King Legacy Embraced at Service
Gathering inspiration from the teachings of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., at least 200 worshipers crowded inside a UC Irvine lecture hall-turned-church Sunday to honor the slain civil rights leader and pray for Americans to embrace diversity.
“God’s Divine Diversity Design” was the message delivered to the ethnically mixed group at the Christ Our Redeemer African Methodist Episcopal Church, which meets at the campus. Services were held at the UCI Social Science Plaza, led by the Rev. Mark Whitlock, and included remarks by by U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove).
Whitlock hailed Sanchez, the first Latina elected to Congress from Orange County, as an embodiment of King’s dream of “racial and gender equality.” She was portrayed as one who is “fighting the good fight” to ensure that one day all Americans will see the value of ethnic diversity.
“There will be no division, faction or separation by races,” Whitlock told the congregation before introducing Sanchez. “No homophobia. No xenophobia. We will let nothing separate us.”
Sanchez called King “an ordinary person doing extraordinary things.”
In remembering his legacy, Sanchez challenged everyone to emulate King’s life by not allowing bigotry and intolerance to keep them from achieving their dreams.
“Each step that each one of us takes united makes a difference,” Sanchez said. “Many ordinary people doing extraordinary things, that is his legacy.”
In a passionate sermon, Bobby McDonald, president of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County, said the greatest tribute to King’s memory would be to keep his dream of racial equality alive.
“If you don’t have a dream [yet], get one,” McDonald said to cries of “Yes!” and “Amen!”. Everyone should be committed to “God’s divine diversity,” he said.
Sunday’s service was well attended despite the wintry weather. Latinos, whites and Asians joined the mostly African American worshipers in the 90-minute service. Most people at the service were attending the church for the first time.
“I came to honor Dr. King, but I also benefited from the African American church service,” said Liz Contreras, 23, an office worker who lives in Irvine and happened to see a flier for the service. “I’ve never been at a religious service with so much passion and energy.”
Bruce Snyder said he was visiting the campus with a friend when he walked by the lecture hall, heard gospel singing and peeked inside.
“I decided to stay when I learned it was a commemoration of Dr. King’s life. There haven’t been too many genuine American heroes in my lifetime, but Dr. King is one of them,” said Snyder, 33, of Malibu. “I’m glad I stumbled by.”