LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Before he became widely known as a leader of the American civil rights movement, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was sharing his message from the pulpit.
King’s life and legacy as a Baptist minister were highlighted Wednesday during a “Scarlet Session” at The Ohio State University at Lima. Dr. Jessica Johnson, a senior lecturer in English, presented a lecture titled “Gleaning Wisdom from Doctor Martin Luther King Jr.’s Sermons.”
Johnson focused on King’s sermon emphasizing the importance of loving one’s enemies, describing love as a transformative force rooted in faith.
“Love is that power through God, you know, through Christ, to be able to change people. And so that's one of the reasons King emphasized it so much, and not only in this sermon, but in so many that he had,” Johnson said.
Johnson explained that King’s sermons often centered on Christian teachings and encouraged listeners to respond to hatred and injustice with compassion and nonviolence.
The presentation was part of the campus’s celebration of Black History Month, highlighting King’s spiritual foundation and the role his faith played in shaping his leadership and activism.
