Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Service Celebration
All are invited to gather at Newfields on the eve of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to commemorate Dr. King’s life and legacy with a special multi-denominational service led by Indianapolis’ most prominent and respected religious leaders. Pastor Jeffrey Johnson, Sr., Senior Pastor of Eastern Star Church will deliver the keynote speech and Rabbi Brett Krichiver, Senior Rabbi of the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation will deliver the invocation. National Youth Poet Laureate, Alyssa Gaines will deliver a message speaking love into the air and inspiring us to continue to unite in common faith to build a beloved community where injustice ceases and love prevails.
Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr. - Senior Pastor Eastern Star Church
Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr. accepted his call to ministry at the age of 17 and has served as the Senior Pastor of Eastern Star Church in Indianapolis, Indiana since 1988. Under his leadership, the “One Church in Three Locations” has grown to over 17,000 members and has planted three churches in Indianapolis as well. Pastor Johnson received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion with Honors from Bishop College in Dallas, Texas and matriculated at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. He has also received numerous honorary doctorate degrees, highly-esteemed community awards and was voted the 2012 “Best Pulpiteer” by Black Christian News Network One, an international online media resource.
In August 2007, Pastor Johnson launched Kingdom Word Ministries and authored the following titles: “Song of Solomon: Love, Sex and Relationships”, “Making A Comeback: Reclaiming Our Lives In Christ”, “Life Illustrated: Daily Thoughts For Your Daily Walk”, “Dialogue with My Daughters”, “Dialogue with My Sons”, “Dialogue with Single Parents”, and his newest release “The Making of a King”.
A devoted husband, Pastor Johnson is married to Sharon Henry Johnson and is the loving father of four sons.
Alyssa Gaines - 2022 National Youth Poet Laureate
Urban Word, the founding organization of the National Youth Poet Laureate Program, announced Alyssa Gaines as the 2022 National Youth Poet Laureate at a commencement program held at The Kennedy Center on May 20, 2022.
Representing the Midwest Region, Gaines is the first-ever Indianapolis Youth Poet Laureate as supported by Voices Corp. Her work has been featured in Scholastic’s “Best Teen Writing,” the Indianapolis Recorder, and was published by Teach for America. A recent high school graduate, she served as a leader in her school as the President of the Black Student Union, the Poetry Club Founder and President, President of the Legal Issues and Politics Club, and President of the Young Democrats Club. Her leadership also extends to work with Purdue University and the Center for Leadership Development. She also has performed in numerous theater productions and was the captain of the lacrosse team. Along with publishing her first book of poetry, Alyssa became a student at Harvard University in the fall.
Rabbi Brett Krichiver - Senior Rabbi of the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation
Congregation. Rabbi Krichiver is a Wexner Fellow and a Bronfman Alum. He is a founding clergy member of Faith in Indiana (formerly IndyCAN), the Greater Indianapolis Multifaith Alliance (GIMA), and Faith and Action at Christian Theological Seminary. He has served as a Board Member at Second Helpings, Planned Parenthood of Indiana, and recently as dramaturg for the Indiana Repertory Theater’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank. He participates in many interfaith and arts related civic organizations in Indy, and is past chair of the Indiana Board of Rabbis.