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MLK celebration: Supporting a community of love

Hopkins: Walk in the heart that God put within you
Claudia Reese, right, and her husband, Eddie, thanks the Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration Committee for the 2016 Community Service Award and dedicates it to her community. BY DAN COOK
Maddy Lauria
January 25, 2016
Members of The Call from the Friendship U.M. Church in Millsboro sing a selection during the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Worship Service at Trinity Faith Christian Center. BY DAN COOK
Lewes mayor Ted Becker, left, sings Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing with the Rev. Debra McCafferty, center, and state Rep. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, during the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Worship Service at Trinity Faith Christian Center. BY DAN COOK
Mark Rickards sings with the Guest Choir during the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Worship Service at Trinity Faith Christian Center. BY DAN COOK
Dion Johnson Jr. reads "The Purpose" during the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Worship Service at Trinity Faith Christian Center. BY DAN COOK
Apostle Ivory Hopkins of the Pilgrim's Ministry of Deliverance in Millsboro delivers the message to the congregation gathered at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Worship Service at Trinity Faith Christian Center. BY DAN COOK
A member of The Call choir from Friendship U.M. Church in Millsboro belts out a song during the Jan. 18 worship service. BY DAN COOK
Members of MZ Anointed perform a praise dance during the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Worship Service at Trinity Faith Christian Center. BY DAN COOK
The Rev. Marjorie Belmont Burns acts as Worship Leader during the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Worship Service at Trinity Faith Christian Center. She spoke of one line for everyone in heaven. Not one for black, one white and one red. BY DAN COOK
Daeveon Deshields reads the poem "Where will you stand." BY DAN COOK
Ed and Claudia Reese receive the 2016 Community Service Award from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee member Karen Maull. BY DAN COOK

Trinity Faith Christian Center in Lewes was filled with song and prayer Jan. 18 at the annual worship service tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“This is our country,” said the Rev. Marjorie Belmont Burns of Lewes Charge. “Black, white, red, green – it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how we got here. We're here. We're going to have to learn how to live together.”

Burns, who served as worship leader for the service, joined nearly a dozen other faith leaders and scores of attendees from the Cape Region in celebrating Dr. King's legacy, while focusing on the message of finding balance in a judgmental society.

Apostle Ivory Hopkins of Pilgrim's Ministry of Deliverance in Millsboro said people need to focus on their own character to overcome a judgmental society.

“In order to stand in a judgmental world, you have to keep your own spirit in rule,” he said. “You have to walk in the integrity, and you have to walk in the heart that God put within you.”

Hopkins pointed to one of King's most famous quotes as an answer to the struggle of living in a judgmental society: “I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

“Dr. King's frustration and discomfort brought us to this day,” Hopkins said. “We don't have everything we want, and we haven't arrived as far as we'd like to, but, good God Almighty, don't kid yourself, we have come a long way.”

Following the nearly three-hour service, which brought men and women to their feet in songs and praise, 10-year-old Daeveon Deshields of Rehoboth Beach reflected on the message.

“We all need to take an active part in serving the community and Dr. Martin Luther King and what he did,” he said. “If you don't love each other, then what's the point?”

Organization Treasurer Janie Miller agreed with the young man's sentiments that what's really needed is more love.

“For me, it's all about love,” she said. “We need people to be sincere. That's the only thing that's going to heal the land.”

The worship service was the last event in 24th annual Commemorative Weekend Celebration hosted by The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Organization, Sussex County Inc.

Local couple earns Community Service Award

Edward and Claudia “Denise” Reese of Lewes were awarded this year's the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Organization, Sussex County Inc. Community Service Award at the Jan. 18 worship service in Lewes.

The Reeses are members of Faith United Methodist Church, where they volunteer their time transporting students, catering events and delivering community meals.

Claudia Reese, who, alongside Edward, owned the C&E Transportation Bus Company contracted by the Cape Henlopen School District, now works as a bus monitor for the Cape Henlopen School District. Edward Reese is the chief custodian at Shields Elementary School.

Previously, the two have received the Sunshine Circle Club's My Deeds Speak for Me award, the governor's 2008 Youth Volunteer Service Award and the 2012 Order of St. Barnabas Award.

 

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