Speakers named for King programs

This Saturday, Jan. 13, a celebration honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be presented.

The program will feature guest speaker Pastor Jay L. Thurston, who is Youth & Young Adult Pastor at St. Mark Cathedral COGIC . Thurston, under the leadership of Bishop Mark Gilkey, is the founder and CEO of Jlove Ministries. He uses his charismatic style of preaching to bridge the gap between generations, to break down barriers and speak life.

Thurston travels the country changing lives through the Power of God, letting all know that God through redemption has forgiven you, and set you free!

The theme for this program is the Color of Unity. Also on the program will be Pam Alexander, minister of music at Connor Chapel, AME Church, who will render musical selections; Claude Bradley, Deacon at St. John Baptist Church, will do an excerpt from a speech of Dr. King’s; and Marissa Webb, Brennan Wiggins and Amaya Chandler, members of the Ponca City High School African American club, who will participate as will other club members.

The program on Saturday begins at 6 p.m. at Attucks Community Center. A meet and greet reception will follow.

The 15^th Annual Interfaith Prayer Breakfast will begin at 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 15.

Elder Timothy Johnson, Pastor of Johnson Temple, COGIC, will preside over the program and give a sermonette. Carol Brown will sing, and Mother Della Blackstar will open the program with prayer in honor of her son, the late Rev. Toby Blackstar, who was an avid supporter of the Celebrations. Additionally, City Manager Craig Stephenson will bring greetings, Pastor April Coates of Albright United Methodist Church, Diane Anderson, Phillips 66 Black Employees Network (BEN) and other local ministers and laypersons will give prayers for Peace, Unity, Leadership and the Less Fortunate. Doors will open 7:30 a.m. The Celebration Committee invites all to join them in breakfast and the program. Both are open and free to the public.