PAGE 30
Celebrate A King
“Like anybody, I
would like to live a
long life. Longevity
has its place. But
I’m not concerned
about that now. I
just want to do
God’s will. And He’s
allowed me to go up
to the mountain. And
I’ve looked over.
And I’ve seen the
Promised Land. I
may not get there
with you. But I want
you to know tonight,
that we, as a
people, will get to
Jan. 15, 1929 to April 4, 1968
the promised
land!”
With these words, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. built a
crescendo to his final speech on April 3, 1968. The next
day, the civil rights leader was shot and killed on a balcony
of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn.
At the roots Dr. King’s civil rights convictions was an even
more profound faith in the basic goodness of man and the
great potential of American democracy. These beliefs gave
to his speeches a fervor that could not be stilled by
criticism.
He rose in 1955 from a newly arrived minister in
Montgomery, Ala. to a figure of national prominence. It
was Dr. King who dramatized the Montgomery bus boycott
with his decision to make it the testing ground, before the
eyes of the nation, of his belief in the civil disobedience
teachings of Thoreau and Gandhi.
In the summer of 1963, Dr. King led the March on
Washington, stirring the emotions of millions with the
words “I have a dream.” On Dec. 10, 1964, he won the
Nobel Peace Prize.
His strong beliefs in civil rights and non-violence made
him one of the leading opponents to American participation
in the war in Vietnam.
At the time he was assassinated in Memphis, Dr. King was
involved in one of his greatest plans to dramatize the plight
of the poor and stir Congress to help Blacks. He called his
venture the “Poor People’s Campaign.”
PROGRAM SUCCESS – JANUARY 2010
Black Church continued from page 25
wealth could give that local church such financial clout that
banks would think twice before denying members business
loans and/or mortgages. I agree with Tony Evans who stated
in his book entitled “The Kingdom Agenda” that if every
church would empower one responsible welfare family per
year, we could eliminate the need for social welfare in five
years or less.
Over the past 20-30 years the Black Church has become
more than a political arena or an economic engine; it is also
the hub of spiritual and moral instruction. The Black Church
has always been a beacon in the community, and we find
ourselves at a point where we are being told that letting our
light shine is acceptable as long as it doesn’t shine too
brightly or clearly proclaim truth and potential
consequences.
The last 20-30 years has seen a rise in teaching that focuses
on getting more. Many pastors and preachers are proponents
of the prosperity ministry. However, the church of late has
been concentrating on the business of creating economic
institutions. The real issue is jobs, people being laid off
through all this corporate downsizing is affecting every
Black community in this country. The church is now finding
itself in a situation where it is the best continuing organized
entity in the Black community for the acquisition and
redevelopment of land, the building of business enterprises
and the employment of people. In other words the influence
has not dwindled but it has been rekindled.
Silence of God continued from page 28
We are witnessing this event take place right before our eyes.
There are many in this country that comes against the People
of God. They don’t want you praying in school or on the job,
they don’t want you calling on the name of Jesus, they don’t
want you praising His name at all! Remember Isaiah 5:20;
Woe unto them that call evil good , and good evil; that
put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put
bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! KJV
All of this led to 400 years of the silence of God. There can
be no greater punishment than for God to be silent in your
life! As we enter this new decade, my prayer is that we learn
from not only the last decade, but from what the Book of
Malachi taught us! It is a very dangerous thing when we get
to the point that God stops speaking to us, when he stops
leading us by His Spirit. We understand that we have direct
access to His throne by Christ Jesus, but sin can cut us off
when there is no repentance. How important is it for the Holy
Spirit to speak to you and lead you? In this New Year may
we all start fresh and get to the place where the people of
God should be! I love you all, let’s share the love!
In 2010, become more than a conqueror!