Continuing the Dream: Fort Wayne residents celebrate MLK Day

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - People gathered at Plymouth Congregational Church Sunday evening for the 28th Annual Service of Repentance and Reconciliation.

The church holds the service every year for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

"Set aside tomorrow for honoring the Civil Rights movement, for honoring the work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, and so the community comes together," said Pastor Roger Reece, the Executive Pastor of the Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County.

People gathered to remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The service consisted of prayer, songs, and a message from guest speaker, Dr. Timothy Lake, a professor at Wabash College.

"It's good to be able to come back and reflect upon the struggle," said Rev. Dr. Crystal Bush, the Senior Pastor at New Zion Tabernacle Church in Fort Wayne. "I remember my dad marched with Dr. King several years ago."

Since his death more than 40 years ago, many people said strides have been made.

"Definitely we have some progress that's evident," said Dr. Timothy Lake, the event's guest speaker. "The fact that we are celebrating an African American man is a marker of progress on the eve of the inauguration of an African American man for president, that's progress."

However, many said there's still some work to be done.

"Tremendous poverty and persistent poverty in America, the fact that those issues haven't been addressed and resolved is problematic, and it's something that King gave his life for," Lake said.

There will also be a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day unity celebration at the Grand Wayne Center Monday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission is $5.