ARTICLE

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: A Pastor and Civil Rights Leader

January 14, 2026 | Chris Perrotte

“If I had sneezed, I wouldn’t have had a chance later that year, in August, to try to tell America about a dream that I had.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said this in his last speech on April 3, 1968, the night before he was assassinated.

Dr. King was referring to his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, which he gave on August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, in front of over 250,000 people who gathered for that significant moment in human history. Dr. King was the leader of the Civil Rights Movement and an advocate for equal rights for Black people.  He worked tirelessly, traveling to various parts of the United States. Led marches, held rallies, met the President at the White House to ensure that Afro-Americans, as they were called, were not looked upon as second-class citizens.

As a pastor and civil rights leader, he led by example. His words and actions sent ripple effects throughout the world, inspiring others to take a stand for equal rights. His unwavering commitment and leadership made it a natural choice for him to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. To celebrate his birthday and achievements, the MLK Connexus, with the support of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC) and the Ontario Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, will present the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Concert. This program, titled “Dreamer to Torchbearer,” will be held at the Canada Event Centre in Whitby, Ontario, on January 17, 2026. The program will highlight the legacy of Dr. King Jr.

“We often look at the greatness of the man, but we forget that he was a pastor, and his push for civil rights and human dignity was based in his biblical beliefs,” shared Pastor Shawn Ellis, Associate Director of Communication and Operations for Hope Channel Canada. “Celebrating Martin Luther King is a reminder of how powerful the Holy Spirit is working through people committed to their faith in God to change the world.”

At the age of 19, Dr. King was ordained as a Baptist minister and began serving as an assistant pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, alongside his father, Senior Pastor Dr. Martin Luther King Sr. Following the arrest of Rosa Parks in Montgomery, Alabama, when she refused to give up her seat to sit at the back of the bus, Dr. King, at age 26, was chosen to lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which began on December 5, 1955. This boycott is considered as the launch pad of the Civil Rights Movement.

“We are here; we are here this evening because we’re tired now.  And I want to say that we are not here advocating violence. We have never done that. I want it to be known throughout Montgomery and throughout this nation that we are Christian people. We believe in the Christian religion. We believe in the teachings of Jesus.  The only weapon that we have in our hands this evening is the weapon of protest.  That’s all.”

Four days following the arrest of Rosa Parks, Dr. King spoke these words to nearly 5,000 people at Holt Street Baptist Church in Montgomery, who had come to support the boycott.

There he stood, a young Black man called to lead his people to the Promised Land. Sound familiar? Every day God calls us to do His work.

“King made sacrifices to help others, not for himself, but based on his biblical beliefs. God calls all of us to serve Him. As Adventist youth, ask yourself: How is God calling you to serve? Are you ready to sacrifice your comfort and trust where He leads?” Pastor Ellis asks.

Come, see, and listen on January 17 at the Canada Event Centre, 300 Water Street in Whitby, Ontario, as we reflect on the legacy of Dr. Martin King Jr and how his ministry touched so many lives. Tickets available on Eventbrite. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the celebration begins at 6:30 pm.

Chris Perrotte