WARREN — The message of justice that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for during the Civil Rights era can be carried over today as those attending a special service Sunday to remember King were asked to fight for “Jesus and justice.”

The Trumbull County Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance hosted its annual Martin Luther King Jr. service at St. James Church of God in Christ.

The program celebrated the life and legacy of King.

The Rev. Kenneth Simon of New Bethel Baptist Church in Youngstown was the guest speaker and shared the message of what King did in his lifetime to fight against injustice. Simon, who spoke at three church services on Sunday, said, “We are here to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, who was a man of God and a modern-day prophet. We honor one of God’s chosen servants and his life. We thank him for his work and his sacrifice and the great legacy that he leaves with us. Today we embrace King’s legacy. We may find ourselves also standing for the causes that he embraced,” Simon said.

He said during today’s critical times, people need the spirit of King.

Simon said in 1963, when he was 8, he remembers his family watching the evening news and seeing what was happening.

“My parents felt it was important that the Simon household watch the news to know what was going on in the world around us. We grew up in the Civil Rights era when there was a lot going on concerning the plight of black people. I would watch the news and see the demonstrations, protests and marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King and the response of law enforcement and political people. I saw police hose people and sic dogs on them for nonviolent protests. When I saw them being called names and being beaten, it did something to me,” Simon said.

He said he asked his parents why King was being treated like that.

“That was when I learned about racism, prejudice, segregation and discrimination,” Simon said.

He said his father became involved with a march that King led in 1965 from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

“I became intrigued with King and the movement all the way up to his assassination that rocked this nation. There were riots across the country,” Simon said.

He said his father and his family dealt with injustices in the local community.

“I have a great appreciation for people like Dr. Martin Luther King who stood up against the injustices of the time. My father and King and others were willing to stand up and speak against the injustices. This led me to want to speak and work in the community for justice,” Simon said.

Simon, who has been a pastor for 30 years, said today he sees the connection between Jesus and justice.

“The Bible I read speaks to both equally — Jesus and justice. I say you can’t talk about Jesus and not talk about justice. You can’t say you are a true believer in Jesus and not be concerned about justice. Jesus and justice are connected. Injustice is a threat to justice everywhere,” he said.

“Dr. King did what the Lord expected him to do and addressed injustice. I tell people today if you are committed to Jesus, you have to be committed to justice also,” Simon said.

At the service, the Rev. Eric Brown Sr. of York Avenue Church of God in Warren was introduced as the new president of the TCIMA.

The Rev. Darryl Rodgers of Trinity Baptist Church in Warren and vice president of TCIMA said Martin Luther King Jr. Day allows for the opportunity to reflect on King’s life and legacy,

“Dr, Martin Luther King once said it is time to do what is right. Think of the sacrifices he made for us as he stood against injustice and helped the downtrodden,” Rodgers said.

The Rev. Melvin Howard of St. James Church of God in Christ said “Today we come together to celebrate a great humanitarian. We thank God for the great leader King was and all the people who followed him.”

Bishop Joseph Walker Jr.of Restoration Christian Fellowship said like King and others who stood strong for justice by making a difference in schools, politics and communities, Simon does that today.