Pastor passes out condoms in Brunswick

BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Pastor Kenneth Adkins is on a mission to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS in the Brunswick community.

"My job today, my assignment today is to make people aware of the need to get tested," Adkins said. "We're going to pass out condoms to people who are having unprotected sex. My goal from that really is to keep them healthy enough to preach to them, [providing] a new level of waiting until they're married."

Adkins says he was alarmed by the high HIV infection rates for blacks in Glynn County and the Brunswick area.

"The highest new cases of HIV and AIDS are young people, they are African-American females, and they're African-American males who are having male-on-male sex," he said.

Adkins' outreach also involves a "Get tested Sunday" he is sponsoring at his church, Greater Dimension Fellowship. The pastor is teaming up with the Coastal Region Health Department to provide free HIV/AIDS testing at the church for anyone who shows up. Adkins says he is getting tested himself in the pulpit.

Locals have already taken notice of Adkins' crusade against HIV.

"I think it's a good idea to get everybody out in the community and join," said Angela Stanley.

Atkins says his goal is necessary in the Brunswick community.

"A small town like this, it's just crazy. So we got to do what we got to do," Adkins said. "I believe this. I believe my assignment as a pastor is to get into this community and give them the right kind of information, give them some education, give them the opportunity to get tested so they may live long enough for me to preach them to the next level."