NAACP plans Martin Luther King Day event

NAACP plans Martin Luther King Day event

POTTSTOWN – Unity. Engagement. Empowerment.

Expect to hear those words and to contemplate those themes at the Pottstown NAACP’s MLK Service Celebration on Monday, Jan. 16.  It will begin at 7 p.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 240 Mintzer St.

“For me, this MLK event will be about bringing our community together, making it stronger,” said the Rev. Garrison Lockley, Pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and chair of the NAACP’s Religious Affairs Committee, which planned the event.

He recalled a favorite of Dr. King’s sayings: Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.   “I really believe that when we’re silent on the things that matter in our community, we will continue to see problems in our community,” Pastor Lockley said.

“We’re still dealing with homelessness, we’re still dealing with gun violence, we’re still dealing with drug activity, with poverty, with fair funding for education. All of these have a racial component.  So it’s important for all stakeholders to come together to address the issues and address the underlying racism that continues to plague our society. We need to do this for the betterment of our community, for the future of our children.”

During the celebration, several members of the NAACP will be honored for their service. The award recipients will be Pottstown fireman Mark Gibson; Pastors Carter Lester and Kerry Pidcock-Lester, who recently retired from First Presbyterian Church; Stacey Woodland, CEO of YWCA Tri-County Area; and Nick Chigurupati, Pottstown Pharmacy manager.
 
“The civil rights movement under Dr. King was composed of people from all backgrounds,” said Johnny Corson, president of the Pottstown NAACP. “These leaders show the diversity of our branch. They represent Dr. King’s dream.”
 
As part of the celebration, the Lincoln University Choir will perform.
The guest preacher will be the Rev. Dr. Bruck Alick of Zion Baptist Church in Reading. Dr. Alick, a native of Philadelphia, began preaching at Gibson Temple Baptist Church in the city when he was 17 years old. He studied at Princeton Theological Seminary, the Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta and Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass. 

Rev. Darrell C. Brown Jr., Pastor of Rhema, “The Word Church,” and a member of the NAACP’s Religious Affairs Committee, has heard Dr. Alick preach and said he expects the audience will come away “encouraged and empowered. And mobilized.”
“That’s what our goal is – to get people mobilized and connected.  Not just sitting around and complaining,” Brown said. “Instead, be a part of the NAACP.  Be a part of all the organizations that empower us.”  

Mark Ellison III, president of the Class of 2023 at Pottstown High School, also will speak. Among other leadership roles, Ellison is also the senior student representative on the school board and president of the honor society.

The event also is a coming-together of Pottstown pastors.

Mt. Olive pastor, The Rev. Dr. William H. Ball III, is the host and worship leader.

Temple of Prayer’s Pastor Jessica Scott will give the opening prayer.

Kingdom Life Church’s Pastor Justin Valentine will give the welcome.

Pastor Lockley will give the statement of purpose.

Pastor Brown will announce the free will offering.

Victory Christian Life Center Pastor Patrick Mateta will give the benediction.