News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Hayley-young-main_article_image.png
Hayling Island Baptist Church/YouTube
UK News

Church minister's HIV video goes viral

by Hannah Tooley

Revd Hayley Young, from Hayling Island Baptist Church in Hampshire, contracted the disease when she was attacked in 2013.

In the video, which she tells her story through cardboard messages, she wrote: 'Seriously, I know that I am God's masterpiece and he hasn't finished with me yet.

"Having HIV doesn't mean that I can't have the quality of life that Jesus offers."

In the wake of the video, Peter Fabian, founder of the Christian charity Aids, Care Education and Training (ACET) called on churches to do more to engage in topics like HIV and sex.

He said: "The statistics that we bandy around what's going on in the wilder world are not actually that different in the Christian community, yet relationships and sex are what we talk about very little in our churches.

"By not talking about it we're not fulfilling our responsibilities, and by talking about it I do believe passionately that we not only strengthen the mission of the church, but we improve the discipleship within the church."

He said that too often people want to know how somebody contracted HIV when: "when what we need to do is gather round and give them the support and care that they need.

"It doesn't matter how they were infected, we're called to love and to care and provide hope."

Listen to Premier's Hannah Tooley speak to Peter Fabian here: 

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate