"We need to learn to live in harmony'

Rev. Charles Jackson, pastor at The Guiding Light Missionary Baptist Church of Christ in Fulton, delivers a message titled "Reignite the Vision: Living Together in Love as the Family of God."
Rev. Charles Jackson, pastor at The Guiding Light Missionary Baptist Church of Christ in Fulton, delivers a message titled "Reignite the Vision: Living Together in Love as the Family of God."

Community members and hospital employees gathered Monday at St. Mary's Health Center to celebrate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The ninth annual event, "Reignite the Vision: Living Together in Love as the Family of God," was the only Martin Luther King Day program held in Jefferson City on Monday.

Several program speakers said it's no coincidence the day coincides with President Barack Obama's second inauguration.

"We should see this as a true milestone of race relations in America," said Brent VanConia, president of St. Mary's Health Center.

Rev. Charles R. Jackson, the program's featured speaker and pastor at The Guiding Light Missionary Baptist Church of Christ in Fulton, said he believes some segments of society are starting to lose the dream King believed in, but the dream must be carried on.

"We need to get back to the basics," Jackson said. "Dr. King operated because he had the word of God.

"The only way we can move things along is to use our relationship with God."

Jackson also said the effort must include love - love for God and love for your neighbor.

"There's a lot of people talking about love, but their actions clearly don't show it," Jackson said.