Despite facing many hardships, the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. remained “a man of faith,” the guest speaker said at the Mathews chapter NAACP’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration Sunday afternoon at First Baptist Church, Mathews.

Featured speaker Minister Jonathan Waldon, pastor of the host church, said that the slain civil rights leader fought for equality for all. However, his faith was tested over and over again, when facing police dogs, being sprayed with water hoses, and being imprisoned for peaceful assembly.

But “he did not lose faith,” Waldon said, as he worked for the betterment of people of all races.

Although King made great strides, there is still much inequality among the races, Waldon said, pointing to schools and jobs. How can you have successful communities if people do not have faith, he asked.

Waldon said that King’s faith carries over to modern times, adding that he would much rather have three people on his team that have faith than 100 who have “sketchy faith,” not really believing in God’s greatness.

There is a trend currently for some to view God as an ATM, Waldon said, thinking they can get a quick dose of religion as easily as they can withdraw money from a bank. But “God is not an ATM, a slot machine or a lottery ticket,” he said.

If you want a better job, you should get down on your knees and pray as you seek guidance to better yourself, Waldon said.

Pointing to President Barack Obama, who is about to step down after eight years, Waldon said that you must “look back on the countless lives” lost in the struggle to get a black person elected to the nation’s highest office. Obama reached office, in part, because of those who came before him in the struggle for equality and those who “marched for justice,” he said.

In reading scripture before Waldon’s talk, Deacon Carroll Jackson asked the audience to read Galatians, the part about “love your neighbor.”

It was from the Bible that King looked to find “a new dream” of equality, Jackson said.

Minister Rose Mason offered a prayer. Mason said that although there’s suffering in the world, “he is an all-loving God.” King was “a man of integrity who awakened our people,” Mason said. “Some of the dream (of equality) has come true.”

The Male Chorus of Ebenezer Baptist Church led several selections. Irma Thomas was mistress of ceremonies.

Raymond Willis is president of the Mathews NAACP. Other officers are vice president Terry Dixon, secretary Edith Turner and treasurer Gaylen Davis.

Mathews NAACP meets every third Monday night at 7:30 at the Masonic Hall on Route 198, Hudgins.