A host of pastors, community leaders, volunteers and politicians from both major political parties came together to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
during “A Day of Service” Prayer Breakfast, held Jan.
20 in the gym of North Little Rock’s Shorter College.
The event was sponsored by Bethel AME Church-North Little Rock, and the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission.
Guests enjoyed a variety of breakfast-buffet items and mingled with each other as well as actor-comedian Kel Mitchell and King’s nephew, Isaac Farris.
The Rev. Phillip Pointer Sr., pastor of St. Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock, was master of ceremonies.
The program included musical selections by the Shorter College Choir and Philander Smith College Choir; a greeting by DuShun Scarbrough, executive director of the King commission; and prayers led by the Rev. Rod Loy, senior pastor of First Assembly of God in North Little Rock;
the Rev. Hezekiah Stewart, pastor of Moody Chapel AME Church in Little Rock;
Bishop Jewel R. Withers Jr., presiding prelate, Arkansas First Jurisdiction, Church of God in Christ; Dana Davin, founder of Isaiah 30:18 Ministries; and the Rev. Genette Howard, co-founder and executive pastor of Restoration Worship Centers International in Fayetteville.
Philip E. Kaplan, King Commission chairman, introduced speaker Rabbi Kalman Winnick, who explored the Old Testament book of Exodus to extol the importance of benefiting from the wisdom of others.
“Whatever our title … we need to hear not just our own words, but the teachings of our parents, the teachings of our leaders,” he said. Adding that we all must “listen to our neighbors, constituents, congregants,” Winnick expressed a final hope that attendees would build friendships with each other and exchange contact information to do just that.
The Rev. O. Jerome Green, president of Shorter College, was given an award presented by Kaplan. The Rev. Tyrone A. Broomfield, pastor of Bethel AME in North Little Rock, recognized all attendees who held political offices as well as those who are running for them.
High Profile, Pages 34 on 01/26/2014