180 BECOMING KING understood as a way to contribute to society. Now ministry was about leading a community to trust in the power and justice and righteousness of God even when evil seemed to triumph. Through the crucible of a local struggle for justice, King’s oratorical skills shined brightly. After learning how his words could stir a congrega- tion, he set his sights on stirring a nation to fulfill its promises of justice and equality. King also grew in his capacity for connecting with profes- sionals and the working class, black and white. His sermons and speeches demonstrate his effectiveness in speaking the language of people from all walks of life. As he assumed local leadership, King began to adjust to being the symbol of the movement. He and his family became targets. Exploding dynamite and the steely blade of a knife reminded King that being a symbol had its price. Despite threats and even violence, King maintained hope in the prevailing power of God when it is unleashed through the love-infused strategy of nonviolence. After the boycott, King found it easier to turn his attention to re- gional and national struggles, as he pulled away from the local battle. Al- though he would be involved in many local campaigns over the remaining eight years of his life, never again would he play such a pivotal role from start to finish. King was more than just a symbol in Montgomery; he was a part of the movement and critical to its success. He learned a great deal from the city about God, about leadership, and about sacrifice. During a mass meeting shortly after the bombing of King’s home, Dr. Moses Jones told the crowd that the city had waited too long to kill Martin Luther King Jr., claiming that King “is in all of us now.” The people of Mont- gomery were also in King, and he would be a different man the rest of his days. Although King’s civil rights leadership may have been conceived in 61 Atlanta, Georgia, in Montgomery he was becoming King.