The Words of the Jenkins Family

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King - March of ACLC in Selma

Michael Jenkins
August 29, 2003

Dear Family,

40 years ago on Thursday, August 28th Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King demonstrated that God's word given through the voice of the prophet can affect change in our history and culture. This change came not only from the "Word" that was given but the "practice" of those that gathered on that day and from that time to realize in practice God's ideal that all of God's children love each other and become one. Dr. King, like Abraham Lincoln touched upon the conscience of America when he reminded us that the underpinnings of America, as inspired by God, set the foundation for America to lead the way to the reconciliation of all religions, races and peoples. This is now the basis upon which the Interreligious council and the Pilgrimage to Israel are being conducted.

At the Lincoln Memorial Dr. King spoke,

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. "

Lincoln, in his Gettysburg address cited, "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

These are founding principles that continue to guide and transform our nation and world. Now is the time for us as Americans to stand strong for the creation of a new America based on these founding principles and seek God's blessing for not only this nation but for all of humanity.

Now Bishop Stallings, Rev. Daugherty, Rev. Jesse Edwards and I are traveling to Selma Alabama where with Rev. Kim, Yamane and Rawls. As the "sons of former slaves and former slaveowners" we are practicing with our hearts and souls the teaching that Dr. King brought to America and the World. We will march together across the Edmund Pettis bridge walking the steps that were taken by the faithful who marched with late Rev. Hosea Williams, an Ambassador for Peace and John Lewis (now a U.S. Congressman). They were marching from Selma to Montgomery and were brutally stopped on the Edmund Pettis Bridge by state troopers. It was marked as "Bloody Sunday" where innocent marchers both men and women were beaten. This sacrifice to life according to God's principle touched the conscience of our nation and led to rapid change. We believe that the march that ACLC will join in Selma is the foundation for us to March for Peace in Israel. It is our prayer that our faith will move the hearts of the people of Palestine and Israel to find a non violent solution to the pain and suffering there.

Thanks Rev. Rawls for your inspiration !! Thank you Dr. Yang for your courage to follow the inspiration of the Lord whatever the sacrifice.

Mr. Michael Balcomb passed on these links for your inspiration.

Thanks America.

MWJ

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