A large audience turned out Sunday to honor the legacy of Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. and to hear a Brookhaven High Schoolsophomore proclaim the need for continued vision in today’ssociety.

Cameron Jenkins was the featured speaker for this year’s annualevent at Alexander Junior High School. The teenager’s spiritedmessage was inspired by the Biblical story of Bartimaeus, the blindbeggar who was healed by Jesus as he entered Jericho.

“In this day and time, a vision is needed for our young people,”Jenkins said.

Jenkins hailed the importance of having a spiritual vision forBrookhaven and its people.

“If you’ve got a vision from God, you’ll get everywhere,”Jenkins said.

However, the problem, Jenkins said, is that people have settledfor where they’re at in life. He said people must combat the forcesof Satan and speak up for God.

“It’s time to stop playing like we know God and build arelationship,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins compared a vision to the picture on a packet of seeds.He said the picture shows what can happen, but the seeds first mustbe planted and cared for.

To have a clear vision, Jenkins said, one needs a clear mind. Hesaid God needs to be the center point of that vision.

In connecting his speech to the focus of the night’s event,Jenkins said King had a vision for African Americans to get alongwith themselves and everyone else.

Jenkins said the first vision God gave man was to love oneanother. He encouraged those in the audience to love others and tonever give up in pursuit of that vision.

Sunday’s program was sponsored by the Mu Pi Lambda chapter ofthe Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

In looking for a speaker for the evening, organizer VernellHooker said Jenkins was suggested by a friend. In talking withJenkins, Hooker said he was impressed with the young man and knewhe was the right choice for the event.

“Young people have something to say,” Hooker said.