President Bush Visits Maryland Church

One day before World AIDS Day, President Bush hosted a private meeting Friday at the Calvary United Methodist Church in Mount Airy, Md. The White House recognized the church for its efforts to help people with AIDS. This Carroll County church has done extensive missionary work in Namibia, Africa, helping orphans who have lost their families to the deadly virus.

Calvary UMC’s Rev. Dennis Yocum told The Baltimore Sun that he and the rest of the congregation were surprised when they learned the president was to visit. White House Spokesman Alex Conant said that Calvary was selected for the visit because of several things, including the fact that the church sent 18 volunteers to Namibia this past summer.

The morning meeting held at the church focused on Bush’s emergency plan for AIDS relief and his five-year, $30-billion proposal for additional funding.