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What’s Your Dream?
A couple of weeks ago during his sermon, my pastor Dan recited part of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Dan is white, tall, and lanky and doesn’t have the dramatic cadence or even the slight southern accent of Rev. King. But, I still found myself in tears as I heard the speech again – even in someone else’s voice. King’s words alone are that powerful.
The 50-year anniversary of the March on Washington and the “I Have a Dream” speech is a good time for you to reflect on your own dreams – not your personal ones, though they may be important. But what are really important are your bigger dreams – the shared dreams of your church and of your community.
More importantly, does your congregation know and share your vision? A recent article about King’s famous speech made it clear that its most powerful portion almost didn’t happen. King was using his written remarks but about two-thirds way through the speech, the gospel singer Mahalia Jackson who was on the platform with King, began saying, “Tell them about the dream, Martin. Tell them about the dream.”
And then King did just that – he moved away from his printed text and spoke directly from his heart about the vision he had for a very broken country. He moved people not only because he was an amazing orator but also because he had such clarity of vision about the people we could become.
No doubt King was familiar with the prophet Joel saying “Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.” People in your congregation want to be inspired to become the people God is calling them to be. They long to hear the prophetic word. And they need to hear it from you.
Tell them about the dream, preacher. Tell them about the dream.
If you are unable to view the speech in the window above, click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRIF4_WzU1w&feature=youtu.be
Cesie Delve Scheuermann is a consultant in stewardship, development, and grant writing. Over the past decade, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she helped raise nearly $2 million dollars for numerous non-profit organizations. She served as the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference Lay Leader from 2008-2012. Her position with the Conference is funded through a generous grant from the Collins Foundation. You can reach her at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com.
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