Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service set for Monday, January 19

 

MURRAY, Ky. – The Office of Student Enrichment, Academic Excellence & Leadership will be hosting the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at the Curris Center Large Ballroom located on Chestnut Street. The day will begin with the MLK Jr. Community Breakfast and Keynote Address at 10:30 a.m., followed by the annual MLK Racers Challenge. This year’s theme is “Living the Dream: Strength Through Leadership & Unity.”

This year’s keynote speaker will be Bishop Simon Gordon. Gordon has served as Senior Pastor of Triedstone Church of Chicago since 1989, leading a vibrant Full Gospel Baptist congregation of more than 3,000 members, 30 ministries and 14 senior pastors across the region. In 1999, he founded the Total Resources Community Development Organization and its subsidiary, Pastors 4PCOR, which partners with PCORI (the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute), Northwestern University, and major hospital networks to provide health research training to churches—impacting over 50,000 lives annually.

Nationally, Bishop Gordon has advised the White House Faith-Based Council under President Barack Obama and supported St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through the Sunday of Hope initiative. He serves on the board of Prevention Partnership, Inc., where he leads faith-based efforts in HIV awareness and substance abuse prevention, and collaborates with key institutions including Duke University, the Lupus Foundation, the American Heart Association and Advocate Healthcare. His distinguished honors include the Paul Kelly Service Award, two Path Awards from the Illinois Department of Public Health and the United Theological Seminary President’s Award. A global educator, Bishop Gordon has led more than 50 international expeditions and teaches clergy and educators throughout Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

He currently serves as a Regent at Midwest Theology Seminary, is a member of the CORE group addressing utility fairness and sits on the board of the Tehillah Music Group. Since 2003, Bishop Gordon has served as the Jurisdictional Bishop for the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International’s Midwest Region, overseeing churches across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and Canada.

The MLK Racers Challenge is a challenge to donate goods to organizations that support the Murray community and surrounding areas. Murray State invites students, staff, faculty and community members to donate non-perishable food, cleaning supplies, toiletries and school supplies to help support the community. Donations will be collected on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 from 9 a.m. until Noon at the Curris Center Small Ballroom. 

“Our MLK Jr. Day of Service reminds us that leadership is a commitment to serve together. ‘Living the Dream: Strength Through Leadership & Unity’ calls us to stand as one community and use our gifts to uplift others. We are honored to welcome Bishop Gordon as we carry Dr. King’s legacy forward at Murray State,” Executive Director of the Office of Student Enrichment, Academic Excellence & Leadership Dr. S.G. Carthell said.

To RSVP for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast, or for additional information on the Day of Service-Racers Challenge, call the Office of Student Enrichment, Academic Excellence & Leadership at 270-809-6836. The Community Breakfast is free and open to the public. Space is limited to 150 participants. RSVP by Jan. 14. 

“Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.