43
A call to love issued at MLK Day service in Youngstown
YOUNGSTOWN
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once asked,“What are you doing for others?” said the Rev. Christopher McKee, main speaker at Sunday’s commemorative celebration of the life of the assassinated civil-rights leader.
The sanctuary of Third Baptist Church was filled with people of all ages to join in the community worship service to celebrate the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. King.
“Good religion is impacting someone created in the image of God. Our words are important, but it is more important that we speak love ... and express faith through loving the people hurting the most, and speak for people who can’t speak for themselves like children in the midst of failing schools,” said Rev. McKee, pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church.
“You can’t be heaven-bound and not do any good,” Rev. McKee said.
“The Legacy of U.S. Civil Rights Laws: Remembering What is Civil and Doing What is Right” was the theme of the service.
Three youths, representing Islam, Christianity and Judaism, showed the similarities of the religions, including the call to love God, do good deeds, and desire justice for all people.
“Piety is the only thing that separates people in the eyes of Allah (God),” said Moataz Abdelrasoul, representing Islam.
Muhammad, when asked, “who among men is most favored by Allah,” replied: “A man who does the most good to people.”
The first book of the Torah teaches that all are created “in the image of God. Dr. King’s faith was, too, guided by this principle,” said Alec Kan of the Jewish faith.
“While the Christianity of Dr. King and my own Judaism may speak through different words, they share a common vision, grounded in the godliness of every human life and committed to the pursuit of a more just society,” Alec said.
The effects of the work that Dr. King pursued are without bounds and aimed to benefit everyone, including the Jewish community. But above all, he sought to provide the simplicity of justice for all,” he said.
Isaiah Carter, representing Christianity, read from the Bible, the “Book of James,” Chapter 2 verses 14-26.
Verse 14: “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith and have not works?
Verse 15-16: If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”
Verse 26: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Other youths who participated in the program were Trinity Adams, Calah Jones and Rickasia Wallace, who presented readings from Dr. King’s letters, and a Combined Youth Choir with members from several area churches.
“We celebrate Dr. King’s life and legacy acknowledging that there have been some changes and some things remain the same,” said the Rev. Dr. Lewis W. Macklin II, pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church.
“We can make a difference, but if we fail to remember our history, we are doomed to failure,” said Rev. Macklin.
The Rev. Dr. Morris W. Lee, pastor of Third Baptist, called Dr. King a “prophet for America and a prophet for humanity,” in welcoming the crowd to his church.
Rev. Lee said he was “privileged” while a student at Virginia Union to meet Dr. King who spoke at the college.
“He electrified the place. I was completely overwhelmed. He represented the best of everything I had ever thought of,” said Rev. Lee, who grew up in an age of segregation when he said there were “white ladies rest rooms and colored womens toilets.”
“Some of us young bucks hated that sort of thing, but Dr. King took away our hatred. I had the privilege to follow him. He gave us the intestinal fortitude to stand and do something about it,” he said.
“May this be a positive day for you and for Youngstown. If there is anywhere that needs some enlightenment, it’s Youngstown,” Rev. Lee said.
Sunday’s service was organized by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Planning Committee. Co-conveners were the Rev. Kenneth L. Simon, Jaladah Aslam, and Penny Wells.