50 years ago when 600 saints left this sanctuary to face the unknown halfway across the bridge, hose a williams and john lewis had their meals in prayer. today, i bring you greetings on behalf of the african methodist episcopal church. a church that was born on our needs as we were refused the right to pray at st. george's methodist episcopal church. we know the power of prayer, but we still believe prayer changes things. in texas chapter 14, verse number 15, moses and the children of israel cried out to god in prayer. pharaoh and the chariots were behind them. the red sea stood in front of them.

god tells them to words -- go forward. this shows us after the benediction, we must make our prayer work. this shows us we don't stay on our knees. let's stay on the frontline. as god told the children of israel, go forward. the african episcopal church tells us when this day of celebration is complete, let's not stay down on our knees, but let's go forward. go forward, keep moving, go forward, keep fighting. but we are not here just to celebrate. we are here to remember. we also were member when the children of israel came across the jordan. they told them to get 12 stones

from the midst of the jordan and when your children and your children's children ask you what means these stones, tell them that it was god who brought you out of the land of egypt, out of the house of bondage. tell them that it was not an easy journey, but god delivered us. but today, as my brothers and sisters prepare for tomorrow, i want you to know the edmund pettit bridge really means what means these stones? what we begin to think about the meaning of the stones, we must here the voices from the blood that was shed on the bridge. remember that there were persons who gave their lives and today

we want to know who will be the prophetic voice to speak from the voices from those whose blood is still in the ground. i want to know today, are you ready to speak? or are you just here to party? when the party is over, the work must begin. [applause] >> i am bilingual, trilingual, i speak all those languages green and global. we are going to speak a little green right now. i am also, also some also. in order to communicate with each other, we have to be tiling will trilingual, multilingual. we have two love and respect each other in the process.

we're going to receive an offering from those who will be kind enough to share your gifts with us. i'm going to ask my good friend and brother reverend dr. jesse jackson to come and assist me with this. who is that? we've got to get the preacher up because he's going to the bridge also. we are going to satisfy everyone. at least we are going to try. let us pray. -- >> let us pray. let us give our gives for thy service because we are commanded to. because we ought to, and because it is needed.

we express our thanks for this ministry. amen. almost every speaker says what selma has done for them, we must also do something for selma. this church has a double meaning because some churches in the city may not let us have mass meetings. some may not let us meet in their churches. this church was open to the mass meetings. do not take that for granted. i want to make this quicker than usual. there are some people here today who have not been to church in a long time. they are here -- this church

does not have a government grant . it's the goodwill and generosity -- the membership is out there trying to get in the gate. to maintain this ministry, your sacrifice -- you will sacrifice to give $500, if this church means that much to you. if you are able to give $500 please stand. to sustain this church's work. someone behind me? don't take lightly the appeal. if you are able to sustain the ministry -- if you can sacrifice $500 please stand.

i'm going all the way down the application. tom joyner will give $500. secretary moorhouse -- keep standing. repeat each victory. you stand -- you stand. we need the money. if you will give $500, please stand. mr. greg calhoun, mr. greg calhoun, move quickly. rainbow push session made

payable to brown's chapel? brown's chapel, $500. stand quickly. it does not have basketball properties. they bounce, you know. will not take long. don't talk, please. this is quiet money. you will give at least $100. stand quickly. you will give $100 to brown's chapel church. if you will give $100, please stand.

i'm so glad to see you. you are that the senate sent me to jail. you are the chief law office of america. i'm going to have good credit because you are there today. i want you to clean my record up. that's your first act. lorenzo -- preaching machine. friend, please don't talk. i need to see you stand if you are going to give $100. stand, stand. if you will give $100, please stand quickly. move quickly. don't move too quickly. i believe in shouting, but don't

shout -- other folks are outside . $50, raise your hand. you will give something -- you give something, you will give something? please move quickly. if you will give something please stand. you give something, you give something. brother brooks? attorney reverend brooks. you've got some preacher in you. hazel?

if you will give, raise your hand. thank you calhoun. don't think it's illegal to give. you can check with the justice, i guess. it is not illegal for candidate members to give in church.

i know you make a lot of money. i sought in the "washington post." aka's have a special contribution.

if so, beware. raise your hands quickly. deltas, raise your hand. zetas? >> good afternoon. reverend strong -- will be members of all for cap alpha sorority please stand. on behalf of our members, we would like to present you with $1908. that represents the year of our founding and represents the year of the founding of this church. thank you so very much. [applause]

>> equal time or forever hold your peace. that's my crowd. let us stand together. ♪ thank you. ♪

thank you, thank you, thank you. ♪ thank you lord ♪ i just want to thank you, lord ♪ you've been so good, you've been so good. like you mean it, you've been so good. ♪

♪ i just want to thank you, lord ♪ we receive these gifts in my name to do thine work. amen. >> praise the lord. if i could have reverend strong and mrs. juanita maxwell join me here at the pulpit. i'm betty marshall, vice president of operation for sam's club and i stand here representing several avenues of my life. i stand here as a third-generation member of the african methodist episcopal church and i bring you greetings

from mount zion church in georgia. i stand here in honor of my ancestors. my grandparents, mother and my father are all from selma alabama. [applause] i stand here in honor of my aunt whose name is etched on the freedom fighters wall. i stand here in honor of my cousins, joyce a o'neill and phyllis altman. [applause] i am blessed i work for a company that encourages me to identify ways to make a difference. and so, it is my honor to present to you a $10,000 check. [applause] >> thank you. >> thank you. [applause] >> i want ambassador young to

know that she is speaking green now. we want to present our speaker. he has been extremely patient. [no audio] let me get him up to preach. all right. he has a very extensive bio