Rejoicing in the spirit of Martin Luther King
Simi Second Missionary Baptist church honors civil rights leader
By Avi Rutschman avi@theacorn.com

CONTENT OF CHARACTER- Clockwise from top left, Agnes Sankey McClain, who took part in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, addresses the congregation; children sing songs of worship, and the Rev. Willie M. Gray calls the day "a realization of Dr. King's dream."

Words of inspiration and songs of praise reverberated in memory of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. this week at Simi Second Missionary Baptist Church.

The church, which has been in Simi Valley for 30 years, prides itself on its welcoming of all people regardless of race, age, gender or religious background.

Church members and area residents packed the pews at the house of worship to pay tribute to King's message of tolerance and freedom.

"I feel awesome, uplifted and overjoyed because this day is a realization of Dr. King's dream," proclaimed the Rev. Willie M. Gray, the church's pastor.

The theme for this year's celebration was "Behold the Dreamer Cometh," a reference to Genesis 37:18-20. The passage describes the difficulties Joseph faced because of his prophetic visions.

According to Gray, today's children should know more about King, his struggle and his role as a national hero and civil rights activist.

"The best thing we can all do is to carry on the legacy of his dream, to become what his dream was, to be loving brothers and sisters and bring wellness to our children," Gray said.

The Martin Luther King Day event included music by the Simi Second Missionary Baptist Church Praise Team and the Heavenly Horns, and spiritual dances performed by the church's Praise Dancers.

"It was a beautiful program and I'm glad to see the community come out," said Rashid Aljuwani, a deacon of the church.

The memorial celebration also included an address from keynote speaker Agnes Sankey McClain, who in 1957 participated in the decadelong Montgomery Bus Boycott.

A slide show tribute to other champions of freedom, including Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy, was displayed during the service.

Church members were quick to agree that even after 40 years, King's message still rings true.

Photos by IRIS SMOOT Acorn Newspapers

"Dr. King's message is relevant more than ever today," Aljuwani said. "We need to find ways to make his message a reality, and one of those ways is through education."

The church offers a number of scholarship programs, according to Lyle Jackson, the church's college coordinator.

"Our programs include a scholarship in which all of the high school seniors that are graduating are given some money, and a family designated scholarship fund in which families and groups are allowed to create and name their own scholarships," Jackson said.

Simi Second will be holding a college financial aid workshop on Saturday, Jan. 27 and a parent and youth summit Saturday, Feb. 24 with discussions of a number of education-related topics. "There is no greater vehicle than education," Jackson said.

For more information, call the church at (805) 522-5241.