SAMA Highlight: Reverend Dr. Thaddaus L. Laidler
Published 3:08 pm Tuesday, October 15, 2024
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The Reverend Dr. Thaddaus L. Laidler is the youngest son of Dr. Johnny Laidler Jr. and Mrs. Farris Laidler. He was born and raised in Vienna, Georgia. He is a 1984 graduate of the Dooly County High School. He received his BA degree (1992) from American Baptist College in Nashville, Tennessee and his M. Div. (1996) and D. Min. (2014) degrees from the ITC (Interdenominational Theological Center) via Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta, Georgia. Some of his hobbies are: 1) Training Dogs 2) Listening to all genres of music 3) Singing 4) Reading 5) Writing. Dr. Laidler earned his black belt in Moo Duk Kwan Tae-Kwon-Do at 19 and started preaching the Gospel at the tender age of 14. Dr. Laidler says there was a voice within him that kept reiterating “Go Preach! Go Preach!” It was like an itch he couldn’t scratch or a chip on his shoulder he couldn’t brush off. He prayed and asked God to give him a sign, so that night he went to revival and an old Baptist preacher (Rev. J.C. Baker) grabbed his hand after service and held it for what seemed like an eternity and kept repeating out loud, “Son, God has a job for you to do!” He went to revival that next night seeking another sign, but nothing strange or mysterious happened. He went home and resigned himself to the idea that maybe God didn’t want him to preach, so with tears in his eyes, he asked God on that hot summer night and as he was trying to sleep by a window fan, to mark him on his forehead like the people in Revelation and instantly something blew out of the window fan so quickly and hit him in the middle of his forehead, he jumped up out of the bed shouting! That’s when he acquiesced and said “Yes.” Dr. Laidler has carried the Words of God all over from Africa, Germany, Greece, Israel, Jordan, and Syria; as well as other corners of the world including several of the states in the USA.
He is married to the former Ellen R. Bryant, who is also from Dooly County and his former high school classmate. They have three daughters and six grandchildren: 1) Briana S. Bivens and children, Kendyll, Kylie and Kason; 2) Jasmin G. Williams and children, Jaslyn (2011-2013) and Koryn; 3) Jalyn J. Laidler and daughter, Kelani. The Laidlers have a German Shepherd named Kunta Kintae.
In October of 2023 Dr. Laidler accepted the call to become the 32nd“Servant Leader” of the historical Bethesda Baptist Church 225 Forrest Street Americus, Georgia 31709. Sunday school starts at 9am and church starts at 10am every Sunday. Some of our ministries are but not limited to: 1) Teaching/Preaching 2) College Ministry 3) AWANA 4) Women’s Ministry 5) Men’s Ministry 6) Youth and Adult Sunday school 7) Senior Citizen’s Ministry 8) Culinary Ministry 9) Hospital Ministry 10) Convalescent Home Ministry 11) Usher’s Ministry 12) Pastor’s Aide Ministry 13) Transportation Ministry, 14) Monthly Newsletter Ministry, etc. Bethesda is an excellent Church because we serve an excellent God! Come grow with us!