John Vandervelde - Program Director    

I grew up in Holland, Michigan, a small town right on the shore of Lake Michigan.  Holland is a beautiful Dutch city full of kind people and hundreds of churches.  It is also one of the "whitest" places on earth.  In fact, I can count on one hand the number of African American students who attended my high school of 1,000 kids.  Now matter how hard my parents tried to expose us to the diverse world around us, it was tough in such a monochromatic place as West Michigan.

Our family was not a big TV watching family, but we never missed an episode of "The Cosby Show".  All six Vanderveldes would pile on the couch and floor in front of the TV and laugh at the good, clean humor and reflect on the meaningful lessons taught by Dr. and Mrs. Huxtable, and their five kids.  The first time I remember learning about Martin Luther King Jr. was through this show.  As a young child I remember the Huxtable family gathering around their TV in silence as they watched a black and white showing of the famous "I Have a Dream" speech.  It may not have been the first time I heard or saw that speech, but it was the first time it sank in as being a serious moment in American history.  After the show ended and we turned off the TV, I remember talking with my mom and dad about Martin Luther King Jr. and about the injustice he was battling against in our country.  I instantly had great respect for this man of God.

My next major exposure to Martin Luther King Jr. was in high school when I read "Letter From the Birmingham Jail".  The letter gave me goosebumps then and still does today.  It inspires me to stand against the injustice we find in our world.  I encourage you to click the link above and read the letter for yourself today.

The question is often asked, "Are race relations any better in our country today than they were during the Civil Right Moment of the 1960s?"  The answer varies depending on who you talk to, but there is no doubt that racial injustice still exists in this country.  I think a better question to ask is, "What am I going to do about the racial injustice I know exists in this nation?"  I think today is not only a day to celebrate the life of a great man, but a day to reflect on our own hearts and lives so we can weed out the sin of racism we find.  Remember the Kingdom of God is about healing, justice, and reconciliation.  Let's be agents of the Kingdom of God today!

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" - Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from the Birmingham Jail