Lincoln County residents were encouraged to find their “cuttingedge” and make a difference in the world during a celebrationcommemorating the birth of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Sundayat Alexander Junior High School.

“If we as a people are going to move from this immovableposition that we found ourselves in, we must recover a cuttingedge,” the Rev. Larry Jointer told the crowd of about 150 gatheredfor the third annual event in honor of King. The event wassponsored by the Mu Pi Lambda chapter of the Alpha Phi AlphaFraternity.

Jointer, pastor of Saint James Missionary Baptist Church, saidthat he since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he believes Americansare coming together as one under God, and he hoped it would lastbecause “we will never make an impact on the world withoutGod.”

King was a man who was able to accomplish many feats during hislifetime because God was with him daily, Jointer said,

“Before King took charge, he said ‘I first must seek the Lord,'”Jointer said. “Many of King’s meetings were held at thechurch.”

Jointer said America had loosened it’s grip on Christianity manyyears ago, and to find it again people must backtrack.

Then they must realize what they did wrong and start over on theright foot.

“Martin Luther King declared that he had a dream,” Jointer said.”If we’re going to visualize his dream, we must establish arelationship with the King of Kings.”

Others spoke about the accomplishments of King, and how theyshould serve as an example even now.

“Even today the mention of his name, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,evokes a memory of his inspiring voice,” said Shaun Adams, aBrookhaven High School senior who entertained the crowd with aspeech he had written.

One of the other speakers, the Rev. William Hughes, who servesas president of the Ministerial Alliance in Lincoln County, said hewas honored to celebrate the birthday of “one who did so much insuch a small amount of time.”

Brookhaven Alderman Dorsey Cameron complimented the citizensstanding together to create what Brookhaven has come today, whileJames V. Tillman of the Brookhaven School District encouragedresidents to continue in their efforts to “serve the Lord.”

“Dr. King made the ultimate sacrifice for what he believed in,”added Michael Mitchell of the Mu Pi Lambda chapter.

The Rev. Randy Hamilton, pastor of Mount Wade Baptist Church,reminded the crowd that their actions such reflect what type ofperson they want to be by singing a song “May the work I’ve done,speak for me.”

Other musical entertainment was provided by the Saint JamesMissionary Baptist Church Choir, which brought the crowd to itsfeet several times.

In a closing prayer, the Rev. Eugene Edwards encouraged everyoneto not just see King’s birthday as a day off, but a chance to findtheir cutting edge.

The night’s events were wrapped up with a reception hosted bylocal chapters of the Zeta Phi Beta, Delta Sigma Theta and AlphaKappa Alpha Sororities, Inc.