Church celebrates Martin Luther King Day
By Avi Rutschman avi@theacorn.com

Words of inspiration and songs of praise reverberated in memory of Dr. 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 city 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 role as a national hero and civil rights activist.

The event included music performed by the Simi Second Missionary Baptist Church Praise Team and the Heavenly Horns. Spiritual dances were performed by the SSMBC 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, an eyewitness to and participant in the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1957.

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.

The church currently offers a number of scholarship programs, according to Lyle Jackson, the SSMBC'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 Sat., Jan. 27 and a parentandyouth summit, on Sat., Feb. 24.

For more information, call Simi Second Missionary Baptist Church at (805) 522-5241.