In a noteworthy display of redemption and community service, former convict Thaddeus Black, now a pastor, is set to be honored by the very agency that once pursued him. Nearly three decades have unfurled since Black found himself on the wrong side of the law, leading to his 1998 arrest by the FBI for running a sophisticated drug operation. Special Agent in Charge, Edward Gray, was then a new agent responsible for Black's capture in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Gray's exploits earned him a Director’s Award for his role in dismantling Black's criminal network. This April, their paths will converge again as Black receives a Director’s Community Leadership Award for his efforts in guiding youths towards a more hopeful future and for bridging gaps between law enforcement and the community.
According to an FBI news release, SAC Gray will be present to watch Black, whom he now calls "a good friend of the Bureau," to be recognized by FBI Director Christopher Wray. "He's a great partner in the community for us," Gray remarked. After a 12-year stint in prison, Black gradually transformed his life, eventually becoming the pastor of Tulakes Community Church in Bethany, Oklahoma. The narrative of his redemption began with a life-altering phone call from his mother, who implored him to embrace God's love and find a renewed purpose, which he ultimately discovered in religious service and community building.
Black's pivot to pastoral work and community service truly began to unfold when, while still incarcerated, he chanced to protect a disoriented young inmate, catalyzing a friendship with the young man's father, Gary Pitcock. Post-release, Black worked at Pitcock's car lot and later took to the pulpit at First Church of the Nazarene in Bethany, where he connected with Rick Raines, a retired special agent who had been part of the surveillance team tracking Black years prior. Raines, struck by the remarkable turn in Black’s life, went on to become a close friend and strong supporter of Black’s ministry.
Pastor Black now leads Tulakes Neighborhood Ministries, overseeing a church, a food pantry, and a free clinic, and he's often seen driving a bus adorned with a basketball hoop at community events. The story of Black's collaboration with the FBI came full-circle when SAC Gray, upon his return to the Oklahoma City Field Office two years ago, was informed by Raines of Black's transformation. "Then Ed was like, 'We need to get Thaddeus hooked up with our community outreach program so we can do some things together,'" Raines recalled. Pastor Black's partnership with the FBI has proven integral, evidenced by the successful outreach event sponsored by Black’s ministry last summer, where locals got to meet FBI staff, further shrinking the divide between law enforcement and civilians.
As Black prepares to accept his award, his history underscores a deep message for the community he serves -- that change is possible and that they need not fear cooperation with law enforcement. "He just has a trust that he built and can tell them—with his background and what he did—is not the way to go," Raines told the FBI. This unusual tie between Black and the FBI stands as a beacon of hope, showing that former adversaries can become allies in forging pathways to a better tomorrow for communities in need.
