.jpg)
First Baptist Church will host the annual MLK Community Worship Service on Sunday, Jan. 19, at 4 p.m.
The Rev. Dr. Roscoe Cooper Jr., senior pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Richmond, will be the keynote speaker.
Dr. Cooper has served as a senior pastor in Richmond for more than 40 years. Known for his interest in education, he instituted a youth learning site for children and he has taught theological courses in various graduate seminary programs.
He formerly served as senior pastor of two prominent churches in Boston and vicinity.
Dr. Cooper holds various honorary degrees, being recognized as a human/civil rights champion. Several years ago, he served as the editor of the National Baptist Convention Voice, which served as the newspaper for the largest body of African-American Baptists. He is also the former general secretary of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. His ministry has included feeding programs, affordable housing programs, economic development programs and revitalization of church ministry programs.
Dr. Cooper is a graduate of Cheyney State University of Pennsylvania and Andover Newton Theological School.
Sunday’s service will also include comments from representatives of various community groups and the city of Lexington.
A reception will follow the service in the downstairs fellowship hall.
Lexington’s First Baptist Church has hosted the MLK Community Worship Service since the inception of the MLK national holiday. The historic church was founded on Sept. 22, 1867, exactly five years to the date that then President Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. As the oldest independent African-American church in Lexington, several pastors have followed the MLK Community Worship tradition, which recognizes the ministry and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Pastor McKinley Williams is honored to serve in the same manner.
The church is located at 103 N. Main St. in downtown Lexington. For more information, call the church at (540) 463-4854.
