Gospel Extravaganza message: ‘Best is Yet to Come’
Published 8:19 am Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Rev. Wilton Red, pastor of Throne of Grace Fellowship Church, said Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream was for all people to realize their full potential and to maximize one’s gifts, talents and abilities.
“Even though we may have accomplished many things, there is so much more to do,” said Red, who welcomed a packed congregation to the 2015 Gospel Extravaganza.“It’s a privilege to host this annual event at our church in the middle of a high-crime and low-income area, where we can touch the community,” Red said Sunday from the church, located on 6th Street in Lake Charles. “We are right where people live everyday. Our emphasis is to bring God’s grace to all of his people.”
There were a variety of performances at the annual event including dance, poetry, song and testimony.
Derrick Small, a testimonial music artist, performed “The Giant Slayer” — a song about overcoming pain, setbacks and obstacles.
“The enemy tries to lead you astray from doing what God calls you to do,” Small said before his performance. “This translates to Martin Luther King’s legacy. We all have dreams. His dream is that we can all move forward in God. As long as we have peace and serenity, we can overcome.”
The theme for the service was “The Best is Yet to Come.”
“No matter where you come from or where you start from everyday is an opportunity to get better,” said Donald Thomas, co-chairman of the event. “Everyday you wake up in the morning, put the past behind you and keep moving forward.”
He pointed out that MLK dealt with struggles during the Civil Right Movement.
“MLK kept going,” he said. “‘The Best is Yet to Come’ was definitely Martin Luther King’s mindset. You have to have faith and believe.”
Thomas, who started the yearly event a decade ago, said that God was the focus of the Civil Rights Movement, so it’s important that the church continue to be the focus of his legacy.
Sarah Thomas, a church member, believes MLK’s dream has come a long way.
“We are still working hard together to try and realize the dream not only for African-Americans but for all races,” Thomas said. “With Christ, all things are possible.”
(Rick Hickman/American Press)
