Christian Church | Pacific Southwest Region

The Pacific Southwest Region will celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a special event on Sunday, January 26, 2025. The annual event will take place at the Disciples Ministry Center in Fullerton. This year’s theme is “"Doing the Work of Justice: God's Righteousness Made Real." It is based on the scripture from Isaiah 56:1(CSB-Christian Standard Bible): This is what the Lord says: 'Preserve justice and do what is right, for my salvation is coming soon, and my righteousness will be revealed.

Featured at this year’s MLK Jr. Celebration will be Rev. Traci D. Blackmon, Founder of HopeBuilds and Former Associate General Minister from United Church of Christ.

“Disciple of the Year” Award

Included in the event will be a presentation of the annual “Disciple of the Year” award to the 2025 recipient Rev. Nereyda "Neddy" Yong from First Christian Church, Pomona. Rev. Neddy is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and trained Spiritual Director whose passion is to support diverse families with resources that nurture a compassionate and just spirituality in daily life. She currently serves as project co-director of the Radically Inclusive Parenting Project, an initiative of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, centering the well-being of children and their parents/caregivers as a way to foster healing, wholeness, and liberation in the world.

Her forthcoming book, Sacred Parenthood: Spiritual Practices for the Highs and Lows of Parenting (Herald Press, 2025) speaks to the ways the Christian contemplative tradition can be passed on to modern households. She has also received her Masters in Business Administration and is a devoted mother herself, raising her four young children alongside her lifelong partner, Rev. Dr. Aizaiah Yong.

An award to honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was established by the Pacific Southwest Region (PSWR) in 1974. Each year since that time, one or more members of a Disciple congregation in the PSWR have been recognized for their efforts on behalf of justice and peace, either in their local community or through organizations and initiatives serving these causes beyond the congregation and surrounding communities, nationally and globally. Nominations are accepted annually by December 5th. Please read the guidelines on the nomination form and recommend an individual(s), congregation or unit who meet those criteria whom you feel ought to be considered for this honor.