Final answer:
Martin Luther King Jr. became a pastor/minister in 1954 at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He was 25 years old and quickly assumed a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, advocating for nonviolent protest and equality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Martin Luther King Jr. became a pastor/minister in 1954 at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, at the age of 25. Rev. King's rise to leadership in the African American Civil Rights Movement began shortly after as he became involved in the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 following the arrest of Rosa Parks. His commitment to the principles of nonviolent protest guided many successful civil rights actions, including the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech. As a minister and civil rights leader, Dr. King worked closely with organizations such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), playing a pivotal role in combating racial inequality through activism.