By Heather Campbell, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — “Who is my neighbor?” said the Rev. Bernard Crayton at the worship service in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Campbellsville University.
Crayton, pastor of Little Flock Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., also said racism is still alive.
He spoke Wednesday, Jan. 17 in The Gheens Recital Hall at Campbellsville University.
Crayton, who is a student at CU’s Louisville Education Center, said there are times in everyone’s life that are never forgotten and he knows the death of King was one of those times.
“It was April 4, 1968, and I was a 6th grade student in Cleveland, Ohio,” said Crayton. “We were told by our principal that Dr. King had been killed.”
Crayton asked if the dream of King would ever become a reality. He said that our nation has made great strides toward a more equal country, but we still have a long way to go.
“Racism is still alive,” he said.
Crayton said that people must be able to deal with two assumptions in order to overcome racial discrimination. The first assumption is that all people are created in the image of God and have significant value and the second is that all people, as humans, are ultimately accountable to God, he said.
“We all will have to stand before the throne of God and give an account of our lives,” said Crayton.
The theme of Crayton’s message was centered around the Scripture of Luke 10:29 which asks the question to Jesus, ‘who is my neighbor?’ and the parable of the Good Samaritan, found in Luke 10:33.
“Love is an action word and must embody the whole person,” said Crayton. “Dr. King understood that love was the concept and the action.”
He said that if we, as a nation, are to be a loving people then we must stop passing by. We must show mercy and kindness because God shows us mercy and kindness, also.
“Martin Luther King, Jr. knew we couldn’t just pass by,” said Crayton. “If we are to be a loving nation, we need to stop passing by.”
In addition to Crayton’s message, Corri Irving, a senior social work major from Hopkinsville, Ky., recited a poem he wrote about King.
Dr. Frank Cheatham, vice president for academics at CU, and the Rev. John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president, welcomed those attending to the almost-full auditorium.
The Rev. Delmetria Cayson, pastor of Fannie Chapel CME Church in Campbellsville, gave an opening prayer, and Dr. Walter Johnson of Campbellsville closed with prayer.
The Gospel Explosion Choir had two musical presentations throughout the service. The choir is composed of Adair, Green and Taylor county residents.
The service was ended with the audience joined hand in hand while singing “We Shall Overcome.”
Campbellsville University, now celebrating her Centennial year, is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,310 students who represent 100 Kentucky counties, 32 states and 28 foreign nations. Listed in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” 14 consecutive years as one of the leading Southern master’s colleges and universities, Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his eighth year as president.