Looking Beyond the Dream: Finding Spiritual Lessons from Dr. Martin Luther King's Life Story

By Cora Lee Hicks

Teacher’s Manual for Disciples of Jesus Christ!

Teaching Children to Recognize the Reality of God!

This book includes:

Lesson Plans

Reading Strategies

Read-Aloud Presentations

Choral Readings

More…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781644686836

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Preface

Introduction

How to Use this Book!

Chapter 1: Who is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?

Chapter 2: Why Can I Not Go to the Movie with My White Friends?

Chapter 3: How Did Dr. King Become Well Known?

Chapter 4: Where Did Dr. King Get the Idea for Nonviolent Protest?

Chapter 5: How Did Dr. King Know It Was Time to Move Forward to Change Unfair Laws?

Chapter 6: Why Did the I Have a Dream Speech Become a Worldwide Memorable Speech?

Chapter 7: Why Do We Celebrate Dr. King with a National Holiday?

Chapter 8: Why Should We Not Remember Dr. King as Just an Ordinary Icon?

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Looking Beyond the Dream

Finding Spiritual Lessons from Dr. Martin Luther King_s Life Story

Cora Lee Hicks

ISBN 978-1-64468-682-9 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64468-683-6 (Digital)

Copyright © 2021 Cora Lee Hicks

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Thank you to my niece Brenda Singletary Johnson for illustrating the book cover.

Thank you to Timothy Haynes for his help with the book.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my family; siblings, in-laws, nieces,

George (Jeff)

Orlean

Armentia

Mattie

James

Tobia

Clinton

Euzelia

Vaughn

Oliver

Gardenia

Connie

Bessie

Sheila

Barbara

and to the loving memory of: my parents, Rev. Oliver Hicks Sr., CME Church pastor for 43 years in North Mississippi; my mother, Dereanzy Barry—Hicks, who worked alongside daddy; my grandmother, Lillie Toole Barry, lived 115 years, my aunt and uncle, John and Georgia Weatherspoon.

I thank my father and mother for teaching me to love Jesus at an early age and never letting me forget it as I went on to learn the reality of what it meant to honor God with my life.

Acknowledgements

The publication of this book is the result of a long-time longing to express my inner feelings about how crucial it is that mankind make a realistic connection between the Word of God and the reality of life.

Thanks to my high school English teacher, Mr. Johnny Lewis, who made writing lessons a part of our Senior Curriculum at Higging High School in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

Thanks to my friend and co-worker, Ms. Jacquelyn Cannon, who used her expertise in typing and proofing my manuscript during the development stages in Chicago, Illinois.

Thanks to my professor, Dr. Robert Hashway, at Grambling State University who made a profound statement that I never forgot: Black people need to write more. This statement encouraged me to want to write.

Thanks to the following people who made contributions to help make this book possible.

Rev. Dr. Joseph Gordon

Kimberly Hobson—Gary

Vantella Williams

Debra Washington

Ginise Clement

Betty Rojas

Mr. & Mrs. Jim Oden

Rose Mary Reddicle

Dr. & Mrs. Hubbard

Juanita Hill-Ryor

Preface

Biblical knowledge is at the forefront in our Christian education programs. Christian educators are looking for ways to attract our young people to the spiritual aspect of life. We know that in Deuteronomy 31:12–13, God instructed Moses to call all the people together and especially the children and teach the children to know him. The implication in Deuteronomy 31 for us today is that as Christian believers, it is our responsibility to take an active role in teaching our children to know and recognize the reality of God's Word in the world today.

In my secular professional role as a reading specialist, I recognize that many of the same reading strategies that are used to help children understand secular text can also be used to help them understand and recognize the reality of God's Word in our lives today (21st Century).

Again, Deuteronomy 31:12–13 tells us that we are to teach the children to know God, and the scripture tells us in Isaiah 17:1 that mankind must learn to do good. These two separate scriptures coupled together implies that Christian educators and parents have the responsibility to teach the children so that they can learn to do good.

Each year in January, children all over our country participate in programs celebrating the life of the very distinguished Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King's life story has many spiritual implications that our children can learn from.

Using the life story of Dr. King, this book is designed in an easy instructional format that Christian educators may draw spiritual implications that may help our children's understanding that the word of God is alive and still working in our lives today.

Introduction

The ultimate objective of this book is not to lift Dr. King as an example for our children to follow. However, it is meant to point out spiritual implications in the life of a modem-day leader, helping our children to understand that the Word of God is real, alive, and working in each of our lives in the world today.

In the words of Dr. King's own confession, he recalls the time in his early struggle where he realized that he could not go any further in his own strength. He was afraid. This is when he prayed a prayer that went like this: I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right, but now I am afraid. The people are looking to me for leadership…I am at the end of my power. I can't face it alone (Dr. Martin Luther King). At that moment, Dr. King said, I experienced the presence of the Divine God that I have never felt before. It seemed as though I could hear the quiet assurance of an inner voice saying: ‘stand up for righteousness, stand up for truth. God will be at your side forever.' Almost at once, my fears begin to pass from me. God had given me an inner calm (Sermon Craft).

Dr. King was more than the I Have a Dream speech (Trey Ellis). To our children, Dr. King's legacy has been one of an icon locked into the brilliance of the I Have a Dream speech. However, the question is: Are our children looking beyond the powerful I Have a Dream speech and understanding that God ordered the path of this modern-day Bible prophet or leader throughout