Contact: Roy Lloyd, American Bible Society, 212-408-8731, rlloyd@americanbible.org

NEW YORK, March 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is a statement by the Rev. Dr. Paul Irwin, President, American Bible Society:

Two score years ago, the voice of a prophet was stilled in our land. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was killed in the midst of calling for America to live up to the true meaning of the concept that all people are created equal. His mission was based squarely on his faith in God and the message of the Bible that God loves all of us in this world, regardless of our ethnicity or where our ancestors lived before they came to these shores.

Dr. King's vision was of a kingdom of peace for all nations of the earth. As it says in the biblical book of Amos (5.24 Contemporary English Version), "Let justice and fairness flow like a river that never runs dry."

The American Bible Society has stood firmly against injustice and racism. And the legacy of agents from the Bible Society in the South, who brought Bibles to African Americans and their churches, serves as a reminder that each of us, in our own ways, can make a difference in enabling the empowerment of all. God's Word calls us to complete the work that needs to be done.

Because we are called to love God and love each other, the dream of Dr. King lives on and his voice continues to rally people to speak for justice, combat racism and to advocate for non-violent change. I pray that this solemn occasion of the death of Dr. King forty years ago will commit us to unity and understanding and to give thanks to God who is the source of the gifts of love, forgiveness, mercy and redemption.

Founded in 1816 and headquartered in New York City, the mission of the American Bible Society is to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford, so that all people may experience its life-changing message. The American Bible Society Web site is www.Bibles.com.