Lake Region —The Highland Avenue Church in Benton Harbor, Mich., celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a very special guest—Dr. Derek R. King Sr., nephew of the honored civil-rights leader. King teaches sociology and religious studies at Martin University in Indianapolis, Ind. He came at the invitation of Highland member Derrick Whitlow, graduate of Martin University.

"Dr. King helped me to anchor religion between the spiritual and social," said Whitlow. "He taught that the history in the Bible is a history of everyday living."

Dr. King opened his remarks by saying, "People often adjust the Scriptures to fit the occasion, but we are to adjust the occasion to fit the scriptures." He opened the Bible and presented the pure gospel as the world's only hope.

"The love of God transcends race, gender, religion, and creed. God's love is clearly expressed in the Bible and teaches us about the divine nature of God. Through Christ's life, God desires all people to become more like Jesus, despite our social, political, and religious differences," said King.

Special musical guests, Perseverance, also of Indianapolis, added to the worship experience through their ministry. What started as a Capital City Church worship team expanded to include community outreach to houses for AIDS victims, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and churches. "That's when everyone really started to understand ministry," director Sherita Moses-Whitlow said.

At the conclusion of the divine service, the congregation responded enthusiastically to King's invitation to embrace Christ's message of love and hope.

Gary Burns, Lake Union communication director