(Seguin) — The Civil Rights Movement began in the Black church, and Thursday night it will return to its roots with the official kickoff service for Seguin’s five-day salute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Guadalupe County MLK Committee is joining forces with the Baptist Ministers Union to host a church service at 7 p.m. Thursday at Second Baptist Church.
Rev. Kristofer Atkinson, pastor of Zion Hills Baptist Church, says it only makes sense that the first event of Seguin’s nearly week-long MLK celebration would begin with a church service.
“The civil rights movement started out in the church. So, therefore, it is the church’s responsibility. We have to take responsibility to keep the dream alive, to inform and to educate,” said Atkinson. “So, when we look at the Baptist Ministers Union and we look at the community of faith, we go beyond just our denomination. We want to get the word out to everyone because, at the end of the day, our goal is to promote unity — to promote not only the story, but progress and moving forward. And we can do that united. United we stand, divided we fall. That is why we have aligned with other civic organizations to get the word out and hope that people are able to participate.”
Atkinson says the entire community is invited to attend the special worship service. Several special guests have been invited, and organizers are expecting a gathering of people from across the community.
“You can expect to come out at 7 p.m. Thursday at Second Baptist Church,” said Atkinson. “You’re going to hear from some community voices. We have Sister Commie Jennings and Chase Bell from TLU, and our guest speaker, Reverend Patrick Jones, who will give us some direction, encourage us, and light that fire for us to continue carrying out the life and legacy of Dr. King.”
The Baptist Ministers Union’s MLK service has, for years, been the final event of the weeklong celebration. MLK Committee member Herman Lampkin Jr. says organizers decided it made more sense to make it the kickoff event each year.
“It got to the point where it was kind of an afterthought and the attendance began to drop,” said Lampkin. “We wanted to really build it up. We talked with the Baptist Ministers Union and threw out the idea of switching it to Thursday night as the kickoff. When it was held on Mondays, people would be tired after the march and all of that. When we made the switch to Thursdays, it just seemed like the right thing to do. The Baptist Ministers Union has evolved, with newer preachers and pastors coming in, and they’ve sparked new energy. They’re working with us, and it’s just a match made in heaven.”
MLK Committee member Joe Patterson Sr. says the committee typically selects a theme for the celebration each year, but not for Thursday’s church service. He says the program is entirely presented by members of the Baptist Ministers Union.
“One of the reasons for that is we wanted them to feel independent in how they presented the program,” said Patterson. “With other events, the MLK Committee usually says, ‘This is what we’re going to do.’ We didn’t want to tell the pastors or ministers how to handle their program. We said, ‘However y’all want to do it, we support you.’ We’re the supporting group for the Ministers Union during that time.”
The church service begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at Second Baptist Church, located at 609 S. Guadalupe St.
MLK Week continues Friday with a Seguin ISD Choir Showcase at 6:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Seguin High School.
Saturday’s MLK Banquet and Dinner Theater is the only paid event of the weekend. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased from any committee member, by calling 210-857-6037, or online through Eventbrite. Doors open at 4 p.m. at the Seguin Coliseum, with dinner served at 5 p.m.
On Sunday, a Gospel Fest will be held at 4 p.m. at New St. James Baptist Church, located at 302 A.J. Malone Dr., a few blocks west of North Austin Street.
The final event takes place Monday, the federal holiday honoring Dr. King. The symbolic MLK March begins at 10:15 a.m., starting on Prexy Drive at Texas Lutheran University. The procession will travel onto Court Street and continue east to Central Park in downtown Seguin.
More information about all MLK events is available on the Guadalupe County MLK Facebook page and at seguintoday.com.