The current winter COVID-19 surge in Greenbrier County has resulted in the cancelation of the traditional Martin Luther King, Jr. Day march, community lunch, and program at the Lewisburg United Methodist Church. Instead, a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration video similar to last year’s is being made for YouTube distribution.
On Monday, Jan. 17, search on YouTube.com for the title of the video, which is “Lewisburg MLK 2022.”
The video will begin with a welcome and introduction by Pastor Kathie Holland of the New Vision Baptist Church in White Sulphur Springs. She has served on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration Committee, and is one of its most eloquent supporters.
Nevaeh Traynham will sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the customary opening music for this event. Lewisburg’s Mayor Beverly White will deliver her stirring proclamation of the city’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Week for 2022. Before the keynote speaker’s address, Chris Winston will sing as he did in the celebration video last year.
The keynote speaker is Bishop Fred T. Simms, Senior Pastor and founder of the Heart of God Ministries in Beckley, which has a 41-member ministerial staff and 32 auxiliary ministries. He is a renowned preacher, orator, author, and community leader. For instance, he has been given a great many awards for his community service by the City of Beckley, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission of WV, the YMCA, and Mountain State University. His address in the video will provide inspiration in keeping with the words of Dr. King selected to embody the theme of this year’s celebration: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
