April 2001

TAP in Tupelo

The Rev. C. William Frampton, III

This past summer at General Convention some of us staffing the NEAC booth were privileged to meet the Rev. Shannon Johnston of All Saints Parish, Tupelo, Mississippi. He spoke about the Youth Group at All Saints and how wildly successful NEAC’s TAP (Teens for AIDS Prevention) program has been there. Though Father Johnston had just stopped by for a few minutes on a break from the House of Deputies, he ended up spending close to an hour talking with us about the many ways in which TAP had changed not only his youth group but his parish as well.

Bruce Garner and Mary Ellen Honsaker

Bruce Garner and Mary Ellen Honsaker

When TAP was first introduced to the congregation three years ago it was done so with no secrets. Meetings were held with the congregation and especially with the parents of those children who would be directly involved. There were a lot of questions, of course, but the youth group and the congregation took on the challenge and agreed to go forward with the first TAP training.

The results were amazing. Father Johnston said TAP “took a struggling youth group and made them a committed group of Christians with a mission.” The youth group was not only stronger now then it had been in years it was revitalized in ways that they had never expected. They were excited about spreading the message.

Parents took note. As a result of the youth involvement, parents saw things that they could do as well. In some places like Northern Mississippi people might not want to talk about HIV and AIDS, but the truth is that someone has to. TRAIN (Tupelo Regional AIDS Interfaith Network) began at All Saints and now is an independent organization housed at the local hospital and supported by Robert Wood Johnson and Ryan White Title III grants. Teresa Stafford, the TRAIN executive director, talked about how the source of TRAIN, a much needed organization, was really the energy at All Saints. “Many churches are reluctant or not willing at all to get involved,” she said. “All Saints has really led the way on this front. People travel some distance from other parts of Mississippi and Alabama to use our services because they have heard such good things. It only goes to show we are needed„and that the need is greater than anyone ever expected.”

I was honored to be invited to All Saints in December to witness and take part in the graduation of the third class of TAP students. The training is led by two teens who themselves had been part of the first class at All Saints, went and helped with the second class, and now with some adult supervision co-lead the third class. In total close to 30 members of the youth group have taken part in TAP.

As I spoke with them, it was good to hear how these young people see their role as leaders amongst their peers to spread correct information about HIV/AIDS as well as helping others to acquire the tools and confidence they need to make mature and responsible decisions.

I was also pleased to address the Adult Education hour on Sunday morning. I spoke about NEAC’s work and how pleased we were to have congregations like All Saints that have proven what a success TAP can be. Asked where NEAC is headed in regard to other HIV/AIDS prevention programs, I was glad to speak to that as well: An updated version of TAP will hopefully be available in early 2002 and the Sunday School Curriculum we’re now working on should be ready for use by fall 2001.

One parent thanked me for the work NEAC was doing but especially for not neglecting the youth. Her child was too young to be part of the youth group and the TAP program, so she was glad to hear that information for younger members of the church was soon going to be available. “I think TAP is great and I hear a lot of good things from the kids that have been through it,” she said. “I’m just afraid that even at that age we are talking to them too late.”

I can’t begin to express my appreciation to the youth group, TAP leaders, and congregation of All Saints, Tupelo, for allowing me to be part of this wonderful experience. I went to observe and congratulate them on the work that they are doing, but in fact I returned with a renewed sense of my own commitment to this work.

When you think of Tupelo, you might think first of the birthplace of Elvis and not of a vital, active and well planned HIV/AIDS education program. But let me tell you: TAP is alive and well in Tupelo and it is going strong—THANKS BE TO GOD.