In Loving Memory of Reverend Theodis Hadley

ELKHART — The Rev. Theodis Hadley stayed in the race until the end.

One of the best-known pastors in Elkhart’s black community, Hadley gained a reputation as a trailblazer, a calming voice amid racial tensions and a mentor to thousands over his 30 years with Canaan Baptist Church .

He died at home at about 1 a.m. Friday from conditions related to a weakened heart, according to a family member. He was 93.

“His strength of mind and his strength of determination in faith motivated him to serve the Lord in extraordinary ways,” said McNeal Stewart, pastor at Canaan Baptist Church.

Family and friends said Hadley remained mentally sharp until his final hours.

On Tuesday, a Hospice worker asked what the last thing he’d like to do and Hadley replied that he like to see all men find Jesus as their savior, said Clara Hadley, a daughter of Hadley’s.

On Thursday, he was quoting scripture and recalled one of his favorite songs, “Heaven is My Goal” and family members quickly joined in and sang to him:

“Heaven is my goal each and every day

Got to keep on moving … in the right way.”

Hadley, who was honored last year with a lifetime achievement award by the People’s History of Elkhart, is viewed by many as a legend on the city’s south side.

Hadley became “the premier African American pastor” and rose as a community leader during racial tensions of the civil rights era by being the “a calm in the storm,” said Arvis Dawson, the executive assistant to Mayor Dick Moore.

Hadley presided over Dawson’s wedding and baptized his children.

“He was rock solid during the civil rights movement,” Dawson said.

Hadley was born in Walker Springs, Ala., and was one of 14 children in his family. He served at three churches in Michigan before settling in Elkhart where he was pastor at Canaan Baptist Church for more than 30 years. He retired in 2000, but remained closely involved.

He had seven children with his wife, Laverne, who died three years ago.

“My dad was a trailblazer,” Clara Hadley said. “When he came to Elkhart, he came with the mindset to make it better and beautify it and bring salvation to all of those he came in contact with.”

Theodis Hadley became pastor of Canaan Baptist Church when it was still just a small church on Sixth Street.

Church members eventually built a new brick facility at 933 Fieldhouse Avenue, which has been since commemorated in Hadley’s name.

Acquiring the land for the new church, though, became a challenge after a white property owner balked at selling it.

“They didn’t want to sell him the land so he found one of his friends that they would sell it to. They bought it and then quick deeded it over to him,” Clara Hadley recalled.

Theodis Hadley wrote his autobiography with the help of his wife and titled it, “Stay in the Race,” a phrase he used in urging people to persevere and overcome life’s challenges.

He often encouraged people to be penny wise and consider going into business for themselves in ways that would benefit the community, she said.

“He was a real advocate of providing for yourself, taking care of yourself,” Clara Hadley said.

Hadley was a lifetime member of local NAACP and was involved with the old Urban League organization.

At the height of racial tensions, Hadley became the person people looked to serve as a mediator.

He also served on various boards and commissions.

When Mayor Dick Moore was elected twice, it was Hadley who swore him in both times.

Hadley was also known for turning a quick phrase to make a point.

Two of those quotes are taped to a note on Arvis Dawson’s work computer. One was a reply when Dawson asked him about the key to longevity: Just keep breathing.

The other: “I’m in good shape for the shape I’m in.”

The quotes, Dawson said, are a reminder of how simple life can be.

A testament to the success of Hadley’s spiritual work can be found in his family where three of his children — Clara, Ted and Michael, (who died nearly ten years ago) all became ordained ministers or elders.

“When you grow up in a house where you see a great example of God and his life is consistent with what he preaches, you just want to follow after and emulate,” Clara Hadley said.

“He was the greatest example of God that we could ever see.”

Written by Dan Spaulding Elkhart Truth

God's Amazing Road Trip, Day 7

We thank God for a wonderful Sunday in Worship and Service. We held our Annual Christian Education Day. Our church is blessed to have multiple certified schools operating within the church. Our church doesn't always have the resources to go the the National Convention meetings so I had to find a way to bring the convention back home to the church.

Our Sunday School Discipleship school is certified with our National Baptist Convention USA, INC. We offer this as an alternative to the uniform Sunday School lessons. Our attendance increased and our application improved. We thank Sister Maureen Johnson who is our Discipleship Coordinator.

We also have our Church School where our Bible Studies are certified. This Christian Education calendar year includes for Bible Study, The Synoptic Gospels, The Gospel of John, Romans, James, and The Book of Revelation. We thank our newly certified church dean, Sister Cynthia Bellephant for all of her hard work.

Our Henry L. Turner Christian Leadership School is held three times a year. In these sessions we have taught, Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts, Spiritual Formation. Conflict Management and The Development of the Male and Female roles in the Promotion of the family. Pastor Michael and Lady Lawana Griffin are our facilitators for our men and women's conference this year where we will expand the discussion on the roles of the man and woman in the family structure.

All of this works because I am blessed with an outstanding Christian Education Director who takes the Pastor's Vision and enlarges it within the Educational Department of the church. Our church is blessed to have Deacon Chris Dudley as our Christian Ed Director.

We are trying to enlarge on the concept of NEIGHBORHOOD this week and this 100 day period. We look forward to what God will do during this time.

Owens

Creating a Neighborhood Day 1

Been a while since I have been in this forum. Finishing this week Summer School at Midwestern Theological Seminary, it has been an interesting summer refreshing notes and increasing knowledge that I pray God will transform into ministry use. I encourage everyone finish school while young. As my mom always says, I should have two doctorates by now and still don't have my Masters of Divinity.

I am (finally) starting my 100 day campaign for 2014. I always set aside 100 days to try and meet with every member of my church, set and cast vision, spend time with my members in discovery of gifts, member alignment or in some cases realignment.

I am very behind this year. I am usually done by the first Sunday in June but I am nonetheless very excited to sit and talk with every member about where I feel the Lord is leading Macedonia. I have been moved and challenged by God about the concept of NEIGHBORHOOD, The place where we ought to be enacting and living out the principles and precepts of God on earth to the people of this world as they deal with the problems of this life.

As I was evaluating where Macedonia was as I enter my 7th Summer as Pastor, I am thankful for Spiritual, numerical and financial growth, I thank God for less debt and a plan for the future but even with all of that, WHAT DOES OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LOOK LIKE?

WHAT DOES THE FAMILY STRUCTURE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LOOK LIKE/

WHAT DO THE CHILDREN LOOK LIKE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD/

HOW CAN WE HELP THE YOUNG ADULT FAMILIES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD/

HOW DO WE HELP THE HURT AND HOPELESS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

HOW FAR DOES OUR SCOPE OF POWER REACH IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL CLIMATE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

IF OUR CHURCH CLOSED ITS DOORS TOMORROW, HOW LONG WOULD IT BE BEFORE WE WERE MISSED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD/

ARE WE MAKING THINGS BETTER OUTSIDE OUR WALLS OR JUST HAVING SERVICE ON THE INSIDE

Over this campaign, I will share as God gives me direction and as I learn from conversations with our members. Pray for us on this 100 day journey that we will hear confirmation from God.

Owens

April 1st Edition of Monday Morning Quarterback

Strength and Blessings to you as we thank God for another day of life. We had a great time in the Lord on Sunday at the Macedonia Church. For the first time in a long time, we had room!!! After 108.1 inches of snow for the year for the first time in 170 days the temperature got above 60 degrees.

That may not be a big deal where you are from but that is a national holiday up here. It is the holiday called, "WE AIN'T GOING TO CHURCH TODAY HOLIDAY". Blizzard, church full, 30 inches fell last night, church full, sun shining no clouds in the sky and it is warm, Pastor I will see you next Sunday.

Church folk acted like roaches do when the lights come on, they left. Good thing I was always taught, don't fuss at the people who are there about the people who aren't. plus I understand, it was a beautiful day. (did i just call church folk roaches.......nah it was an example)

Although we missed our early vacationing members, we still had a great time in the Lord finishing up our Growing Up in Christ Series on the Book of James preaching James 5:19-20 "The Church's Position to the Backsliders Problem. The Lord blessed.

It is Winter Thaw here so our churches are in service almost every Sunday catching up for the winter months we were in hibernation. We worshipped with the Zion Hill MBC and Pastor Chris Derrickson as they celebrated their 28th Church Anniversary. It was an honor to go, The fellowship is always both refreshing and rewarding and God let me preach a little bit.

My voice thought I was back home in the South, warm outside, hot on the inside and had voice too. It was a great time. Preached Deuteronomy 8 "How I Got Over", It was good just to have the responsibility to preach again and not the burden to teach or cast vision.

Felt so good I decided to invade Bethlehem MBC where my boy Pastor Keith D. Witherspoon is Pastor. It was musical time for their church "A New Song for a New Season". The worship was amazing and the choir ministered under the power of God. Very proud of Bethlehem and Pastor Witherspoon.

I think they trying to start a choir war in this town the way they sang. We concede at Macedonia. We can't do it like the big church does. Thought Witherspoon was gonna sing but he chickened out, lol.

Lots of work, limited time but an all powerful God, sounds like a great combination.

Owens

Monday Morning Quarterback 2/23/14 Edition James 1:19-27

94.4 inches of snow to date in South Bend but I am still standing, the Macedonia roof  hasn't collapsed, no leaking in between the shingles and the gutters are still standing. God be praised!!!!!!

We had a wonderful time in the Lord this Sunday. I was absent this past Sunday as I worshipped with my best friend and newly installed Pastor, Rev. Kevin D. Moss and the Antioch Fellowship Church. The Lord has blessed him with a wonderful wife and a following church family. Great things are in store.

Even though I love being around other churches and Pastors for inspiration and illumination, there is still no church family like Macedonia at 1862 N. Olive Street. The spirit was high, attendance was packed, money was great, I pray the replication of the word preached today will be even greater than the numerical numbers of people and finances.

We thank God for our minister of music Jovan Lewis for allowing God to flow through him as the Praise team and choir were on point today. One of our directors and praise leaders, Brother Charles Coleman is stepping out more in faith on the platform God is building for him God was heavy in the place even I sang................................ gotta be quick, my folk will stop singing and start recording and I'll be on Youtube or facebook some where.

We continued our Bible Study and Sunday Morning preaching series in the book of James. It is shouting me and killing me all at the same time. This morning we dealt with James 1:19-27 "A Belief that Behaves".

Building on the idea that trials attack us from without and temptations challenge us from within, and it takes the wisdom of God to help us deal with them, we expanded the idea to this wisdom is found in the word of God, not the listening to but the doing.

In order to deal with the temptations and trials of life and make our Belief behave we must:

Remove those things that Hinder us: vs 19-21
Receive those things that Help us Vs 22

Review those things that Hone us Vs 23-25

If we do these things, our action principles of the text will be:

We will respond to those that are Hurting Vs 26

We will React to those Hurting people in a Holy manner Vs 27

I left a lot on the table but the good thing about preaching and teaching this series is, what I miss on Sunday, I get on Wednesday.

I pray service was great for you. Pray for us as we are traveling back to OKC AGAIN, as my oldest daughter Rachael is being inducted into the national Honor Society. If I can run for churches, members, districts and state conventions, then you better believe I will run, jump, fetch and light a match for my daughters.

Rachael, Daddy is proud of you and if some boy tries to come and congratulate you in my presence, there is gonna be a misunderstanding,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, don't worry pretty girl I won't embarrass you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, lol

Owens

Monday Morning Quarterback 2/2/14 Texas Edition

It's 34 degrees here in Fort Worth Texas and people are complaining its cold, meanwhile it is the teens in South Bend where another 4 to 7 inches fell last night raising our snow total year to date to 80.9 inches of snow and the report I received was church was packed, lives were changed, money was good, To God be the glory!!!!


Special thanks to the assistant to the Pastor, Reverend Derick Buggs who is in training for ordination for carrying on services today. I didn't want to miss a service so soon in the new year but I had to eulogize my mentor Reverend Aaron A. Jackson Jr, Pastor of the Forest Hill MBC in Fort Worth, TX.


I have always said, Pastor A. Glenn Woodberry and the Greater Mount Olive BC gave me birth but it was Forest Hill MBC and Dr. Aaron A. Jackson, Jr that gave me life.


It was good to see many people who still love me and pray for me and yes I am 60 lbs bigger than when I left. (at least) Why is that a bad thing? That just means Macedonia MBC has been taking care of their Pastor. That is what you prayed for, right ?!


While the service was going on, I realized I have no more senior pastors left in my life except, Dr. J.A. Reed Jr. Please pray for his wife Sis Pat Reed and the entire family as well as the Fairview MBC of OKC.


Also, Please pray for the Forest Hill MBC family and the Jackson family as they deal with this loss. God is able. Again, thank you to the Jackson family for allowing me to stand.


Good to see Dr. Rickie G. Rush, Pastor of the Inspiring Body of Christ Church (IBOC) in Dallas, TX again. Great job officiating, I learned much.


It was wonderful to be around the legendary Dr L R. Drinkwater Sr., Pastor of the Redeemed MBC in OKC. Truly, he has forgotten more than I ever will learn. Don't ever try and tell him he only has two minutes to talk, LOL


Special thanks to Pastor Jack A Crane and Pastor James Worthy of the True Vine MBC of Fort Worth, TX and City of Refuge Baptist Church of Fort Worth, TX for all of their hospitality that was shown to me. It will be my honor to return the favor when you travel to South Bend. Ministers who make room for a visiting member to preach simply off a eulogy are special brothers. Glad to see the fraternity of fellowship among Pastors still exist.


My apologies to my church family but God is in control. The airports to Midway and South Bend Regional shut down Saturday due to snow and planes were cancelled here in Dallas Fort Worth this morning due to freezing rain and ice. So glad, I had some where to worship.


With a 7:30 and 10:30 preaching service behind me, I am ready to go eat at Pappadeaux Seafood. GLORY!!!!!!!!!


I hate I am missing the legendary Super Bowl party with my Pastor and friend Dr. Keith D. Witherspoon.


I want the Broncos to win today as I am going with Peyton Manning. I just feel he is a class act who still isn't recognized like he should be. Manning isn't liked in South Bend due to most South Bend fans are more Bears fans than Colts fans. Either way, I'm cheering Broncos.


Love the Seahawks but I feel you must suffer before you reign. They haven't suffered yet, to me.


Praying for open airports and safe flights back home.

Be Careful What You Ask For!!

SNOWING!!!! Nothing new to report on that front, time of year, it is what it is but God taught me a new lesson today. By the grace of God, I am looking to come out of my 6th winter here in South Bend ready to celebrate my 7th spring. I count my time here by the winters.

Each winter has taught me something different because each winter has been different.Been thru the 30 inches of snow falling in 24 hrs, learned we can shovel it. Been thru the $3,000 dollar NIPSCO gas bills in the winter, learned God's got it and we can pay it. Been thru the 114 inches of snow in a winter and learned we gonna make it, spring is coming.

So I have settled in like a Californian has to earthquakes or a Floridian has to hurricanes or an Oklahoman has to a tornado, its part of life living here so snow to the Midwestern is just life, What no one could prepare me for was NO SUN! Here in South Bend near Lake Michigan in the snow belt, we receive heavy clouds coming off the lake, They can stay with you for a day, a week even a month. I have gone 44 days without seeing the sun and YES I COUNTED.

I complained, I fussed, I whined, I pitched a fit, I told the Lord we don't need all these clouds. Be careful what you ask God for. He may give it to you.

A Polar Vortex is sweeping our nation bringing record lows and new "Highs" which are still record lows. It is bringing polar air from Siberia and has plunged thru our nation. The trajectory of this jet stream has caused the clouds that sit over South Bend during this time to be gone. Clear skies, beautiful scenery, bright days full of cold sunshine!

However, I learned that what I have fussed about had benefits. Clouds bring warmth, a certain type of insulation. It prevents temperatures from bottoming out because it provides a blanket.........a covering if you will over the land. I have no covering. God has moved the clouds, just like I asked so a normal 10 degree night turns into -10 as a low and - 35 windchill because their is no covering.

A normal high of 5 degrees is now a high of -6 because there is no longer a covering, The thing I thought was a curse was actually a blessing. I write this blog to speak into some one's life that may be reading this words. Don't know what brought you here but maybe you should rethink the thing you are considering a burden.

Maybe God has left you on this job, left you in this pit, left you in this church, left you in this debt not to hurt you but to protect you from your life bottoming out. You aren't ready for the record lows, the wind chills, the high gas bills so he doesn't remove your clouds, he teaches you to have a sunny day even with a cloudy disposition.

Thank you Lord for my clouds, those things I want removed but you purposed in my life not to hurt me but to help me and hope me,

My clouds:
Protect me from my environment (cold, chills,
Provide for me my essentials (shelter, security, safety)
Be careful what you ask for. He may give it to you and you find yourself no longer living Under the Covering.