Organizations in both Gloucester and Mathews offered programs remembering the legacy of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and presented messages of how King set an example for generations to live by for years to come.
On Sunday, the Mathews Branch of the NAACP sponsored a program at Antioch Baptist Church, Susan, and on Monday, the Gloucester Union Relief Association of Missionary Baptist held a program at First United Baptist Church, White Marsh.
Bishop Robert Duck, pastor of Oak Grove Baptist Church in Franklin, was guest speaker at Monday’s ceremony in Gloucester. He was accompanied with musical selections performed by the MGM Tri-County Choir.
Duck’s message focused on scripture found in Romans 12:19-21, which states, "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
"In my opinion, Dr. King was a modern-day Moses with a task to lead God’s people to the Promised Land," Duck said. In doing so, King staged sit-ins and boycotts; was arrested, beaten and ridiculed.
Through it all, Duck said King always practiced nonviolence, even when a police officer spat in his face. According to Duck, King let the officer’s spit run all down his face, even reaching the corners of his mouth, but never gave the officer the satisfaction of wiping it away. "You have to have the power of the Holy Spirit to stand there and allow this to happen to you," Duck said.
As a pastor, Duck said even dealing with church people can be a difficult task. "However, if we follow what God tells us, we will be happier people, will make a difference in this world and will reach the Promised Land. We are to overcome evil by not letting the bad actions of others make us behave badly."
Each of the scripture readings Duck provided Monday afternoon boiled down to one critical point: Don’t repay evil for evil. Instead seek to treat others with kindness.
"And let me tell you, church, that’s not easy," he said. "I don’t care what anyone says." However, Duck said to remember scripture found in Philippians that states, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
"What makes us do this," he asked. "It’s called love—the most amazing kind of love in the universe … Agape love."
Duck asked the congregation if anyone had ever called them names or spread bad rumors about them. "Our human nature tells us to call them a name and make fun of them right back," Duck said. "However, this was not Dr. King’s way, nor was it Jesus’s way."
"If someone is making life hard for you or mistreating you, Jesus said we need to pray for them," Duck added. "We need to ask God to help them change. It helps us to not become mean and hateful, even toward those who are hateful to us."
In closing, Duck said it all comes down to following the Golden Rule, which states, "Treat people the way you want to be treated."
"When we live this way, we will have fulfilled Dr. King’s dream and Jesus’s desire. We will have become an overcomer and we will go to the Promised Land."
In Mathews
On Sunday in Mathews, in a program sponsored by the Mathews branch of the NAACP, approximately 40-50 people gathered at Antioch Baptist Church to celebrate King’s life and legacy.
"You put within him something that will never die," the Rev. Winston Redmond of Emmaus Baptist Church said of King in his opening prayer. "We thank you Father for the dream that he had."
The hour-long service was filled with music, as the congregation joined in the singing of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," "Kum Ba Yah" and the traditional closing selection of "We Shall Overcome." Cynthia Hayes served as song leader, while Patrick Billups and New Creations Ministries provided the musical accompaniment. Rosalind Knight played the church organ for "We Shall Overcome."
A portion of the program itself focused on the music of the civil rights movement. Edith Turner narrated a PowerPoint presentation, explaining the history of the music, from its roots in the early spirituals. The music, she said, helped to inspire the non-violent push for racial equality and turned it "into a moral and social force."
One of the songs that Turner played during her presentation was the spiritual "Go Down Moses," and the Rev. Eric Robinson of Ebenezer Baptist Church, in his benediction, picked up this Biblical allegory in speaking of Martin Luther King. "You sent Moses to Israel; you sent Dr. King to us," he said.
Others participating in Sunday’s program included the Rev. Anthony Ellis of Agape Baptist Church, and Raymond Willis Sr., president of the Mathews branch of the NAACP.