8: Conversion | When We All Get to Heaven

8: Conversion | When We All Get to Heaven

From Outward: Slate's LGBTQ podcast by Slate Podcasts

November 26, 2025 · 58 min · Episode 8

About this episode

Rev. Jim Mitulski shares his experience of becoming HIV positive and the public response from the church and community.

In 1995 Rev. Jim Mitulski became HIV positive -- what's known as seroconversion. It was 14 years into the epidemic and people knew what HIV/AIDS was, how you got it, and how you could prevent it. And when Jim got sick, he got very sick. What was it like to become ill so publicly? How would the church and the community respond? And what could Jim possibly preach about on his first Sunday back? “My Soul Doth Magnify” is from Camille Saint-Saens’ Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12, 1858. “The 23rd Psalm (Dedicated to My Mother)” is by Bobby McFerrin. The biblical story of the death of the prophet Elijah is in Second Kings, chapter 2. For images and links about this episode visit https://www.heavenpodcast.org/episode-8 . When We All Get to Heaven is produced by Eureka Street Productions. It is co-created by Lynne Gerber, Siri Colom, and Ariana Nedelman. Our story editor is Sayre Quevedo. Our sound designer is David Herman. Our managing producer is Krissy Clark. Tim Dillinger is our consulting producer and Betsy Towner Levine is our fact-checker. We had additional story editing help from Sarah Ventre, Arwen Nicks, Allison Behringer, and Krissy Clark. For a complete list of credits, please…

People in this episode

Hosts: Lynne Gerber, Siri Colom, Ariana Nedelman, Sayre Quevedo, David Herman, Krissy Clark, Tim Dillinger, Betsy Towner Levine, Sarah Ventre, Arwen Nicks, Allison Behringer, Jack Hoggatt-St.

Guest: Rev Jim Mitulski

Topics covered

  • HIV/AIDS
  • seroconversion
  • church response
  • community support

Keywords

  • conversion
  • public illness
  • preaching
  • community response

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Christmas Oratorio, The 23rd Psalm

Books & works: Second Kings, When We All Get to Heaven, The 23rd Psalm (Dedicated to My Mother, Surviving Voices, Outward

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