Between the Bars

I fully believe with all my heart that all of the ingredients necessary to stop the spread of AIDS and to take care of those who are already infected, actually really exist in the Church, but not the church as is today. The Church today is arrogant, unrepentant, self-righteous, and hypocritical…we’ve got secrets, we’re hypocrites, we’re self-righteous, we’re not broken and I do believe that that gets in the way of our ability to be a space for individuals who desire to feel valued and heard.
I believe that’s what the HIV/AIDS pandemic represents. So we as the church of Christ, in our brokenness, have an amazing yet tragic opportunity in our hands, to be the true church of Christ, that values and listens with intent.

I’m gonna give you three things to walk away with:
This pandemic, both locally and globally, is feedback to the church. We are unwilling to have difficult conversations with the outside world.
The pandemic is a flag. Every people group that have been infected or affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic is basically a group that is looking and dying to be heard and dying to feel valued.
Two things my patients have asked of me both verbally and non-verbally, as I have walked with them on their journey in HIV/AIDS
1. Don’t lie to me, please be trustworthy. Don’t be a hypocrite. Be authentic.
2. Don’t leave me, don’t ever leave me. No matter whatever circumstance.
Those are two things we learned in the sand box. I feel like if we could walk those things out, that we would be the ultimate in terms of serving, not only the HIV community, but all communities.

Dr. Becky Kune, MD
AIDS specialist/researcher/activist
(speaking last year)