By Rev. Angel L. Sullivan, former national president
“I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together…
“This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.”
—Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Last Sunday our pastor recited excerpts of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. As I listened, I was overwhelmed with images of the past, present, and future. I thought about all the people, black, white, male, and female, who sacrificed their personal comfort, families, jobs, and status to make the world a better place. I am grateful because without the sacrifices of others I would not be able to live the life that I am living. I could not be a minster, vote, or have the freedom of having a diversity of friends. While there has been much advancement since 1963, there is still much of the dream to achieve. Much like Queen Esther, I do believe that American Baptist women are created for such a time as this (Esther 4:14). We are created as a community of women, as women of God, to help to make a difference for women and girls in our local community and abroad. The Beloved Community address issues of evil, injustice, peace, and the overall desire to make the world a better place for our children and grandchildren.
As you know, our mission focus theme for this year is, “See…the Beloved Community: Transformative Relationships.” Over the next few weeks I invite you to take a spiritual journey and see where you can make the “The Beloved Community” a reality in your world.