MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - A number of Mid-South pastors made a point to work HIV and AIDS into their sermons Sunday.
Pastor Melvin Lee of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in north Memphis was among them.
Pastor Lee says the whole community turns to the church to find a way to deal with the issues of life, including HIV and AIDS.
He told the congregation they need to be just as compassionate to those with HIV and AIDS as they would to those suffering from cancer or diabetes.
His church has taken part in World AIDS Sunday for at least 15 years.
“I pray that one day every church in the world would acknowledge World AIDS Day until we convince people that the cure is prevention and that we can live long productive lives even with a sickness like HIV and AIDS,” Lee said.
It's estimated that in the Mid-South more than 7,500 men, women and children are living with HIV or AIDS.
Nearly half of those are not receiving the care they need to stay healthy.
