Nacogdoches Ministerial Alliance honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr with MLK service

NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) - Multiple congregations in Nacogdoches gathered Sunday to remember the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Nacogdoches Ministerial Alliance held their annual MLK Sunday service at the First United Methodist Church in Nacogdoches.

“We give respect to the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, but we also give homage and respect to those who continue to carry on the dream,” the Rev. Karen Christopher of Pine Flat Christian Methodist Episcopal Church said.

It was a night of prayers, singing, and remembrance. The annual service is like a normal church service, but for the life and legacy of King.

“I like to think that we are all created equal, and I like to think about Jesus’ mission statement, and I like to think about the Great Commandment and when we think about those three scriptures we are thinking about Dr. King’s legacy,” the Rev. Shirley Watts, the president of the Ministerial Alliance said.

Watts said she thinks of King as a modern-day prophet.

“He started it, but we’re still on that same journey now to continue what he started,” Watts said.

The annual MLK service started in 1991, and it wasn’t what it is today.

“It was the night that the Middle East Persian Gulf War began and so we wanted to come together on Martin Luther King’s holiday and pray for peace and justice,” the Rev Kyle Childress, with the Austin Heights Baptist Church said.

Childress said it was important for the alliance to make the service annual.

“It’s important for our all of churches, clergy, and people from the churches to come together and get to know one another. We have enough divisions in this society of ours. So every time we can come together and remember our unity in Christ is very important,” Childress said.

It’s a tradition that’s changed over the years and may continue to evolve for years to come.

“We can’t give up, we have to keep going, pushing in his footsteps because God is concerned about social justice, and he wants all of use to be concerned,” Watts said.