Martin Luther King, Jr. Interdenominational Church Service Draws Hundreds

With hope and song amidst growing community concern over confrontations with the police in Pasadena, Altadena’s Metropolitan Baptist Church celebrated the life and teachings of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday with a joyous afternoon service.

The service, which drew at least 200 people, was sponsored by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Greater Pasadena (IMA). It was led by the Rev. Tyrone Skinner as host pastor, and the Rev. John B. Bledsoe, IMA president and pastor of Zion Star Missionary Baptist Church.

Local and state luminaries filled the church, including State Assemblymember Chris Holden, US Congresswoman Judy Chu, Pasadena City Councilmember John Kennedy, and State Senator Anthony Portantino.

Following an opening selection from Darrell Burch and his musical team, the Rev. John Bledsoe opened the afternoon service, and introduced Pastor in Charge Rev. G. LaKeith Kenebrew.

Following a scripture reading by Rev. A.K. Brown, Reverend William Turner of New Revelation Baptist Church led the opening prayer.

Pastor Camille Russell-Wooden then spoke to the gathered on the always relevant and and powerful legacy of Dr. King.

Following Russell-Wooden, local housing advocate and civil right activist Dr. Jill Shook presented 2017 IMA Alliance scholarship winners Kallis Colman and Theodore Pamplin IV.

Colman spoke of her difficulty growing up with a skin disorder, and told the congregation that her goal was to study at UCLA to become dermatological specialist to help others with skin disorders.

Pamplin, a former high school football player, spoke of the huge influence the IMA had on him at a time when his only interest was football. He told the congregation Saturday that he wanted to transfer out of Pasadena City College and major in Biology at a university.

“I saw my friends getting into trouble,” said Pamplin. “Getting into gangs. I knew I didn’t want that.”

Following the afternoon’s keynote speaker Larry Campbell, who also led the benediction, the congregation finally filed out into the evening, walking just a bit taller to the fading strains of “We Shall Overcome.”