A Wonderful Day

Today we were able to spend a fantastic morning at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. The congregation welcomed us so fully into their 123rd Anniversary service. We were treated to amazing music and a joyous sermon. I was moved to tears by the whole experience. We were blessed by a phenomenal sermon from Reverend Timothy McDonald who challenged everyone to use their ability to make a difference. He reminded us that with ability comes the need for responsibility. He also called on each of us to be available to make change in our world. ABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY, AVAILABILITY! A message that we can all take with us from this trip...regardless of our religious beliefs. At the end of the service, the pastor gathered with the members of the congregation that have been members for 50+ years. Dr. King's sister Christine was present for the picture!

After the first service our group toured the Martin Luther King, Jr. historic sites. Following our visit to the birth home and gravesite, I went back to the 11:00 service at Ebenezer to see Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, Co-founder and President Emeritus of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, speak to the congregation. What an amazing opportunity to be able to hear from Dr. Lowery. He shared his first-hand account of the inauguration and his experience giving the closing prayer during this historic occasion. His humorous, eye-witness account of his role in the history of our nation was an absolute gift. I am so thankful for the chance to hear him speak today!

As if that was not enough, we were treated to a lecture by Congressman John Robert Lewis. Thanks to the generosity of our friend Minnijean Brown Trickey, we were invited by Sojourn to the Past tour group to join in their lecture by Congressman Lewis. He, too, shared his experience from the front line of the civil rights movement. We will retrace his steps in the coming week. We'll walk the path he walked across the Edmund Pettis Bridge where he encountered a brutal beating at the hands of the Alabama State Troopers. Mr. Lewis was so gracious and took the time to shake each of our hands and meet each of us personally. Thank you to Congressman Lewis, Minnijean, and Jeff Steinberg of Sojourn to the Past for sharing their day with our group.

I am also so thankful for the amazing students who have worked tirelessly to make this trip possible for their peers. Today is a day I will remember forever.