WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HOLDS ITS 26TH ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP BREAKFAST

By Marjorie J. Hurst

For those of you who missed it, we had “Church,” y’all! Right there at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Springfield on January 19th at 9:00 a.m. at the Wesley United Methodist Church’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Breakfast.

The dais turned into a pulpit, the tables became the church pews and the audience was transformed into churchgoers, who alternately stood on their feet clapping or repeatedly shouted out “Amen” from their seats.

Mistress of Ceremonies Latoyia Edwards, formerly of WWLP-TV and now of NECN, had already awakened the crowd with her enthusiasm and Wesley’s new pastor, Rev. Shawn M. Wilson gave a rousing welcome to those assembled. Just after the dais invitees brought their respective greetings, Fritzal McNair, accompanied by James Bullock, Sr., got the church mood set with a flawlessly delivered solo.

And then keynote speaker, the Reverend Dr. Velva D. Burley, Associate Minister at Third New Hope Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan and daughter of our own Gladys and Cornell (Corky) Lewis, began her remarks by hoping that she didn’t embarrass Mom and Dad. Not possible…no way, no how!

Not only did she not embarrass her Mom and Dad, but she did the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. proud as she spoke about “Building a ‘Just’ Community.” In one of the best oratory styles I have ever heard, Dr. Burley laid out a blueprint for bringing about positive change in our community.

In a nutshell, she implored that we make our community a priority because where there is priority, there will be passion. And with passion we will violate protocol for those in need. We get upset and ugly for our own but not for those who don’t matter to us. If our community becomes our priority, then we will act with passion and those who are not our own will begin to matter to us, too.

And, you must get rid of the “they sayers” and the “nay sayers” because they block your progress with their negativity and impede your forward movement. Don’t let them stand in your way, Dr. Burley cautioned, and remember that God put the pessimists out of the room!

A gifted speaker, Dr. Burley truly delivered an inspirational yet practical message. When she finished, it really and truly seemed as if it was time for the Invitation to Christian Discipleship. We were all that moved!

And in a way it was. Because it was then time for the most important part of the Breakfast, the announcement and awarding of the 2008 Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Scholarship to Brianna N. Johnson. Brianna, the daughter of Ronn and Donna Johnson and sister of Ronald, is a senior at the High School of Commerce in the International Baccalaureate program. She attends St. John’s Congregational Church and serves as a committee member of The Brianna Fund for Children with Physical Disabilities, a fund named after her that supports the access and mobility needs of children and young adults in the Greater Springfield community. She plans to attend New York University upon her graduation.

Brianna stated that, “Part of Dr. King’s dream was that all people, no matter what race or social status, would show others what was possible. I also have a dream and that is to accomplish something that has not been done before and to show others what can happen when you want something bad enough to work for it.” You go, girl! I truly expect to see you as the first, Black, female president of the United States zipping around in your wheelchair.