A prayer breakfast honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was held on Saturday, January 24, 2004 at the Washington Family Church. Our theme was "Living Out the Dream through Peace and Reconciliation." Our hope was to convey the reality that the dream of Dr. King is being realized through the present day victories of our True Parents.

With this heart we gathered over 250 for our prayer breakfast. The sanctuary and cultural hall were filled to the brim with about another 50 people downstairs. Our beloved kitchen staff was forced to perform a "loaves and fishes" miracle in order to feed the multitudes.

With Rev. Jenkins urging us on from Korea, the entire community responded to support the effort and to make sure the event was a total success. Guest arrived from the major faiths, Jews, Christians and Moslem. Many came through the interfaith outreach of our sister Angelika Selle and brother Mel Haft. We were all brought together in the spirit of "The Dream" and in the hope of the new level of reconciliation sealed in Israel on December 22nd. Everyone felt strongly the significance of the success of our event in preparation for the coming event in February.

Our program began with a heart-felt prayer from long time friend and supporter Dr. Mary Quinn. Breakfast was served while Patsy Casino inspired us in song. Our official program began with a special Hoon Dok Hae reading of Dr. King’s "I have a dream" speech. Eight readers from varied backgrounds, ages and races were chosen each to read a portion of the speech. While their segment was being read, on the screen behind them, the same words with powerful images were shown so that everyone could follow along.

As we recited word for word this powerful historical speech, everyone was simultaneously coming to the realization that this speech was about much more than what most people understand. It was about nothing less then realization of the Peace Kingdom in the Era of Chun Il Guk. The dream, Dr. King envisioned was a dream rooted in God. It is God’s dream. In the high point of his speech, Dr. King declared:

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord will be revealed and all flesh will see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South."

For this reason, Father proclaimed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the greatest leader of the 20th century. It is because he articulated this deepest vision and hope rooted in the heart of God and revealed in the book of Isaiah, chapter 40. It is also the basic conclusion of the Divine Principle.

After this stirring moment, we honored Dr. King in the way of Heavenly Tradition by having a birthday cake cutting ceremony. We all sang "Happy Birthday, Martin" and invited several representatives to help cut the cake. It was such a holy and warm feeling and the whole room was melted together in this rich tradition of our True Parents.

On this foundation, we could share openly and strongly the incredible work and victory of our True Parents through the MEPI and Ambassadors of Peace presentation given by AFC leader Peter Brown. Rev. Levy Daugherty testified to the amazing vision of True Parents in the Middle East and that the process of world reconciliation is rooted in the foundational reconciliation between the children of Abraham.

Most important, however, was the powerful testimony of our ACLC ministers who have participated in the pilgrimages to Israel. Ministers such as Dr. Milton Reid, Bishop Steaven Harris, Dr. Lonnie McLeod, visiting from New York, and Bishop C. Phillip Johnson all gave direct, personal affirmation that, truly, Father and Mother Moon are fulfilling "the dream" in their role as the True Parents of all mankind. It was amazing and inspiring.

In the past, there may have been some question about the sincerity of our motives or that we could be wrongly accused of only paying lip service to Dr. King’s legacy. Now clergy are proclaiming that Father is the single hope for the fulfillment of that legacy.

It is because they recognize that Father, year after year, has been an ongoing, unwavering force committed toward the ideal of the Peace Kingdom. Yes, its true, there have been many incantations, varied organizations and projects. . .some endured some did not. But the one thing that never changes, ever, is the sacrificial spirit of the True Parents to invest and invest and forget and invest one more time. That’s our spirit too! It is now bearing fruit. As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating!

Our program finished with a challenge from Bishop C. Phillip Johnson. It is time to put Dr. Martin Luther King on Mt. Rushmore! As much as Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Roosevelt, Dr. King is a founding father of America. With this challenge was launched the "King on the Mountain" project. We want to gather support from around the nation to petition Congress to place Dr. King on Mt. Rushmore. This will help to usher in new day in America and move a step closer toward a much need reconciliation of all of America’s people.

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