MLK: A Lasting Legacy
As we honor the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today, we want to share with our community some written reflections and videos about his legacy the lasting impact his message has had on our country, the city of Detroit, and the people of Kensington Church.
Video: Marching with MLK in Detroit
https://youtu.be/jj9yP8-PPqU
In Sunday’s service we shared this conversation between Sr. Pastor Brian Mowrey and Birmingham campus-attender, Walter Elliott Jr. who marched with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King in Detroit as an 11-year-old! Although Walter didn’t always understand the significance as a child, he personally experienced the impact of segregation and the changes brought about by the message of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and the civil rights movement.
Written Reflection: “The Brick-A-Day Church”
by Andrew Kim
It was a rainy day as we stood in front of the church. But I could feel the weight of this place – God had used not just this building, but the people/community that called this place home to change the course of our history. It was here that a community banded together to rebuild. It was a beautiful reminder of the power of the body of Christ. It was here that leaders like John Lewis and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood together against hatred, bigotry, racism, and division.
I recently had the opportunity to travel down to Alabama for a Civil Rights tour. First Baptist Church in Montgomery, founded in 1866 by 700 free Black citizens during the era of Reconstruction, was an important gathering place during the Civil Rights Movement. It was here that Congressman John Lewis met Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for the first time in 1958. In 1961, following the arrival of the Freedom Riders, the church was surrounded by a violent mob. In the church basement, Dr. King called U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy for help. This event played a crucial role in the desegregation of interstate travel.
This church was known as the “Brick-A-Day” church because in the early 20th century a fire destroyed the church, and the pastor, Andrew Jackson Stokes, told his people if they found a brick to pick it up and bring it to rebuild the church. The hundreds of bricks carried by hand to this site of destruction were used to reconstruct this church. The reason this brick-by-brick building impacted me so much was that it was a picture of what can happen when people come together to move toward a common vision/goal. Every person was part. Every day counted. Little by little, great things were accomplished.
Video: Reflections on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
https://youtu.be/MUW1R-1DZHI?si=noNLCiWhooNvCtNR
In 1963 in Detroit, 100,000 people participated in “The Walk of Freedom” and flooded down Woodward Avenue to Cobo Arena to hear the inspirational, challenging words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Check out this video as Sr. Pastor Brian Mowrey reflects on the legacy of the man and his message.
“Let’s build bridges, not walls.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Written Reflection: Building Bridges
by Callie Hutcheson
In October of 2024, I attended the Building Bridges course hosted by Troy campus. (It’s being offered soon at Orion campus this week! For info, click here)
Leading up to the 2024 election, I reflected on the previous election season: the harsh political ads, smear campaigns in between every YouTube video, spam text messages and phone calls, and tension around political conversations were enough to suck the joy and camaraderie out of any room.
When I heard Building Bridges was a group of people coming together to have conversations centered on understanding, empathy and most importantly Jesus, I signed up right away.
I learned to lean into hard conversations.
God moves through our testimonies. Let’s give God the opportunity to speak to us through every conversation, even disagreements. Let’s make it a habit to be quick to listen to others.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry … James 1:19, NIV
To be intentional and curious about others will change our arguments into conversations about our differences.
Lean into loving others like Jesus did.
Our love could be cycle-breaking and has the ability to shift a society! Jesus died for the sins committed against us, as well as the sins we commit against Him and His other children. When we engage with others, Christian or not, from a place of humility, realizing we all make mistakes, people will look at us in amazement, as they looked at Jesus, because of our willingness to offer love, compassion, and patience in conversations with anyone.
We are not always going to agree as brothers and sisters of Christ, or between Christians and non Christians. We are all, however, beautiful intentionally made creations of God, and it pleases and honors God to see us treat one another with respect (Ephesians 4:32).
Building Bridges reiterates this message, the best way to show people Christ is to treat others with the dignity, love, grace and mercy modeled by Christ and let God be God moving how He sees fit.
We can all be bridge-builders! Consider three habits you have which help you build bridges with your neighbors, coworkers, friends, neighbors, store clerks, etc. And what are three habits you have which build walls instead? Take these habits to God in prayer asking for guidance this week.