BLACK HISTORY MONTH EDITION: The MLK Worship Service, organized by the Fayetteville Ministerial Council, Inc., marked its 32nd anniversary last month on January 20th. This enduring tradition, spanning over three decades, is a testament to the ministerial council’s commitment to honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and strong leadership in his early adulthood. The event also symbolized the continued relevance and impact of the MLK Worship Service in the Fayetteville community.
King’s vision to lead with love was a commitment to his unwavering dedication to keeping the dream alive during the dark times of the Jim Crow era, where minorities were treated like second-class citizens, class citizens, brutally beaten, lynched, and unable to vote. His following the path of his God-ordained gift, instilled in him, of keeping the dream alive allowed him to make room for his gift as an influencer, from delivering his iconic “I Had a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial to his peaceful protest that reached the White House for President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act of 1965 in the fight for equality.
King’s long-enduring mission to keep the dream alive gave hope for future generations to make room for their gift in this society. The Youth Extravaganza Talent Show, under the Fayetteville Ministerial Council, is a cornerstone of the MLK Worship service. This inclusive event, spearheaded by Kevin Brooks, founder of The Group Theory, empowers the youth audience through motivational speaking from guest speakers and through a talent show.
L-R: Youth Extravaganza Talent Show theme, “I Know I Can,” was inspired by Nas’ 2003 song, “I Can;” Photo Credit: Screenshot/YouTube; and Talent show participants gathered onstage afterwards; Photo Credit: Tracey Morrison/The Exclusive Press
The talent show featured a variety of youth talent performances, including singing, dancing, and spoken word. The talent show resulted in the top three winners: Carrington Tucker (3rd Place), Tamara Fonteno (2nd Place), who both sang a song, and Promises of Power (1st Place), with a dance performance. Their creative talent inspires and exemplifies the accomplishments possible through hard work and perseverance.
Motivational speaker, advocate, and Fayetteville Technical Community College Communications Instructor James Sanders III hosted the event. The featured speaker of the event was Fayetteville native Deborah Effon, a senior at UNC Charlotte studying communication and public health.
She shared her journey inspired by King’s vision and the talent show’s theme, ‘I Know I Can,’ which encourages youth to believe in their potential and carry out the dream to do whatever they choose to desire in the world that will open doors like never before.
The speaker’s initiative to make her mark on her gift invited her to engage in a roundtable discussion with former Vice President Kamala Harris in October 2022, focusing on critical issues like reproductive health and justice on college campuses, according to the Emergency Contraception for Every Campus website. Her extensive volunteer work, her initiative to spearhead initiatives related to reproductive health through the Reproductive Justice Collective, and her role as a Certified Peer Educator and Community Health Worker are other examples of what she embodies: using gifts to make a positive impact.
Regardless of your origins, Effon’s lecture underlines the transformative power of using your gifts. Using your gift will carve a path for you, leading you to places beyond your zip code. This event stands as a living testament to the enduring legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., a legacy that continues to inspire hope across generations. It’s a call to action, urging us all to keep the dream alive and to be all we can be, making a lasting impact in this world.
