If you are a resident of the United States of America then you know that the national Holiday that will be observed on Monday is a very serious one in the life of our nation. Of course I am referring to Martin Luther King Jr. day. This national holiday which is one of only four United States federal holidays to commemorate an individual person was began when President Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor King on November 2, 1983.
Since Westbrook Church is a multi-cultural church, made up of people with every skin color we think it very fitting to take a moment to honor this faithful Christ-follower, passionate preacher of the Gospel, humble servant of Jesus and civil rights activist.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the main leaders among many passionate leaders of the American civil rights movement. A Baptist minister by calling and education, King became a civil rights activist early in his career. Over time, his efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, raising public consciousness of the civil rights movement and establishing King as one of the greatest orators in American history. In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means.
King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee ending the life of a very focused and dedicated man of God. As our nation sets aside a day to remember him, Westbrook is going to take a moment to honor his life as well. Just as we honor and highlight servants like Jim Elliott (the martyred missionary in Ecuador) or Billy Graham (the tireless evangelist and national leader) we see it very fitting to honor this man who gave his life so that others might know the hope that can come not only in Christ but also in our great nation.
Interestingly, I find myself in Birmingham, Alabama today meeting a church planter that I will be coaching this year. On this trip I was able to visit some of the sites that are significant with the civil rights movement. I spent some time at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and then a visit to the 16th Street Baptist Church that you see pictured in this post. Birmingham was considered one of the most segregated cities in the nation and the church was the target of a racially motivated bombing in which four young girls were killed in September of 1963. I even stood in the very pulpit where Dr. King preached and had my picture taken. Without a doubt the day was emotionally charged. This Sunday as we worship our risen Lord and honor a faithful preacher let’s be sure to pray for the peace of our nation and our avid desire to be the kind of inclusive church that Christ died for. And then on Monday take some time to read more about Dr. King. if you’d like I could even give you a copy of Dr. King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”
I pray your church is doing the same thing.