Historic Church Offers Virtual King Celebration

On Sunday, Jan. 16, Portland’s historic Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church will host its annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. The Rev. Dr. Hennessee, pastor, has announced that this year’s celebration, due to the spread of COVID variants, will be broadcast beginning at 1:55 p.m. on Facebook live at www.facebook.com/vafbc. 

As in past years prominent public officials will give remarks and reflections, as will prominent faith leaders, however, all of the messages will be video-taped in advance. In place of a choir, YouTube music will be played, and rather than a guest speaker, this year the full length of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech will be played. 

Vancouver Avenue is one of Portland’s historic venues and the only church in Oregon where Dr. King addressed the “Beloved Community” in November 1961 as part of his Civil Rights trip to the Pacific Northwest. It is also the only largely African American Church in Oregon to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  

Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church
3138 N. Vancouver Avenue, Portland
Rev. Dr. J.W. Matt Hennessee, Senior Servant & CEO
16th Annual “Drum Major Service”, Sunday, January 16, 2022; 2:00 PM (Virtual Event)
Theme: “Now Is Still The Time” Featuring music, remarks, and the full length of Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” Speech