| Reflection:
Unexpected blessings by Otis Moss I would encourage any student of history to take a look at Taylor Branch’s book, “Parting the Waters,” There is chapter in there entitled “The Forerunner,” that talks about an amazing and incredible preacher by the name of Vernon Johns. Vernon Johns pastored in Montgomery, Alabama, an incredibly prophetic figure. He would place outside of the church the name of the upcoming sermon. One sermon, if you can imagine the 1940s, was, “Is it OK to Lynch Negroes in Alabama?” Another one was, “Is Heaven Segregated?” The local police force would drive around the church, always trying to figure out what is Vernon Johns going to preach. He would stand in the pulpit every week and give a statement about how God did not intend people to live in segregation. He was brought down to the police force one time and told that specifically he needed to let them know what he was preaching. He said, “Well, I’ll tell you, first after I take an offering!” And then it seemed something really unique happened, as a result of his unique preaching. They put him out of the church. They said, “You’re too controversial. We need to find someone who is not as controversial as you.” So Vernon Johns was put out and the deacon ministry decided they were going to call a young man from Boston, who had just received his PhD, that they could control. That young man was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It’s very interesting how God works. Find out about Vernon Johns and you’ll see how God is working constantly in our lives.
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