Praising The Peacemaker
King's legacy praised by El Campo crowd
By QUALA MATOCHA lifestyle@leader-news.com

Youth praise team of Pleasant Union Baptist Church of Schulenburg present a praise dance routine to "I Need an Angel" during the Martin Luther King Jr. observance program Monday evening at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in El Campo. Pictured are (front to back) Cherise Coleman, a freshman at ECHS, Mesha Jarmon, Monica Robinson, Braneisha Thomas and Chelsea Moore. L-N Photo by Quala Matocha

Martin Luther King Jr. made a stand for equality. Monday evening his words rang true, as the community gathered to recall his dream and praise God at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in El Campo.

Through prayer, preaching and songs of praise, King was remembered by clergy, parishioners and city and school officials who spoke about his work and the hardships of Black Americans.

"His dream is not a destination, but a journey," Mayor Philip Spenrath said.

"Martin Luther King had a deeply rooted American dream," Hutchins Elementary Principal Dollie Coleman- Turner said. "Tonight is a celebration of equality and freedom."

"Let me take you down memory lane," Turner said as she spoke of the hardships endured over the past 300 years through slavery, segregation and inequality.

IN PRAISE: Rev. J. Barron, an El Campo High School coach, spoke of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy.

As a civil rights activist, King is noted for his famous "I have a dream" speech when he led the March on Washington in 1963. A year later, he became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end racial discrimination and segregation in a non-violent way. King, born Jan. 15, 1929, was assassinated April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tenn. Rumors of death threats prompted him to deliver another speech the day before his death.

"We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now," King said. "Because I have been to the mountain top - 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 the promised land."

A song by the combined choir, "Look Where He Brought Us From" was also dedicated to King. The praise team from Pleasant Union Baptist Church of Schulenburg offered song and dance, and their pastor, the Rev. J. Barron, also an educator and coach at El Campo High School, delivered the message for the evening.

"He's a man on fire for God," said the Rev. J.C. Williams as he introduced the Rev. Barron.

After reading text from the eighth chapter of Romans, Barron said, "If God is for us, who is against us? Faithfulness and endurance leads to fulfilled dreams. And God has a plan for each and every one of our lives. King's amazing dream was not only for Blacks, but for everyone."

Barron went on to compare the Biblical Joseph to King. They each had dreams.

"Both had to struggle mightily to fulfill these dreams," he said.

In closing he said, "Do whatever God puts on your heart. Keep the dream alive. It's not a black and white thing. It's a Jesus thing; it's a God thing. God treats us all in the same manner, so why can't we treat each other the same?"