The Gilliland Historical Resource Center held its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Day event, virtually, on Monday. The theme for the holiday program was, “Let’s continue the dream.” 

The selected song was, “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke. The words are epitomized and have been for years as a universal message of hope—one that does not age. 

Reciting from Dr. King’s “Letter from Birmingham (Jail)” was attorney Madison Biggs. One of the most profound portions of that letter (all found in its entirety online) was the famous line by Dr. King which stated, “We know through personal experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” 

Guest speaker for the virtual event was Pastor Jason Scales, son of Wayne and Sheila Scales. Those introducing him online said he founded his own church on “simplicity and power.” 

Scales is also an author, writing the book, “Resilient: How’s that Working for You?” (Paperback available at Amazon.com.) Scales prompts his readers to pause and look at the habits, ideologies and actions that may be keeping them away from their life dreams. 

The pastor said during the virtual event that he realizes how frustrating the whole process of achieving life’s dreams can be. Still, he believes God can continue to use dreamers—like Dr. King—for His greater purpose into the future. 

Scales said he believes: 1. Dreams inform us.  2. There’s no human or Christian for that fact better than another 3. People need one another. 

“We all need each other,” said Scales, explaining further that we’ve come to realize this in last couple of years for sure with COVID and other events. 

Paraphrasing Dr. King, he said, “We may have all come over in a different boat, but now we’re together in the same boat.” 

Scales said he believes dreams are fulfilled through personal sacrifice and through one’s unselfish nature. One thing is for certain, he explained to his audience listening and watching via Zoom, “You cannot be passive and dream.” 

He explained that some “dreams”—even those of Dr. King—may not be realized until the future. But when they’re unselfishly set into motion, future generations benefit. 

Scales said an example is that it wasn’t until 2008, when the first black president was elected to The White House. Scales said Dr. King would have been 79 in 2008, if he had not been assassinated, when Barack Obama took the oath of office. 

While maybe it wasn’t meant for him to be here physically to see the event, Scales said Dr. King if he had of been alive, he would have no doubt realized a fulfilled dream. 

He said God certainly gives us dreams bigger than our bank accounts. And just as Dr. King often said, “everyone should dream bigger than themselves.” 

“I believe if God can use me, he can use anybody,” said the pastor. 

He talked about a youth who had been in an afterschool program and how he was impacted by those mentors who supported him. He went on to own his own computer company. 

“You never know who you’re impacting . . . what God’s calling you to do.”