Jump directly to the Content

HOW MANY CHURCHS HAS AIDS VISITED?

As many as 1 to 1.5 million Americans may be infected with the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. But how many churches have encountered someone with AIDS?

Slightly more than 10 percent, according to a survey conducted by the research department of Christianity Today, Inc. A higher percentage of pastors are personally acquainted with someone diagnosed with HIV, the AIDS virus.

Nearly 500 surveys were mailed to a random sample of LEADERSHIP subscribers. With 56 percent completed and returned, the following figures are accurate to within a 6 percent margin.

To your knowledge, has any person in your church tested positive for the AIDS virus? Overall, responses were 12 percent yes, 88 percent no.

The responses varied greatly according to church size. In churches with attendance of 200 or less, 6 percent answered yes. In churches of 201-500, 15 percent answered yes. In churches of 500 or more, 26 percent said yes.

To your ...

From Issue:Fall 1989: Counsel & Care
March
Support Our Work

Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month

Homepage Subscription Panel

Read These Next

Related
Putting Failure on Ice
Putting Failure on Ice
What ministry in Antarctica taught me about not quitting.
From the Magazine
Should the Bible Sound Like the Language in the Streets?
Should the Bible Sound Like the Language in the Streets?
Controversy over Bibles in Jamaica, the Philippines, and Germany reveal the divide between the sacred and the relatable.
Editor's Pick
What Christians Miss When They Dismiss Imagination
What Christians Miss When They Dismiss Imagination
Understanding God and our world needs more than bare reason and experience.
close