From a jail cell in Birmingham, Alabama, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote an impassioned 7,000-word letter in response to fellow clergymen who accused his activities as being “unwise and untimely.”

What activities? Just four days earlier, King and more than 50 other people led a non-violent demonstration through the streets of Birmingham, protesting the racist treatment suffered by African Americans.

On scraps of newspaper, King responded,
“Justice too long delayed is justice denied. We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights.”

Facing imprisonment for a thirteenth time, Dr. King’s passion to bring down the corrupt system of segregation was unwavering. Motivated by the life of Jesus and the message of the Bible, Dr. King fought for racial justice until the fateful day an assassin took his life on April 4, 1968.

50 Years Later, the Dream is Still Alive

Dr. King’s life was ended, but his dream lives on. As America continues to grapple with issues of race, Dr. King’s message of biblical love and civil liberty still rings true today.

In honor of his legacy and the 50
th anniversary of his death, we seek wisdom from the book that inspired Dr. King’s courageous leadership—the Bible.

Reviving the Dream is an online resource inviting us to reflect on the profound influence the Bible had on the life and work of Dr. King. There, you’ll find a 10-week Scripture journey that highlights pivotal moments in Dr. King’s life and the biblical passages that inspired him.

In April, two
Reviving the Dream events will be held in New York, NY and Charlotte, NC, where folks are invited to celebrate the life of Dr. King. Diverse panels of local and national leaders will discuss racial reconciliation and the role of the Bible in social movements.

As we approach the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s death, let’s honor his legacy by praying for racial reconciliation in our nation.

Let’s Pray Together

God, thank you for the courageous leadership of Dr. King. We pray for the willingness and fortitude to seek your Word for wisdom and truth. Help us love and respect each other as your Word instructs. We pray for healing, forgiveness, and justice for our nation. We ask you to guide the upcoming events in April, and use these opportunities to draw people closer to you and to each other.