Bishop Michael Blue of The Door of Hope Christian Church in Marion is the featured speaker for the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14 in Wall Auditorium at Coastal Carolina University. The event is free and open to the public.

Bishop Blue will talk about the dreams, accomplishments and legacy of King. Twenty students, staff and faculty, including CCU President David A. DeCenzo, will join in reading an abridged version of the famous "Our God is Marching On" speech, which King delivered on March 25, 1965, following the successful completion of the Selma to Montgomery, Ala., march. Also known as the "How Long, Not Long" speech, it was one of King's most famous addresses and marked a high point in the American civil rights struggle.

The University’s Inspirational Ambassadors (Gospel Choir) will also perform at the event. A native of North Carolina who was raised in Sellers, S.C., Blue became the founding pastor of The Door of Hope Christian Church in February 1992. In December 2000, he became the founding prelate of the Christian Covenant of Ministries.

Blue is also a soloist and music co-producer in various projects, including a 2004 CD titled God Shall Supply, featuring the bishop and the Voices of Hope Sanctuary Choir singing original music during a live worship service.

He has been a featured panelist on the nationally syndicated television and radio show "The Right Side" with Armstrong Williams and is a member of the S.C. Faith Advisory Network. The campuswide celebration is part of the University's 2010 African American Legacy Series that continues with events celebrating unity and diversity through April 8.

Wall Auditorium is located on the first floor of the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration.

This event is co-sponsored by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. For more information, call the University's Office of Multicultural Student Services at 843-349-2863.