By Jamie Hanson

Mike Hadley ’02 felt prompted during his high school years to work in a church, so when he declared a major at NWC, youth ministry seemed a logical fit. However, even when he landed a youth ministry job he continued to pray for an opportunity in a local church that was more fully aligned with his creative gifts.

“I’m weird. I’ve got all these weird skills,” said Hadley, who is creative director at Eagle Brook Church (EBC) in Lino Lakes, Minn. Inspired by the challenge of figuring out how to effectively use his skills in a ministry setting, he found himself in many different roles: working with youth, doing improvisational theatre at ComedySportz, working for the NWC Theatre Department and finally, landing his role at EBC.

EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS
“My professors demanded excellence in my work,” said Hadley. “That has a big part in any success I’ve had since college. In my job here at EBC, it’s crucial that I hold that value high and strive for it daily.”
As creative director, Hadley and his team of six create and produce videos, graphics, promos and message illustrations that are incorporated into weekend services. As the director, he provides vision to set them up for success, helps them think about the process and, after completion, measures the excellence of work.

In a highly creative environment, Hadley prefers clarity to having absolute freedom in his work. “I want to know what we’re doing so I can create well. I love that.” He believes that art should have meaning—that it should do something, communicate something, say something. And that’s what he gets to do every day, creating media art for EBC.