Many Churches Join MLK Celebration

More than 900 praying, swaying, and singing people took part in the 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, held on Sunday, Jan. 19, in the DeVos Center for Arts and Worship at Grand Rapids Christian High School in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Sponsored by the Christian Reformed Church’s Office of Race Relations and other groups, it was a Spirit-filled event that drew a lively crowd of people from many religious traditions to honor the slain civil-rights leader.

For instance, Rev. Michael Peters, a Native American pastor from the Traverse City area of northern Michigan, opened the night with a ceremony in which he blessed the land and the auditorium by using sage, sweet grass, and cedar as incense.

Representing the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, Peters said: “We are preparing our hearts as we come together in unity to praise God. There is no Democrat, no Republican, no Baptist, no CRC. We are all God’s children.”

In previous years the Office of Race Relations has held an event celebrating the life and legacy of King that mainly targeted members of the CRC. But this year, the office joined with the Grand Rapids Initiative for Leaders, Amplify GR, Metro Health, and Celebration Cinemas to expand the reach of the event honoring King.

“I wasn’t sure how it was going to go, but it was great to see that the auditorium was packed,” said Rev. Reggie Smith, Race Relations director. “And the celebration was really powerful, from start to finish. We were very pleased.”

Indeed, high-level energy flowed through the event. Perhaps by burning the grasses and using an eagle feather to spread the sweet-smelling smoke into the air, Peters helped to kindle what followed.

First was a rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often referred to as the “Black National Anthem.”

Lyrics from the song by James Weldon Johnson were projected on the walls on either side of the stage. But most people in the crowd didn’t need to read them. Across the auditorium, they stood and sang by heart: “Lift every voice and sing/ till earth and heaven ring,/ ring with the harmonies of Liberty./ Let our rejoicing rise. . . .”

In this celebration filled with activity, more music followed, keeping worshipers on their feet and encouraging many to sing familiar praise songs at the top of their lungs, filling the place with joyous noise.

Then Parris McMurray from Renaissance Church of God in Christ read a passage from the book of Joshua that would be the basis of the keynote message later, when a preacher would speak of having courage and stepping into the promised land.

Next, Dawn Damon, pastor of Tribes Church, a Wesleyan congregation in Rockford, Mich., read from Revelation 7:9, which her church uses to promote its mission and vision. She read: “…and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. . . .”

And the audience reflected those words: many ethnic groups were represented among those attending, and many were from the spectrum of churches participating in the program. When Raul Fermin, a pastor at Lee Street CRC, stepped forward to offer prayer, he recognized this: “We are all here together for this celebration tonight. Thank you, Lord. As people from all nations, we praise your name.”

Dressed in flowing black gowns with colorful, flower-like red- and-white images on them, Xpressions of Praise, a female dance group, followed. Their performance began to the strains of gloomy, ominous music, representing widespread suffering in the world. As the dancers bent their arms to the floor, someone in the background said: “Culture, society is built on corruption. There are problems all day long as we argue right from wrong.”

The dancers spread out as the music grew more upbeat and expectant. The dancers reached out their arms, bent side to side, flung back their heads, and spun their bodies, helping to tell a story in which faith in God can help to address suffering, root out fear and restore joy and hope.

Various people from the organizations sponsoring the event then stepped up to offer greetings. Among them was Colin Watson, Sr., the CRC’s director of ministries and administration, who offered encouragement and a call for continued unity.

“As we look out at who is here, we see a little bit of heaven on earth in what we celebrate tonight,” he said.

Recalling Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birthday is celebrated this week, Watson said: “Dr. King reminded us that there is a better way. We don’t need chaos. We need peace. Unless we care for one another, we will not survive. May this be the beginning of many more times of unity in our community.”

Following the greetings, a Student Celebration Choir filled the risers set up at the back of the stage. Most of the boys wore white and black — some in tuxedos, others in shirts and ties — and the girls wore dark dresses. And they all joined their voices in singing “Cry Holy.”

People clapped and followed along as they sang: “The God Almighty, Mighty. Early in the morning, morning, our song shall rise to Thee. He's so worthy (can I get a witness).
He's so worthy (can I get a witness).”

The high-octane energy continued flowing as Rev. James Stokes of New Life Tabernacle Church of God in Christ made the Call for Community Celebration, remarking that when churches come together, “we can change our city, change our state, change our country.”

Following Stokes, an Adult Celebration Choir took the stage and kept things moving by singing several selections that helped to build anticipation before the keynote speaker, Evangelist Tynae Richardson, preached. As the music finished, she stepped to the pulpit and read from Joshua 1:3: “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.”

A leader at Bethel Empowerment Center, Grandville, Mich., Richardson spoke about the fruit, the milk and honey, the good things of God, that await us if we are willing to have courage and place our feet down and claim the inheritance God has given us. Throughout her message, her voice rose, and the crowd cheered her on.

“We are the Joshua generation,” she said. “Let’s raise the volume in this place and break the hold of the enemy. Let’s confuse him. He wants to take away your weapons, your brain. He wants to keep us divided.”

Joshua, a warrior of God, is our inspiration, she said. He was scared and unsure before crossing the Jordan and leading the Israelites into the promised land. But the Lord gave him courage; the Lord helped him to cast aside doubt, to unite the various Jewish tribes into a strong army. “Just like Joshua,” said Richardson, “[you] have a responsibility. Don’t doubt yourself and God. Pain, loss, and brokenness are not the end of the story.”

This part of the story ends, she added, when we cross over into a new land, a land of promise and new beginnings. “But you won’t be able to go over it or under it. You will have to go through it.”

One sentence building on another, she went on: “It is time for us all to come alive. God will be with us in this battle.” In light of celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., Richardson picked up on the theme of unity suffusing the entire program. Under God, she said, we can all come together.

“God has given us the authority. . . . Allow God to be the wind at your back. God has put in you everything you need. God and his mercy will follow us all the days of our lives. . . .”

In wrapping up the event, Howard Earle, a pastor at New Hope Baptist Church, prayed, “We are thankful for the rich legacy of Martin Luther King, who paid the ultimate price.”

“We realize his dream has not been realized yet. There is still work to be done. Our world today is hurting; it is hemorrhaging. We seek your face and ask for grace, Lord. Protect us, give us strength and power, and don’t allow the enemy to gain one inch” in the ongoing struggle for togetherness in the midst of division.