This week in Christian history: Martin Luther King Sr. dies; Amy Carmichael goes to India
Martin Luther King, Sr. dies – Nov. 11, 1984
This week marks the anniversary of when the Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr., father of the famed civil rights activist and an advocate in his own right, died at the age of 84 of heart disease.
Born Michael King in Stockbridge, Georgia, MLK Sr. served as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church of Atlanta for over 40 years and, like his son, was involved in civil rights activism.
Following a trip to Germany in 1934, King decided to change his name and his son's name to Martin Luther King in honor of the Protestant Reformation leader.
In addition to seeing his famous son assassinated, his wife, Alberta W. King, was shot dead at a church service when a shooter entered the sanctuary and was reportedly trying to kill MLK, Sr., instead.
"I do not hate the man who took the life of my dead son," MLK, Sr. said at a bicentennial ceremony in Dallas in 1976, as quoted by The New York Times in his official obituary.
"I am not going to hate the young man who came and killed my wife. I am every man's brother. I'm going on with my job."
