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4B JANUARY 8, 1998 MLKIII: We’ll build SCLC chapter here By Mark Oliphant AUGUSTA FOCUS wt AUGUSTA When the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) officially installs Martin Luther King 111 as its new president on January 15, it will mark a continu ation of the leadership begun by King’s legendary father who co founded the organization 41 years ago. King made his first public speak ing engagement in 1998 in Au gusta last Saturday, Jan. 3, at the African-American Summit 98. The event was hosted by the African- American Association, Inc. at Tab ernacle Baptist Church. King, a former Fulton County Commissioner, promoted African- American unity in the CSRA and also took the opportunity to assist rebirth of a local chapter of SCLC. Members of the CSRA African- American Association are spear heading the local effort. “The process of building an SCLC chapter here is developing quite well,” says King. “ I plan to return to Augusta on occasion for this endeavor after I officially as sume office. Wherever there is an effort to create unity in the Afri can-American community, I will be there to be a part of it.” The SCLC was last active here in 1983 with the late Joan Blondell Conley serving as acting president in place of her mother, who passed away while in office. Some of the local African American leaders of past and present who were active forces within the local SCLC chap ter include, Dr. Otis Smith, former Augusta city councilwoman Mar garet Armstrong, and Rev. J.S. Wright, pastor of Macedonia Bap tist Church, Rev. Wright was brou ‘ from Denmark; Bouth Cargm Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to v B gkl Rev. Alex R. King 1630 Fifteenth St. Augusta, Ga. 30901 (706) 733-9430 Sunday: Sunday School 9:30 a.m, Worship Service 11:00 a.m. Ist Sunday Evening 6:30 p.m. Wed: Praise Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Thurs: Senior Services 10:00 Day Care Center: 6:45 a.m. - 5:30 p.m oucasTi'S BEST GOSPEL ooe - Sonshine 16 @ = o y Hm;ugmxfi P.O. Box 1454 Augusta, Georgia 30903 “This is the same philoso phy my father carried in his work. Nothing can be resolved in our commu nity without it.” establish the local chapter in 1965. At the time, he was pastor of Rome Baptist Church there where he met with Dr. King on many occassions on SCLC matters, “We lost a lot of our eager, active members to death,” the Rev. Wright explained. “We also ended up in competition with the local chapter of the NAACP. The SCLC has always been my concern, but | did not have the time nor the en ergy to give the chapter the leader ship it needed. There have always been additional eager members who wanted to serve, but none of them wanted to take the helm to lead the group.” Rev. Wright says after Dr. King's death, he brought King's SCLC comrade and co-founder Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy to town to speak and to work with the Au gusta SCLC Chapter. The long standing civil rights veteran and local community and religious leader says he’s still interested in working with the SCLC. A new generation of leaders who haven’t seen much of the heyday of the old-school SCLC have been working tirelessly to revive the civil rights organization here. Terrence Dicks, along with the Rev. James Reid, are steering this ‘endeavor. ' ' ' - “We've been trying to get the Williams Memorial C.M.E. Church 3pirit il ) 4 Z i . (A i A ‘fi"’“"\ Ve ; ‘&% E ' T i 1. 5 7 T B ; S Martin Luther King lil plans a return trip to Augusta. SCLC restarted in Augusta since 1995,” says Dicks, who also serves as sergeant-of-arms for the CSRA African-American Association. “Our efforts have been on-going with our involvement in commu nity educational programs, voter registrations, hosting economic is sue forums and coalition building.” Martin Luther King Il] certainly has his work cut out once he takes over on his father's 69th birthday. King is looking forward to provid ing, a proactive modern approach while leading the SCLC into the 21st Century. “I consider the work I have ahead of me as more time-involved rather than difficult,” says King. “There is a need for a stronger mobiliza tion in our community in reaching our goals such as eliminating Afri can-American voting apathy and utilizing technological respurces such asthe internet for our cause.” We are reaching out. Come and worship with us. El ® * Antioch Missionary ® Baptist Church 1454 Florence St. (706) 724-2809 Rev. Kenneth B. Martin, pastor Sunday School—9:3o a.m. Sunday Worship—ll:oo a.m. Wednesday Worship—l2:oo noon Wednesday Praise and Bible Study—7:oo p.m. SCLC, once known as an army of door-knocking, street march ing, get-out-and-vote field troops duringthe height of the civil rights movement, has continued fight for such modern-day issues as hous ing and employment under the leadership of president-emeritus Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery. “In this day and age, I'm not one who advocates going door to door,” explained King. “Our organization must identify certain key issues and pursue them one at a time. That way, our image can be easily identi fied with these specific issues.” King also plans to convert the SCLC into a program-driven op eration. Programs planned include conflict resolution initiatives and economic development. King also looks forward to launching a natiopal youth lead ership movement once he begins his term as president. (706) 738-9191 Business (706) 738-0044 Request (706) 733-0044 Request “ 8 Greater Young Zion Baptist Church, 516 Forsythe Bt, in Augusta, will celebrate Family Emhuh Month in January 1998, Special sermons and workshops lboeondnctodby!hv.wfllhm B. Blount, pastor and director of the Family Enrichment Ministries. Sermons to be conducted at 7:30 and 10:45 a.m. every Sunday in January will be: “A Godly Husband,” Jan. 11;“A Godly Wife,” -{m. 18; and “Christian Parenting,” Jan. 26. All Sunday sermon topics will be the same topics during the following Thursday nights at 7 p.m. Bible study and lunch served each Thursday at 12 noon at the church. 8 Timothy Baptist Church, 380 Timothy Rd. of Athens, will be hosting the 1998 Statewide Singles Workshop on January 9 - 10, This workshop is held annually through the Family Enrichment Ministries in Augusta. The theme for the workshop is “Single and Uvi:if.or the Lord.” Cost for the workshop is $25 per person which incl a Christian Singles Social on Friday evening, a continental breakfast and lunch on Saturday, and all materials. Churches registering more than 10 people will receive a discount. Ifinterested in attending, please send name, address and phone number of each person attending to: Family Enrichment Ministries, P.O. Box 1864, Augusta, Ga. 30903. For more specific information, call (706) 724- 1720. B Bt. Alban’s Episcopal Church, on Lumpkin Rd., will be hosting a Resource for a National Dialogue session to be held on Saturday, Jan. 10, from noon until 3 p.m. Members of the Episcopal anti-racism commission from throughout the state will be in atten dance as well. For further details, call St. Albans at 798-1482. 8 The Historic Springfield Baptist Church will celebrate its Sunday School Anniversary on January 11, at 2:30 p.m. Rev. Radford Roundtree, pastor of Christian Fountain Baptist Church, will bring the message. Rev. E.T. Martin is pastor. B SBecond Providence Church, 1643 Summerhill Rd. in North Augusta, will observe its Usher’s and Usherettes Anniversary on Sunday, Jan. 11, at 3 p.m. Guest speaker will be Rev. Otis Moss of Tabernacle Baptist Church. Rev. Dr. Albert M. James is pastor. ®Broadway Baptist Church, 2323 Barton Chapel Rd., will host the Stop the Violence “A Call for Drum Majors for Justice” event on Monday, Jan. 19,at 11 p.m. Keynote speaker will be Rev. Otis Moss 111, pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church. For more information, call 826-1961. 8 The Christian Coalition meeting will be held on Thursday, dJan. 15,. at 7 p..m at 501 Winchester Drive. Host will be Richard Arnold. For information and direction, call 733-8869 8 The Chiildren’s Missions Thrift Store, 1801 Central Ave., will provide free children’s clothing to needy families every Satur day. For more information, call (706) 733-5437. T&flb e rn&c]le Baptist Church 1223 Laney-Walker Bivd. Augusta, Ga. 30901 Church School 9:30 A.M. * Morning Worship 11 A.M. Broadcast Hour SVI’HB 1558} * Nursery, Rot et sl 1 o o Lol | P > Reopf es o sl AAI 5 185 50 S We Invite You To BAPTIST CHURCH Dr. Sam Davis, pastor 1434 POPLAR STREET E AUGUSTA, GEORGIA 30901 TELEPHONE: (706) 724-1086 Sunday Services at 7:45 am., 11:00 a.m., and 7:30 p.m. gLo L Bible Study 7:08' p.m. WOdnudag..and ;:30 a.m. Saturday | Prayer Service at 11:00 Saturday morning 85 Christian Ministries All Services Are Bible-based and Holy Spirit-led '--------117--3--------= of fosuse , = Subsoribe to Auguste’s fnest wookly 8 E sewspapor, Auguste Fosue, for only f = = $24.95 por your. Coll 724-7867 i ! to arrange your subseription. #