Clergyman says civil rights struggle is David vs. Goliath

Tri-City area residents, young and old, were challenged Monday to have a cause in life that requires them to overcome giant obstacles during the St. Mary NAACP’s Martin Luther King Jr. program at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church in Morgan City.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from. It doesn’t matter if you have a fancy degree … how much money you have in your checking account, your race or ethnicity … at one point in life you are going to come against a giant,” the Rev. TJ Andrus said.

Andrus reflected on the story of David and Goliath.

“And if you know anything about giants, they are specialized in being oversized, tyrant tall, and standing wide,” Andrus said.

But obstacles aren’t anything new for American heroes and sheroes answering the call to a cause.

“As we reflect on Martin Luther King today, we reflect upon a man who knew a thing or two about giant obstacles,” Andrus said.

“Dr. Martin Luther King, himself, was a man that had to deal with several obstacles in the civil rights movement and endeavored to get equality for African Americans in the Southern United States.”

Andrus named others before King who slayed giants in order to fulfill a cause in life.

“There were also many before him, like our sister Harriet Tubman who had to deal with giants in her process and progress to free her enslaved brothers and sisters.

“As I flip through the pages of history, I’m reminded of people like Madam C.J. Walker. Madam C.J. Walker had to face giants in the cosmetic industry for African Americans.

“I look back at people, such as Jackie Robinson who had to deal with giant obstacles on the battlefield of sports entertainment. I look at gentlemen like Thurgood Marshall who had to deal with racial discrimination in the U.S. judicial system.”

Andrus stated to the crowd, “I see men and women of young and of old, who can testify that in their life that they have lived they have come across giant obstacles.”

When a person answers the call to a cause it requires faith, often times at the expense of not being supported.

“When you are stepping out on faith and getting ready to come against your giants, don’t expect everybody to support you,” Andrus said. “Don’t expect everybody to be in your corner.

“You can’t expect family and friends to be there with you when you step out on what God has called you to do.”

Andrus challenged citizens to find a cause as they walk up and down the streets of Morgan City, watch and hear about every day tragic occurrences through media, even observing the messy politics of the day.

“It’s bigger than me, and it’s bigger than you,” Andrus said. “Every time you wake up in the morning you ought to have a cause.

“Every time you go to bed in the morning, you should be praying for a cause. If you don’t have a reason to keep you pushing, I don’t know why you’re in here today.

“Even Martin Luther King had a cause, he said, ‘I might not get there with you, but one day you’re going to walk hand in hand.’ Is there not a cause?”

Andrus challenged the youth to be themselves, and said success doesn’t come by trying to be something they’re not.

“Don’t think that you’re going to be successful trying to imitate your ways behind somebody else,” Andrus said. “God has uniquely designed you by putting something on the inside of each one of you that you don’t have to act like anybody else.”

“We want to look like Lil’ Wayne, Drake, Beyonce, and we want to ball like LeBron James. But God has put something on the inside of you, can’t nobody do you the way you can do you. You have to own your identity.”

Andrus also challenged parents not to force their dreams on their children, whether it be attending specific colleges, pursuing professions or attaining a certain level of success.

“I know you want the best for your kids,” Andrus said. “But your job is to train up a child in the way he should go, and they will not depart from it. … Trust in the Lord and put your child in God’s hands. Everything will work out.”

As Andrus continued the story, David’s tactics to throw stones in order to overcome the giant logically didn’t make sense. Neither did the direction of the giant’s fall make sense.

But the overall point, David used what was provided in his hands and God did the rest. The giant fell. Trust God, Andrus said.

Andrus is an associate pastor at St. Moses Baptist Church in Sorrell and Faith Hope in Abbeville.