INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Medical Licensing Board on Thursday lifted the emergency suspension of a Fort Wayne oncologist who in January was charged with leading police on a high-speed chase while having illegal drugs in his system.Hundreds who gathered downtown Sunday evening for an annual Martin Luther King Jr. remembrance service had their hearts and minds on those affected by the earthquake in Haiti.
Every pew was filled at Plymouth Congregational Church, 501 W. Berry St., for the 25th annual service of repentance and reconciliation. The service, sponsored by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Fort Wayne and the Associated Churches of Allen County and Fort Wayne, is held each year to remember the ministry and life of the famous civil rights leader.
An offering was taken this year with donations going toward relief efforts in Haiti, which was struck by a devastating earthquake Tuesday.
“While we are here worshipping, there are people struggling over in Haiti for life,” said the Rev. Anthony Pettus Sr., of Fort Wayne’s Greater Progressive Baptist Church.
People of all faiths and racial backgrounds attended the service, which included prayer, hymns and a performance by praise dancers. The service also featured guest soloist Carver Cossey, who serves in music ministry at Shepherd of the Hills Church in Laguna Niguel, Calif.
The Rev. Jeffrey A. Johnson Sr. of Eastern Star Church in Indianapolis, the guest speaker, gave thanks for the sense of community.
“For you to be able to come together in this community to do something speaks so positive speaks volumes,” he said, echoing the preaching of King. “Many of the privileges we have today are because of people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and I have not forgotten that.”
Johnson then turned his sermon to the difficulty humans have in dealing with tragedy. The only way to manage is to have faith in God and patience, he said. “I had in mind what to preach. But that changed with Haiti,” he said. “It seems like over the past two months I’ve received one piece of bad news every day.”
Johnson cited Scripture in Romans as encouragement in difficult times.
“No matter what takes place, God will show up and work things out for the good,” he said, mentioning recent disappointments. Those included violence, Americans losing their homes to foreclosure and job losses. These hardships, along with world disasters, can only be overcome by prayer, Johnson said.
