Local Parishioners Flock to Memorial Service for Martin Luther King, Jr.
Pastor Kent Commodore welcomes congregations from local and regional churches that were present yesterday afternoon for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Remembrance Service at the Second Baptist Church in Ford City.
by David Croyle
A mixed crowd of both African-American and Caucasian parishioners unified yesterday in a special service commemorating the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The service was held at the Second Baptist Church in Ford City.
The Reverend Jack Delp, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ford City, led the invocation. Several selections were sung by the Second Baptist Church Choir.
The Reverend Eloise Betts of the Central Baptist Church in Pittsburgh was the guest speaker. Using Luke 9:28-36 as her text, she admonished the congregation to follow the pattern established by Dr. King in creating change through non-violent means.
“He was a philosopher, a great theologian, an orator, an essayist, an interviewee and an author,” Betz said of King’s life. “Martin Luther King was a very educated man. He skipped grades in junior high school. At age 15, he was in college. He wanted to be an attorney, he thought. But that’s not what God wanted for his life. He could have had anything he wanted - that’s how smart he was. When I think of how this man who could have stopped (his work) in the civil rights actions and stopped with the boycotts, and stopped when they blew up his house, and when he got threatened, but he would not.”
Second Baptist Church Deacon Fred Henderson said several regional churches join together with their church and other Ford City churches such as St. John’s Lutheran and Ford Memorial United Methodist, in participating in the event.
“Our church, we get involved with it every year with other churches. We don’t want to forget what he done for the communities, and the cities - for all God’s people,” Henderson said.
George Poole made the trek from Arnold to Ford City to participate yesterday. He felt it was his opportunity to honor a man whom he deeply admired.
“To me, Martin Luther King was an important figure for America in general. He changed society into a world of tolerance and acceptance. Even though we are not all the way there yet, we are getting there. So his dream speech, the way he led a movement, of multi-national people, is important because he gives us a way forward for our nation, which is a very important thing,” Poole surmised.
Karen Moore from Natrona Heights attends the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Tarentum. She said members of her church came to Ford City to support the worship service.
“Martin Luther King was a powerful man. I am happy to support the church in recognizing him is the main reason for being up here,” she said.
The service had no political emphasis, but rather concentrated on the message of the spiritual leader that endured the hatred of a divided nation and gave the ultimate sacrifice of his life.
Deacon Henderson summed up the day’s event.
“To me, I can see how far God has brought us along. From 1960 to 2017, God has been in the midst of everything. God put Martin Luther King to do what he had to do, and we are blessed. We give God the glory for that.”
The Reverend Eloise Betts speaks yesterday during the Martin Luther King special service held at the Second Baptist Church in Ford City.
Local News | David Croyle January 16, 2017
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By India, January 16, 2017 @ 10:11 AM
Mr Croyle,
Rev.Betts surly did not ” admonish ” people as to Dr.Kings message. You need to choose your words more carefully.
By Just sayin, January 16, 2017 @ 5:10 PM
And Armstrong School District refuses to have a day off to honor this man—they have it off for no reason given—just “off.” It just shows what a racist and hick county we live in. Keep on building those walls.