By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Marking the 95 birthday of one of the most prominent leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, the First Baptist Church in Glasgow had a service in which many notable public officials throughout the county attended and Lexington pastor Nathl Moore gave an impassioned sermon.
As people were gathering in the church Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech — which King delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 — was played through the speakers hanging near the simple, wooden podium, filling the room with his resonating voice. The words of that now iconic speech were spoken by K.T. Ford after a brief prayer and song.
After numerous public officials spoke including Glasgow Mayor Henry Royse, Barren County County Attorney Mike Richardson and Circuit Court Clerk Krissie Coe Fields, Moore, who pastors the First African Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, detailed the ways in which “we can make the dream a reality.”
“In honor of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I would like to invite your attention to Paul’s Epistle…Ephesians 2:14-16,” Moore said. “It is there that Paul presents what I consider to be one of the basic, most profound theological truths pertaining to Christ and the cross and the greatness of its social impact on relationships, so it is from there I want to lift up a couple suggestions on how we move forward in light of Dr. King’s dream.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. — originally given the name Michael King, Jr. — was born on Jan. 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, to Martin Luther Sr. and Alberta Williams King.
Before his assassination on April 4, 1968, King was an outspoken civil rights leader eventually serving as the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. King subscribed to the idea that nonviolent civil disobedience could help bring about equality and change in the strained race relations prevalent across the country.
Several notable public officials attend the 2 hour service including Glasgow Mayor Henry Royse, Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd and County Clerk Helena Chase Birdwell. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
Between speakers and prayers, members of the church lead the group in various songs accompanied by piano and drums. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
Pastor K. T. Ford recited Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech before Moore spoke. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
Pastor Michael Rice hosted the service at his church on S. Lewis Street. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
Glasgow City Council member Joe Trigg, who is a member of First Baptist, served as Master of Ceremonies; introducing each speaker. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
Between speakers and prayers members of the church lead the group in various songs accompanied by piano and drums. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1
Lexington Pastor Nathl Moore delivered a passionate sermon over Ephesians 2: 14-16 and connected it to MLK’s Dream for America. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1
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