Gary church to host MLK service
A celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is coming to Gary Saturday.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Ecumenical Committees will ask its attendees “Where do we go from here?” during its annual celebration of the civil rights activist starting 11 a.m. at New Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, 1917 Carolina St.
The service, normally held in January, is being held two days prior to the 54th anniversary of King’s assassination.
Keynote speaker and Lew Wallace graduate Montia Gardner has an idea of the direction people young and old should take moving forward, she said Thursday. It involves education and actively educating the people about what King really stood for.
“I think a lot of people hang their hats on the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, but there was such an intense wisdom in his other speeches. He gives us a guide to move on from the same issues we struggle with today,” Gardner said. “King came from such a lineage of intellect, so you know the expectations were high for him. I think we need to restart expecting that of our children and ourselves as well in order to get where we need to be.”
People also need to show more bravery in the face of contempt as King did, she added.
“I’m going to give this speech Saturday, and no one has threatened my life or the lives of my children,” Gardner said. “King’s bravery in the face of all that hatred is unmatched.”
“We are simply elated to be able to return in-person to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King,” said Rev. Regan Robinson, Pastor of St. John MB Church and President of the Ecumenical Committee.
“We will worship, fellowship and make a difference in the lives of many young people in our community.”
The Ecumenical Committee has also brought back its essay contest for Lake County students in grades 7 through 12.
Students were asked to ponder the following” “As long as the mind is enslaved, the body can never be free,” and will be acknowledged Saturday.
For more information, email MLKEcumenical@ gmail.com or call 219-8832720.