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The Rev. Avery Dees, pastor at True Light Baptist Church in El Centro speaks before guests during a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. worship service Monday evening at the Macedonia Church of God in Christ in El Centro. (FERNANDO ACOSTA JR. PHOTO / January 21, 2013) |
Community members of various backgrounds and churches gathered to worship and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Macedonia Church of God in Christ here Monday.
The worship service titled “Let the Change Continue,” took attendees through the struggles and triumphs of King reflected through songs, speeches, skits and the recreation of King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech by Avery Dees, a pastor at the True Light Baptist Church, here.
James Addison of the Imperial Valley/Yuma Area Ministerial Alliance described the evening as a celebration by the many people and churches of Imperial County.
“We have to remember the things (King) did to make it possible for us to be where we are today, especially for people of color, specifically African Americans,” Addison said. “We are so appreciative and thankful that he led the civil rights movement during his time so we, and our children, could be much better off than they were years ago.”
El Centro City Councilmember Sedalia Sanders spoke at the event and shared her thoughts on King.
“I think there are a few of us here who can recall too vividly what life was like not too long ago,” Sanders said. “I think Dr. King was able to accomplish what he did because he was so steeped in the Christian philosophy.”
Robert Arnold, a pastor at the Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church, spoke candidly on the “reality of living the dream Martin Luther King had.”
“Only a man of God could look beyond the circumstance of the time he was living in,” Arnold said. “We’ve come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.”
Staff Writer Karina Lopez can be reached at 760-337-3439 or klopez@ivpressonline.com
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