunday.NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The statistics said 54 percent of all new HIV cases in Nashville are in African Americans. A new campaign to lower those numbers is taking the message to church. Sunday the topic was talked about from the pulpit and from the preacher at Victory Church in Nashville.
Victory Baptist Church off of Brick Church Pike prides itself on being different. In unison, the congregation proudly states, "We are not about tradition; we are about truth."
"I was asked how do we talk about these kinds of things in church? I think we have to talk about them in church, if they are going to change we have to start talking about them," said the pastor at Victory Church, Kenneth Dupree.
At first, the usually vocal congregation seemed a little shy, but Dupree refused to back down about the dangers of unprotected sex.
"If you insist on going outside in the rain, please put on your raincoat," he said.
This long-time pastor said he wanted to tackle this taboo topic in a place where people will listen and learn. It's part of the NAACP's new campaign to bring HIV awareness to the African-American community through the voice of their pastors.
Hoping to dispel the fear that surrounds an AIDS test, Dupree stood in front of his congregation and took an AIDS test with Nashville Cares volunteers to show just how quick and painless it really is.
Victory Church gave all the members the opportunity for a free test immediately following Sunday's service. Anyone who wants a free test can get one with Nashville Cares.
