“WE’VE COME THIS FAR BY FAITH”

LIBERTY, January 12, 2010 - This magnificent song is the only appropriate follow up to our long held battle cry, “We shall overcome”, that led the marches and consoled the spirits of so many of us in the battle for justice and equality in this nation of the United States of America, a nation which held up promises to all its people but which also denied those promises to a vast majority of its people for so many, many years.

Officers and Directors of Liberty County Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee Inc.

From left to right: Delmar Coward (Treasurer), Nathaniel Gilbert (Director), Judy Driver (Assistant Secretary), Jesse Donatto (Program Planner), Michael Mark (General Counsel), Roger Braxton, Sr. (Chaplin), Robert Schaadt (Advisor), Dr. Henry L. Dugat, Sr. (Chairman of the Board), Martha L. Braxton (Secretary), June Jackson (Director), Connie Paintsil (Co- Chairman)

“We’ve come this far by faith” in 2009-2010 is more than a new battle cry because one of the foremost fundamental rights of this nations political promises has been realized that America is now being led and governed by a Son of color, a Black Man, a Legacy of Slavery. Now with the President Barack Obama the epitome of a dream has come to fruition through the struggles and determination and leadership of fellow Black Brothers, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his arch-bearers.

“We’ve come this far by faith” because Dr. King put such a strong desire and strong belief into the hearts and minds of people who not only know but also believed that true equality under this nation’s flag had to become a political reality takes proper deep roots in the hearts and minds of all the citizens of the great nation then the total social and economic status of its people can be realized as well. Dr. King’s reason and dream had to include the entire spectrum of life for the citizens of America. He had to know in his heart that we would and could come this far and go beyond only by faith. Black and White America as well as every nation, race, creed, and color of this melting pot, has come to this place with the same goals base on the desire and dream to be equal and experience justice and by doing so then to receive that place of joy and happiness promised to us by this democracy.

Dr. King and President Obama have received from our Almighty God many special blessing and graces qualify them for the momentum task required of them. They both share a faith and belief and comforting trust that what is ordered by God cannot be denied. It only takes a leader who is appointed and anointed by the Heavenly Father to shepherd his people into promise land of his directing and choosing. No journey has been easy, no journey has been swift, but each journey has been successful when the Supreme Leader is acknowledged and honored and respected.

“We’ve come this far by faith” as a people of hope and trust and prayer and faith in God our Father. We learned from our ancestors not to rely on ourselves, not to be discouraged by the grim and dark days feel with struggles and pain or heartaches. Each generation has come to learn of the power of trusting faith, blind faith, silent prayerful faith while relying on the powerful sustain hands of God. Total dependence on our provider, our protector, our deliverer, our standard bearer, our counselor, our comforter is so ingrained in our people that we cannot but live life knowing that no matter what our path our songs will always remain: “We shall overcome “ because “We’ve come this far by faith!!!”

By: Dr. Henry L. Dugat, Sr.

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