CU Honors Dr. Martin Luther King published in the Central Kentucky News-Journal

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was honored today at Campbellsville University's chapel program. Staff members shared their personal stories about life after Dr. King and how their lives have changed because of him.

David Cozart, Administrator of Development Urban League at Lexington-Fayette County in Lexington, Ky. was the guest speaker.

He began with a prayer about Dr. King in relation to the students, asking God to "Hide me. Help me. Hold me."

He thanked Dr. Carter, Dr. Reverend Chowning, and Coach Thomas, who had shared their experiences during their childhood and how things changed thanks to Dr. King.

Wanting to share with the students who he was, he listed things he was not. "I am not an honor graduate. I am not a natural historian of Dr. Martin Luther King. I am not accomplished financially."

He then explained what he is: a former student of Campbellsville University that attended convocation, lived in a dorm, and played football.

"God can do anything," he said. "I can transform you."

Cozart spoke of Luke 19:1-10. This story is about a man named Zacchaeus. He is a tax collector, and usually makes people pay more than what they owe. One day Jesus came to town. Everyone crowded around Jesus wanting to see him. Zacchaeus was short and could not see him, so he climbed a tree instead. Jesus then asked him to come down and told him he was staying at Zacchaeus' house. People grumbled that he was a sinner, and Zacchaeus told Jesus that he would give half of his goods to the poor, and he had stolen from anyone, he would pay them back fourfold.

"Sometimes you have to leave the crowd & look back at the crowd," Cozart said. "Sometimes you have to leave the crowd to progress."

He explained that students coming to convocation, going to church, and even going to school somewhere else are students leaving the crowd and climbing a tree.

"You also have to lead the crowd," he said, "you got to make a vertical move to distinguish yourself."

"Martin Luther King left the crowd and lead the crowd," he said, "he put his life on the line for the cause."

Cozart said that you must also love the crowd, just like Zacchaeus did when he gave back to them.

"Dr. King put himself above the crowd," he said, "but also loved the crowd and put himself at the same level where he inevitably lost his life."

Jesus went up to the hill, up on the cross, and looked to the crowd, and loved them still," said Cozart. "He said 'Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.'"

Cozart said that you have to love the crowd, and you have to serve the crowd. Jesus did this, and Martin Luther King did this. They both stood for something greater than themselves, and ended up dying for their causes.

"This is how you too can be transformed," Cozart said.

Dr. Reverend Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president, with Greater Campbellsville United introduced Cozart and presented a check for the Lexington-Fayette County Urban League.

Greater Campbellsville United promotes equal opportunity, equity, and positive relationships among all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, religious, gender, and political entities in this community and throughout the region.

Perry Thomas, head football coach for Campbellsville University, explained that when he was a kid, there was one African-American football coach in Kentucky at one African-American college, and now there are five African-American football coaches in Kentucky at state universities, and he is thankful to Dr. King.

"The gap is closing," he said, "We are all touched by the legacy of Dr. King."

Dr. Michael Carter, president of Campbellsville University, shared a story from his childhood about riding in his car with his father. He noticed a store called "The White Pantry" was having a race demonstration outside of it, and asked his father why everyone was against each other, to which his father replied, "this is a sad day."

He told students to pick up a book written by Dr. Martin Luther King entitled "Stride Toward Freedom," and explained that no one should graduate from CU without having read it.

Carter then quoted the beginning of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, and said, "Work has been, but still needs to be done."

Marygace Lee sang "Let Us Break Bread Together" and "Amazing Grace."

Alex Chemmings told the students about peanut butter drop-off points on campus for donations to Haiti, which can also be dropped off at Windstream Communications and Living Grace Church.

Ed Pavy welcomed the students back to school and shared campus announcements.

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