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This month, Philly Faith in Action will screen The Gospel of Healing (thegospelofhealing.com), a documentary film that highlights the work of African American churches fighting HIV/AIDS. We interview Paul V. Grant, Director and Producer of The Gospel of Healing. Learn more about this extraordinary film below, and please join us for screenings of the film on October 16th and October 18th. These events are free and open to the public.
You may have seen the recent Philly Faith in Action and Greater Than AIDS billboards around the city featuring local faith leaders promoting HIV testing. Philly Faith in Action and Greater than AIDS will launch a similar campaign on SEPTA buses around Philadelphia starting November 1, 2012.
Learn more and watch the videos on the Philly Faith in Action website.
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Special Event: The Gospel of Healing
Documentary Film Screenings
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| Film Screenings: The Gospel of Healing
October 16th and 18th, 2012
Philly Faith in Action is sponsoring two
screenings of The Gospel of Healing, directed and produced by Paul V. Grant.
The Gospel of Healing: Volume I: Churches Respond to HIV/AIDS, directed and produced by Paul Grant, follows five faith-based programs’ efforts to end the AIDS epidemic in African American communities. The film highlights the exemplary efforts of churches and their community partners around the country in the fight against HIV/AIDS, including efforts to promote and normalize HIV testing and treatment, and to care compassionately for people living with HIV/AIDS.
The film looks critically at how churches and faith institutions can respond to the health needs of African Americans. Explaining his motivation for producing the film, Grant commented that rather focus further discussion on the challenges associated with addressing HIV/AIDS in faith settings, he wanted to highlight what real people are doing to fight AIDS in the African American community. The Gospel of Healing provides a new, positive outlook on how faith communities can respond to the AIDS epidemic.
Noting that the film profiles “African Americans talking to African Americans in a language they understand. In the language of the church,” Grant believes The Gospel of Healing can be a resource to help jumpstart conversations with churches about HIV/AIDS.
Grant acknowledges that each church has a different starting point for responding to the AIDS epidemic. However, the conversation can start with simple steps to break the silence about HIV/AIDS, such as passing around a collection plate once a month to raise funds for important HIV/AIDS projects. While noting that each church is different, he believes that they all have the power to improve the lives of their parishioners and communities.
While Grant’s film examines health issues through the HIV lens, he believes this approach can be used for other diseases that disproportionately affect African Americans, such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension.
Producer Paul Grant’s interest in faith and health can be traced back to his childhood. Grant’s father was a Baptist Pastor from South Carolina. When Paul was young, his father was diagnosed with a chronic heart condition. Believing his faith would heal his heart condition, for a brief period, he forewent medication and didn’t change his diet. It weakened his health and caused permanent heart damage. He passed away two weeks before his 65th birthday from conditions related to congestive heart failure. ”For him, faith alone was the fountain of youth,” Grant says.
Paul’s father’s spirit is always with him. Now that he’s profiled the efforts of many churches in promoting health and wellness, Paul reflects, “How would I explain thisissue to my father? What impact would it have had on him if he had seen churchesdoing this kind of work?”
The Gospel of Healing is Grant’s second documentary film about churches and the AIDS epidemic. Grant’s 2004 documentary, called Tangy’s Song!, examines the personal history of an African American gospel singer who contracts HIV and subsequently loses her husband and child to AIDS.
The Gospel of Healing has been critically acclaimed, and is already making a difference in African American community. Grant recounts: “I had one gentleman tell me, ‘I’m HIV positive, I left the church in the 80′s, and this film makes me want togo back.’ That was a great thing to hear.”
Join us for a screening of this extraordinary film, October 16th and October 18th. Both events will include panel discussion after the movie, featuring Gospel of Healing producer Paul Grant, local faith leaders, and local thought leaders.
What: Screening of the film The Gospel of Healing
When and Where:
Tuesday, October 16th, 2012, 6PM
Walk Auditorium located in Ritter Hall Annex
Temple University School of Public Health
1303 Cecil B. Moore Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
This event is free and open to public, but requires registration. Register for the event on the 16th here
Thursday, October 18th, 2012, 6PM
First District Plaza
3801 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
This event is free and open to the public, no registration required.
Food will be served.
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| The Gospel of Healing: Vol. 1 Black Churches Respond to HIV/AIDS Trailer |
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Profile: Paul V. Grant, Director and Producer of
The Gospel of Healing
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By Julia Harvey
The Gospel of Healing: Volume I: Black Churches Respond to HIV/AIDS, directed and produced by Paul Grant, follows five African American churches in their efforts to end the AIDS epidemic. The film highlights the exemplary efforts of churches and their health ministries around the country in the fight against HIV/AIDS, including efforts to promote and normalize HIV testing and treatment, and to care compassionately for people living with HIV/AIDS.
The film looks critically at how churches and faith institutions can respond to the health needs of African Americans. Explaining his motivation for producing the film, Grant commented that rather focus further discussion on the challenges associated with addressing HIV/AIDS in faith settings, he wanted to highlight what real people are doing to fight AIDS in the African American community. The Gospel of Healing provides a new, positive outlook on how faith communities can respond to the AIDS epidemic.
Noting that the film profiles “African Americans talking to African Americans in a
language they understand. In the language of the church,” Grant believes The
Gospel of Healing can be a resource to help jumpstart conversations with churches about HIV/AIDS.
Grant acknowledges that each church has a different starting point for responding
to the AIDS epidemic. However, the conversation can start with simple steps to
break the silence about HIV/AIDS, such as passing around a collection plate once
a month to raise funds for important HIV/AIDS projects. While noting that each
church is different, he believes that they all have the power to improve the lives of
their parishioners and communities.
While Grant’s film examines health issues through the HIV lens, he believes this
approach can be used for other diseases that disproportionately affect African
Americans, such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension.
Producer Paul Grant’s interest in faith and health can be traced back to his
childhood. Grant’s father was a Baptist Pastor from South Carolina. When Paul was young, his father was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Believing his faith would heal his heart condition, for a brief period, he forewent medication and didn’t change his diet. His health worsened and he suffered permanent heart damage. He passed away two weeks before his 65th birthday from conditions related to congestive heart failure. “For him, faith alone was the fountain of youth,” Grant says.
Paul’s father’s spirit is always with him. Now that he’s profiled the efforts of many
churches in promoting health and wellness, Paul reflects, “How would I explain this issue to my father? What impact would it have had on him if he had seen churches doing this kind of work?”
The Gospel of Healing is Grant’s second documentary film about churches and
the AIDS epidemic. Grant’s 2004 documentary, called Tangy’s Song! , examines
the personal history of an African American gospel singer who contracts HIV and
subsequently loses her husband and child to AIDS.
The Gospel of Healing has been critically acclaimed, and is already making a
difference in African American community. Grant recounts: “I had one gentleman
tell me, ‘I’m HIV positive, I left the church in the 80′s, and this film makes me want to go back.’ That was a great thing to hear.”
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Other Upcoming Local Events
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Tom Joyner’s “Take a Loved One to the Doctor” Health Festival
Friday and Saturday, October 19th-20th, 2012
Mark your calendars for the “Take a Loved One to the Doctor” Health Festival at the Liacouras Center! The event will feature a live Tom Joyner Morning Show broadcast, a health and wellness expo, beauty make-overs, a comedy show, and experts including US Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin! For more information, visit drday.blackamericaweb.com. If you would like to become an exhibitor, email expo@reachmediainc.com.
What: “Take a Loved One to the Doctor” Health Festival
When: Friday, October 19th, 6-10PM and Saturday, October 20th, 9AM-5PM
Where: Liacouras Center
1776 N. Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19121
Health Awareness Extravaganza
Saturday, October 27th, 2012
On Saturday, October 27th from 1-5PM, the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity welcome you to a Health Awareness Extravaganza at the Philadelphia Convention Center, featuring actor Allen Payne from the hit show House of Payne! There will be soul food demonstrations, live entertainment, and gifts for the first 200 attendees. For more information, visit phillyblackclergy.com or call 267-639-9875.
What: Health Awareness Extravaganza
When: Saturday, October 27th 2012, 1-5PM
Where: Philadelphia Convention Center
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Criminalization of HIV in Our Own Backyards
Monday, November 19th, 2012
All are welcome and encouraged to attend a Pennsylvania Community Forum, on November 19th from 3-6PM, to learn about laws governing HIV/AIDS in Pennsylvania. The event is free, and light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP at (215)-985-4448 ext. 153. For more information, contact Waheedah Shabazz-El at waheedahsmenu@gmail.com. What: Community forum entitled “Criminalization of HIV in Our Own Backyards”
When: Monday, November 19th, 2012, 3-6PM
Where: The William Way Community Center
1315 Spruce St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
See the latest news from the Greater Than AIDS Movement, including updates on their collaboration with Philly Faith in Action, here! Learn about National Latino AIDS Awareness Day on October 15th, read about Greater Than AIDS at the Congressional Black Caucus, and more!
See all of the updates here.
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Thank you for your continued support of Philly Faith in Action.
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