“We’re the light of the community,” said Pastor Cody Mize at the 2025 “Unity In Our Community” service at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Mineola.

The words echo a beloved message that Jesus said to His followers in Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.”

On Monday morning, St. Paul’s was certainly a light on a hill and glorifying to their Father who is in Heaven, as nearly 100 people showed up on the chilly morning to attend the service in honor of the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

The service was complete with worship music, where heartfelt congregants and choir members sang their praise: songs with lines like “Glory hallelujah to our God!” and “Blessed assurance, and all is at rest; I know the Author of tomorrow has ordered my steps” echoed in the sanctuary.

It also featured a short historical reading by congregant Chasey Sheperd, who gave attendees a short background on MLK, Jr., while always bringing it back to her point. Despite “several dramatic standoffs with segregationist authorities who often responded violently,” Sheperd said, “King’s message was peace and nonviolence.”

Leaders from several churches also stepped up to help with the service, including Mize, Pastor John Thomas from First Methodist Church of Mineola and Reverend Fraser W. Lawton from St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Mineola. 

Mize delivered the earnest sermon, which focused on the fact that Christians are called to be active in their community in love, as Dr. King was active with love. It also discussed how Dr. King persevered through “a lot” to make change as he emulated Jesus.

“And I want to tell you all this: when you have a heart change of receiving Jesus, it shapes everything you do in life,” said Mize. “It shapes everything you do in life – the way you treat people, the way you lead, the way you love people!”

This acceptance of Jesus in his life, Mize said, is the change that occurred in Dr. King’s heart – the change that allowed him to lead with peace, strength, love and unity.

Christians are to lead and live in the same way, Mize said.

“You see, believers have a choice to make. And we need to choose well,” said Mize. “Dr. King chose well because he was a believer. As believers today, hey, guess what? We’re the light in the community. We’re supposed to be! We’re the salt in the community! The community needs us! And they need people to choose well, and to step up, and to lead, and to lead in the right way and to be unashamed about their faith.”

Monday’s service was, as organizers intended it to be, radiant with God’s love and light and joy and peace – and unity.

St. Paul MBC Pastor Demethrius Boyd summed it up perfectly: “It’s good to be in the house of the Lord, it’s good to be saved, it’s good to know that we have a risen Savior; and it’s even better that we can come together and worship Him in Spirit and in truth, in the unity and hope (of) what God is doing in our lives…in this place that God has chosen as a place of worship, but also a place of togetherness.”