San Angelo residents gather to honor life of Martin Luther King Jr.

John Tufts, San Angelo Standard-Times
·2 min read
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SAN ANGELO — "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others..." so began Pastor Keith Gosha's message to a crowd of about 50 people who gathered Monday honoring the memory of Martin Luther King Jr.

"(Love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres," Gosha concluded in quoting Biblical scripture (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). He looked out into the audience seated in the pews at First United Methodist Church, 37 E. Beauregard Ave, and spoke about King's legacy for roughly 30 minutes.

"Love is at the core of change," Gosha said. "If we really think about what Dr. King was doing, every step that he made, he made out of the love of changing the very people who hated him."

While King's birthday is Jan. 15, 1929, the third Monday in January is a federal holiday in observance of the slain civil rights leader's contributions to fighting inequality.

Gosha, Pastor and founder of Living Word Church in San Angelo, was joined by other speakers, singers, and musicians Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, during the annual noon service by the Martin Luther King Jr. Association of San Angelo.

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The audience, composed of Black, White, and Hispanic San Angelo residents, prayed together, cheered together, listened to music together, and sang together during the hour-long service.

"It's so important not for us just to celebrate a day," Gosha said. "If you truly want to celebrate a life and a legacy, do the necessary work that will cause the change in your community."

Pastor Keith D. Gosha Sr. gave a passionate speech about the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 17, 2022. While King's birthday is Jan. 15, 1929, the third Monday in January is a federal holiday in observance of the slain civil rights leader's contributions to fighting inequality. Gosha spoke for roughly 30 minutes in front of a crowd of about 50 people who gathered at First United Methodist Church, 37 E. Beauregard Ave.

San Angelo resident Dudra Butler is a member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Association, and said King's legacy should be honored with action, not just words.

"As we celebrate him, I've been looking at Facebook and I see the quotes and the comments, but I hope people really understand what his message was about," Butler said.

"We have to continue the fight with voting rights and we need all hands on deck. It was so important to (King) that we be able to cast our vote and have a say in the legislative process," she said.

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John Tufts covers enterprise and investigative topics in West Texas. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: San Angelo residents honor Martin Luther King Jr. during 2022 ceremony