I was honored to be asked to participate in this past Sunday’s 3rd annual Dr. Martin 
Luther King, Jr. Leadership Banquet. In attendance were many government, political, civic and educational leaders from Lakeland and Polk county. The banquet was held at the Lakeland Center in Lakeland, Florida and hosted by Greater Opportunities Demonstrated, a non-profit corporation dedicated to the development of young people in the greater Lakeland area.
Many have commented and asked for copies of my closing Community Prayer of Hope. To facilitate those requests, here is that benediction:
Our Most Gracious Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the opportunity to gather here this afternoon. We have been singularly blessed by You, as we are the recipients of your love, grace and mercy in our lives.
Lord, we thank you that You are not a discriminator of persons, but have lavished your love upon us freely – despite our race, culture, heritage, education or careers.
We thank you for diversity, as it is our differences which make life exciting; but more so we are thankful that beneath the Cross is common ground.
We also thank you Lord, for those who have gone before, providing us with an example of how to live. We thank you for Dr. Martin Luther King and his example of courage, vision and hope that was fueled by faith.
We thank you for his life and legacy; his dream and encouragement for us to remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice and freedom, even in the midst of difficult circumstances and adversity. Strengthen our resolve to live, speak and act out of convictions and to live more in conformity of your will. Help us to go from this gathering with confidence and courage.
Help us, Father, to glance at ourselves, but gaze upon Jesus, in whose name we pray,
Amen
Stay the Course,
Dr. Greg Morris
