The Scotland County Ministerial Alliance and the Scotland County branch of the NAACP are sponsoring a weekend of activities for the 2010 celebration of Martin Luther King Day.

"We will have four events in four days beginning on Friday and continuing through the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday," Ministerial Alliance Communication Director and Pastor Darrel "BJ" Gibson, Jr. said. "We plan to reach out with a very diverse program this year; we feel it is important to work to bridge the gaps within our community."

First on the agenda will be the NAACP Youth Council Celebration, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Jan. 15 at St. Andrews Presbyterian College. Gibson will be the keynote speaker for the event.

"I will be making my plea to the community at large, especially to the young people, during the Martin Luther King holiday events for our young to be visible," Gibson said. "Although we weren't a part of the struggle, we've reaped the benefits of it. I will ask that all come together for unity as we celebrate this special holiday."

On Saturday morning a Unity Prayer Breakfast will be presented at the Highlands in Laurinburg. The event begins at 9 a.m. and will feature guest speaker Pastor Kenneth Blease of Northview Harvest Ministries. The cost will be $6 per person.

The celebration will continue on Sunday at 6 p.m. with a Unity Service at Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church in Laurinburg. Dr. O.T. McMillan, director of Bureau Evangelism of A.M.E. Zion International, will be the keynote speaker.

On Monday, the annual Unity March and Worship event will take place with participants asked to convene at Badcock Furniture Store, located at 417 Atkinson Street in Laurinburg, at 9:30 a.m. The march will begin at 10 a.m. and will proceed to Bright Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church. Newly elected NAACP President Robert Malloy will be the keynote speaker.

"We have many things happening this weekend, with our prayer breakfast, a unity service, a youth council celebration and words on Martin Luther King Day from the wonderful Robert Malloy," Gibson said. "We invite everyone to join us, and hope that the community will be a part of our celebration."