The scholars at V. Lindsay Elementary School are typically outfitted in school uniforms on any given school day but on January 16, they were particularly dressed to impress. Why? V. Lindsay was invited by the Martin Luther King Committee to be the featured guest artists for the 43rd citywide celebration for the city of Kansas City, Kansan, and they were not only uniformed, but “suited up” for service.
Under the tutelage of Mrs. Jessica Valentine, Ms. Ezrone Bernard and Ms. Sasha Mann, scholars’ vocal and elocutionary talents have been developed to the point that the school frequently receives requests to perform at community events. This occasion was especially meaningful because the life work of Dr. King reflected, to a great degree, the biblical principles of justice, equity and service. The historical, cultural and spiritual significance of his life provide much for students to study and reflect upon.
This ecumenical gathering is the largest event of the year co-sponsored by the city/county government, the Baptist Ministers Union and the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s office. The mayor, city councilpersons, other dignitaries, and area residents were all in attendance at the downtown Memorial Hall to hear the keynote address by Dr. William Houston Curtis, senior pastor of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a large, urban ministry that ministers to more than 10,000 members. Yet the audience may not have been prepared for what came before Dr. Curtis stood to speak.
V. Lindsay upper-graders began with a dramatic recitation of Dr. King’s iconic address, I Have a Dream. Though often recited, the words seemed to take on new life as the scholars came to the last ringing phrase:
And when this happens, and when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, Black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
The audience’s reaction—standing, vocally responding, applauding—was spontaneous, but as the old saying goes, the crowd of over 700 hadn’t seen anything yet! All the scholars joined to sing and again, the atmosphere was charged with emotion. Many in the audience wiped tears away as they witnessed the performance.
Mr. Clarence Small, a member of the planning committee, and long-time elder at Bethel Seventh-day Adventist Church, recalls the moment: “The audience was electrified! City officials and Dr. Curtis were in awe at the level of talent and musical discipline demonstrated by such a young group. At our debriefing, committee members agreed that V. Lindsay was the highlight of the program.”
It can only be considered Divine alchemy that the visit of Dr. Curtis, author of a book entitled Dressed for Victory: Putting on the Full Armor of God, coincided with the presentation of V. Lindsay scholars to benefit the Kansas City community.
The whole armor
The same can be said for our scholars at St. Louis Unified School, who visit each area church throughout the school year to share what they are learning and to serve congregants by taking part in Sabbath worship services. During one recent visit to the Agape Seventh-day Adventist Church, the children used American Sign Language to present a song. Mrs. Nicole Droste, their teacher, began teaching ASL to the children last school year. Scholars also told the children’s story and presented a vocal selection as well. Elder Keith Hackle, pastor of Agape, made the occasion even more special as he included the children in his sermon. Using large Jenga game pieces, he talked about the importance of making wise decisions, while providing biblical examples. He called the scholars to the front and had them withdraw a piece of the puzzle each time a decision was made, making the point that in the same way the structure was still able to stand throughout the effects of good and bad choices, in like manner, God can strengthen His children and cause them to stand and to serve Him.
We are proud of our Central States scholars and teachers who give of their time and talent so willingly. Their academic studies are equipping them for success, but more importantly, they are suiting up for service, putting on the “whole armor of God.”
Joann Herrington is education superintendent for the Central States Conference.
