By Tj Dunnivant
Staff Writer
Monday, January 20, 2014 – Jacobs Center- The 19th annual MLK Breakfast by UAAMAC gave Southeast San Diego an altogether different experience than the years before and the audience was more than receptive.
The breakfast started with entertainment from Polynesian dancers and smoothly went into community recognition and awards. Some of the awards such as the Founder Award went to Don E. Conley, the Moral Courage Award went to Harold Brown, and the two Community Hero Awards went to Jeffer (J.J.) Anderson and Jimmy Slack. Many of the award recipients sincerely expressed their thanks for being recognized and some even expressed never receiving an award before this time. “I don’t usually receive awards,” Conley said, “I just try to build on what Dr. King started. Financial stability and moral courage begins with spiritual responsibility.” Once the awards were given out, the audience anxiously anticipated hearing the keynote speaker address.
This year UAAMAC worked hard to get the keynote speaker and their efforts paid off as Pastor Miles McPherson took the podium and surprised many in the audience with his unique style of preaching. “Some of you just came for a good breakfast,” Miles explained, “But I’m here to give you a sermon!” Several “amens” erupted through the crowd.
The audience was pleasantly awed by Pastor Miles’ raw and uncut approach in his preaching style. “I’m here to irritate you,” preached Miles, “I want my message to naw at you in order to push you forward.”
As Pastor Miles captured the full attention of the listening audience, he began to charge them with a different way of solving some of the problems within one’s community. “God is not looking for a plan…God is looking for a person.” Miles said as he aligned the charge with the story of Moses. Pastor Miles reminded everyone that as people set out to do God’s will, they will be all the more attacked. Miles explained that the leaders of the community need to know God because the problems they face will be too big for them to handle alone. “God is strong in your weakness,” Pastor proclaimed. By the end of his sermon, Pastor Miles received a standing ovation after delivering his final words, “God needs a person who has passion and then the dream will come true!”
After Pastor Miles retreated from the podium, person after person lined up patiently to express their sincere thanks. Sister Monica Montgomery from Todd Gloria’s office told him, “Thank you so much for telling the truth.”
BAPAC treasurer, Ellen Nash posted a facebook message saying, “UAAMAC MLK Breakfast at the Jacobs Center was awesome!!! Kudos to all the honorees. Lanee you sung Total Praise from your toes!!!! Pastor Miles you preached from your heart. Thanks for your transparency! Yes God needs a person to implement his will for his people!!! The challenge is bigger than us!!!”
When Pastor Miles was asked how he liked the community, he responded by saying, “I live here so this is my community and these are my people.” When asked if he would return as a keynote speaker, he responded with, “I was invited to be here today, so anytime I get invited I will come. I love San Diego!” And with that he walked out to continue running the 9th largest church in the nation for America’s eighth largest city, San Diego.
