Yoido Full Gospel Church's pastor stresses Martin Luther King's nonviolence amid COVID-19

Lee Young-hoon, the Yoido Full Gospel Church's senior pastor during a special service held to honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Atlanta, Ga., in this Jan. 15, 2018 file photo. Courtesy of Yoido Full Gospel Church

Lee Young-hoon, the Yoido Full Gospel Church's senior pastor, speaks during a special service held online to honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Monday, local time. / Screen captured from the King Center YouTube channel

By Park Ji-won

A special service named the Beloved Community Commemorative Service by the King Center to honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was held online Monday (local time) with a Korean pastor giving an address.

Lee Young-hoon, the Yoido Full Gospel Church's senior pastor, spoke at the service, alongside many participants from all over the world, urging people to tackle racial discrimination by following Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's legacy.

The service was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The whole world is groaning and lamenting as it goes through the most difficult time in the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. We come to realize the powerlessness of man at a time like this … The first thing is racial discrimination, which is widely practiced all around the world. All human beings are equal before God. Whether you are rich or poor, no matter what skin color you have, whether you are educated or uneducated, whether you are old or young, all human beings were created equal," Lee said during the online service.

"The injustice of racial discrimination should be put away. Then how can we get rid of it? We must get rid of it peacefully not by violence, but by nonviolence as Dr. King led the nonviolence movement half a century ago … I still can clearly hear him delivering his famous 'I have a dream' speech. Let us dream that everybody will work together for justice and peace in the world."

The speech came after Lee participated on the 2018 service for the first time. The annual service was part of the center's week-long celebration programs to remember Dr. King, Jr.'s message and spread his word. The service was also participated in by Bishop T.D. Jakes, author, filmmaker, and bishop for the Potter's House, and who also gave a keynote speech; Amina J. Mohammed, deputy secretary general of the United Nations; and Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of the King Center.

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden also delivered a speech during the service urging Americans to come together and overcome the challenges of poverty, hunger, hopelessness, and racial injustice as Dr. Martin had called for.

"The night before he was killed, he stood at the pulpit at the Mason Temple, and delivered what would be his final sermon. Many of you will remember what he said. He said 'Let us move on in these powerful days. These days of challenge. To make America what it ought to be.' That's the spirit of Dr. King. And that spirit is still with us … It's our responsibility to come together, all Americans, to bring peace to that restless spirit, to tidy up the room left behind," Biden said.

"To forge new bonds, to take on the persistent, gnawing challenges of poverty, hunger, hopelessness, and racial injustice. Challenges we can and we will overcome. We must. Times are tough right now but I know that there are brighter days ahead," he added.

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