The Pacific Southwest Region will celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a special event on Sunday, January 24, 2027. The annual event will take place at the Disciples Ministry Center in Fullerton – 115 E. Wilshire Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92832. The event will also be live-streamed on the Disciples PSWR YouTube channel.
This year’s featured speaker will be Rev. Dr. Delesslyn Kennebrew, Administrative Secretary of the National Convocation and Associate General Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). See below for more information about Dr. Kennebrew.
“Disciple of the Year” Award
Included in the event was a presentation of the annual “Disciple of the Year” award. An award to honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was established by the Pacific Southwest Region (PSWR) in 1974. Each year since that time, one or more members of a Disciple congregation in the PSWR have been recognized for their efforts on behalf of justice and peace, either in their local community or through organizations and initiatives serving these causes beyond the congregation and surrounding communities, nationally and globally. Nominations are accepted annually by December 5th. Please read the guidelines on the nomination form and recommend an individual(s), congregation or unit who meet those criteria whom you feel ought to be considered for this honor.
2026 Disciple of the Year Recipient,
Rev. Tanya Lopez
This year’s 2026 recipient was Rev. Tanya Lopez, Senior Pastor of Downey Memorial Christian Church. Rev. Lopez has been involved in church leadership at the congregational, regional, and general levels. She is also currently serving as the First Vice-Moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Pacific Southwest Region.
She is a proud first-generation bilingual daughter of immigrants and sees herself as a bridge to help bring communities and generations together. She believes faith and justice cannot be separate. And that passion for justice is part of all she does in her work both in and outside of the church. She has been active across Los Angeles County with various immigrant rights organizations and community organizing groups as she continues to live into her call of being an active participant in co-creating the Kindom of God for all.
She has a background in Psychology and Education. She earned her BA in Psychology from Cal State Fullerton and her Master of Divinity from Claremont School of Theology. She was ordained into Christian Ministry in 2022.
She and her husband, Rev. Al Lopez, are the proud parents of two wonderful girls and love spending time with their two feisty dogs.
MLK Jr. Student Scholarship
This year’s recipient of the MLK Jr. Student Scholarship is Isabella Batts from First Christian Church, North Hollywood.
Did you know that the MLK Jr. Student Scholarships given each year are funded directly from the previous years donations? It’s true! That means YOU have the opportunity to support the 2026 scholarship!
If you’d like to donate now, here are a few ways to do so:
1. Visit our MLK Jr. Scholarship donation site
2. Call the PSWR office at (626) 296-0385 and donate by phone
3. Mail a check to the PSWR office at 115 E. Wilshire Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832 with the memo: “MLK Scholarship Fund.”
We invite you to enjoy the video from last year’s 2026 MLK Jr. Event on our Disciples PSWR YouTube channel.
2027 Keynote Speaker, Rev. Dr. Delesslyn Kennebrew
Rev. Dr. Delesslyn Audra Kennebrew (J.D., M.Div.) is a Visionary Strategist, Faithful Innovator, Inspirational Essayist, and Energizing Preacher. For 20 years, she has worked to give life to the vision and mission of local churches and is currently intrigued by conversations that consider the intersection of faith, innovation, design thinking, cultural diversity, and social transformation. Dr. Kennebrew has a passion for helping churches and faith leaders to discern, discover, decide, and design what's next.
She is a Supplemental Professor of Ministry Leadership and Innovation at Central Seminary, and on the board of Chalice Media, a publishing company whose mission is to create a better world with words. She is also active in the National Congress of Black Women - Kansas City Chapter and on the board of her local community theater. In the Spring of 2024, she was inducted into the Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA.
She currently serves as the Administrative Secretary for the National Convocation and the Associate General Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. In this role, as consultant and connector, she is determined to ensure that the issues, priorities, and concerns of all who make up the black constituency are addressed, and that the unity of the church is realized.
Dr. Kennebrew is an avid writer and shares her reflections online in Call It Forth! at drdakennebrew.com. She is also the author of two books that can be purchased on Amazon: “Step Out of the Boat: An Invitation to Walk on Water” and “The Power to be PERFECT: A Collection of Reflections on Spiritual Perfection.” You can also join her on the first 3 days of every month at 3AM Central Time for 3AM Prayer and Inspiration Live on Facebook!
Dr. Kennebrew is a proud graduate of Loyola University New Orleans (B.A. Mass Communications), the University of Arkansas School of Law (J.D.), Emory University - Candler School of Theology (M.Div.), and Columbia Theological Seminary (D.Ed.Min., Doctor of Educational Ministry). Her Ministry Motto is Colossians 3:17: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”