'I have a dream" was a phrase made famous by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his 1963 March on Washington speech as he looked over a crowd of 250,000 people with the hope that one day America would abandon bigotry to embrace every man, woman and child with the conviction that we are all created equal in the eyes of God.

Later, in 1968, King revised the theme, adding: "I've been to the mountaintop. ... And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land."

Forty years later, which is a biblical generation, the dream of racial equality comes true as Barack Obama becomes the first African-American president of the United States. To mark this historic occasion, we at Lord of the Harvest Christian Faith Center are celebrating with a "Living the Dream" weekend of worship and togetherness.

For me, the 1960s were an especially defining period. I was a youngster living in Buffalo, N.Y. Although racial injustice was not as blatant as it was in the South, it was clear that there were different rules for people of color. Thanks to my career in the Air Force, which required a lot of travel, it became obvious to me that change was inevitable: the cynical mind-set of oppression was being challenged by a growing determination that the bar of opportunity had to be raised for all people.

It is a privilege to be pastor of Lord of the Harvest Christian Faith Center, to strive to raise the standard of living in our community and to reach all people with the love and peace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is a defining moment for America that we can lay aside our difference and acknowledge a common truth: that we are "one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." It's a proud day to be an American.

So let us look forward to our hopes and dreams of fulfilling our God-given destiny. No longer is there the excuse that a society or system of government can hold us back. We want our children and our children's children to know that we are at the dawning of a new age of opportunity. Although we are living in tough times, we are a great people able to rise to the challenge and work together to ensure America remains the great nation that it is. God bless America!

The Rev. Steven L. Williams, Lord of the Harvest Christian Faith Center