Over 60 years have passed since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and gave his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. To this day, many worldwide are still inspired by his actions; and to commemorate them, the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Malden hosted a Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Saturday, January 18th, 2025.
Eric Henry, a church committee member, explained how this celebration was a “recognition of our past and the struggles we’ve been through.”

The event began with the pastor thanking and praising God for the opportunity to bring everyone together on such a significant day. Following this, everyone rose to sing “God Bless America.”

Reverend Dr. David Kilpatrick, West Medford Baptist Church’s pastor, personally knew Dr. King. He marched in the civil rights movement and was on a committee with him in New York during the 1960s. In his speech, Reverend Kilpatrick spoke passionately about how God encourages humans to stay strong in difficult times. He discussed the importance of finding the strength and courage to speak up when it matters most, particularly for minorities who must ensure their voices are heard.
“The battle has not been won, but the battle is ongoing. We are a part of it, and we will do our part to make this world what God envisioned,” Reverend Kilpatrick stated.
“As far as we’ve come, we’ve still got distance to go,” Henry agreed.
Malden High School’s Holland House Guidance Counselor, Kristy Magras, announced that they were selling food by the entrance and that all proceeds were going towards the church. “Not only does it feed the stomach, but also the soul,” Magras emphasized.
Mayor Gary Christenson attended the event and spoke about many of Malden’s achievements. “I want Martin Luther King Jr. to know that we’re not just about the words he spoke, but we’re about the actions that need to be taken in order to get where we all want to go. Most times, we talk, but we don’t do. I wanted to let people know today that we’re taking that action. It’s going to take us all to make Malden all that it can and should be.”

“What are you doing for others? That’s how I function each and every day. I’m always thinking about what we could be doing to help others,” Christenson said.
Afterward, Eldana Abrhame, a junior at MHS, went up to give a motivational student reflection speech about the importance of taking action. As a young leader, Abrhame believed that it is essential to learn from the example set by Martin Luther King Jr and “help the youth adopt a mindset of perseverance and determination.”
“The main message of my speech was to inspire the youth to continue dedicating themselves to their goals no matter how big or difficult they may seem,” explained Abrhame “Although many times our ambitions and dreams may be diminished by society, we must always work twice as hard to make our dreams a reality.”
A series of performances were then displayed, starting with Malden High School’s step team who presented an empowering routine.

This was followed by a beautiful saxophone rendition and then two young girls who danced soulfully as a gift of worship for God.


There were also online viewers, and one woman spoke virtually through a Zoom call to add a few remarks. She began by giving thanks to everyone who helped put the event together before she expressed the significance of the civil rights movement and the lasting impact of Dr. King’s work.
Reverend Dr. Deborah Jackson appreciated her virtual presence and explained how, for those who were unable to come in person, joining online shows true commitment: it is so easy to just leave without anyone knowing, in comparison to being in person where everyone can see you if you get up and walk out—showing their commitment to being there to celebrate that day.
Reverend Jackson then continued to give her speech. “As people of African descent in 2025, can we say we have justice? Are we truly free? Even though we faced difficulties, he still had a dream. What about you, what about me, what about us? Are we still able to dream? 62 years later, it’s not enough to dream. We have to take action to make this dream a reality. The question is, what must we do to make this dream a reality.”
Emmanuel Baptist Church is “one of the oldest black churches in Malden, and I’m super proud of it,” Kashawna Harling, another committee member, said. “I want to continue that legacy and would love to grow the church. It’s a small church, but I would love people to know more about it and that we’re not just a house of worship and support, but we’re also here to uplift and do other things for our community.”
“We’ve done Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations in the past, but this year’s theme is making a dream a reality,” Harling stated.
“I remember when this was not a holiday and how we had to get together for breakfast and then go to work. To now have this holiday and still think it’s important to come together is so wonderful to me,” Reverend Jackson said.
Before going to eat, acknowledgments were given, and gratitude was shown to everyone who attended and came together to celebrate this day as a united community.

“For a lot of people, the day that they feel energized is New Year’s. For me, that day is Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” Christenson finished.