On Monday, January 21, 2019, Randolph-Macon College will host its annual celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The celebration will take place from 12 – 1 p.m. in Blackwell Auditorium, RMC Center for the Performing Arts (205 Henry St.). The Rev. Janie M. Walker will serve as the keynote speaker for this event, and the Shiloh Baptist Church Choir will perform. 

This event is free and open to the public. Map and Directions

The Reverend Janie M. Walker
Rev. Walker is a Baptist minister and co-pastoral director of Richmond Hill, a residential ecumenical Christian community whose mission includes working toward racial reconciliation in the Metro Richmond area. Committed to personal spiritual disciplines and practices, Rev. Walker maintains a discipline of spiritual guidance and healing as she walks with others on their spiritual journeys.

For 30 years, Reverend Walker has provided ministerial leadership to churches, organizations and denominational bodies during times of start-up or transition. In addition to preaching, teaching and facilitating retreats and workshops, her ministerial services include spiritual guidance, healing prayer and community development.

Rev. Walker graduated from the Central Virginia School of Ministry in 1993 with an associate degree in Biblical Studies, and from the RUAH School of Spiritual Guidance in 2002. She graduated from the Virginia Union University School of Theology in 2007, where she earned a Master of Divinity degree. Rev. Walker served on the faculty of the RUAH School of Spiritual Guidance from 2003 – 2017, and as dean of the school from 2014 – 2017.

With plans in place to retire in May 2019, Rev. Walker will continue pursuing her interest in collaborative efforts designed to promote healing and wholeness in individuals and institutions.

Shiloh Baptist Church
Shiloh Baptist Church was founded by newly freed men and women of Ashland, Virginia around 1866 under the name Shiloh Freedman’s Church. In 1877, church trustees purchased the land where the church still stands today. As the largest black-owned facility in the area for many years, numerous significant community events have taken place at the church, including the baccalaureate and graduation exercises for the Hanover County Training School, the school for African American students in Ashland during the era of school segregation. Shiloh Baptist continues to offer a vibrant, welcoming faith community to the Town of Ashland and Hanover county.

Celebrating the Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Each year, Randolph-Macon College celebrates the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by inviting a distinguished speaker to campus to commemorate King’s birthday. Previous speakers include former Virginia Governor and Mayor L. Douglas Wilder, Pastor and Civil Rights leader Wyatt Tee Walker, former Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones, entrepreneur Shelia Johnson, Secretary of Commerce and Trade in the Commonwealth of Virginia Maurice Jones, Dr. Joseph F. Johnson, acting president at Virginia Union University, and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney.