Alumni Spotlight Elder Leon E. Hatchett
Elder Leon E. Hatchett is the only child of the late John and Sonya Hatchett. He is a native Washingtonian and received his primary and secondary education through the District of Columbia Public School System. He is a graduate of the United States Department of Agriculture Graduate School’s Executive Leadership, and New Leader Programs and is a Graduate of the Maple Springs Baptist Bible College & Seminary where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies with Pastoral Emphasis in May of 2018.
On September 30, 2025, he will officially retire from the Department of Navy with 39 years of Government Service. He was a Financial Management Analyst with Comptroller Office for the United States Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). He also served as a Customer Resource Team Lead for the Comptroller at NAVSEA; a Diversity Equality Inclusion Council Member, and for seven years he was the African American Employee Resources Group Lead.
He accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at the Glendale Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. and was baptized by his Godfather, the late Pastor Abraham Lincoln Colston. Elder Hatchett was involved in numerous auxiliaries of the Church including the Youth & Young Adult Usher Boards, Junior Missionaries and actively attended Sunday School and Prayer Services.
Elder Hatchett accepted his call to the Ministry on the foundation of the Glendale Baptist Church, Washington, DC., and was a committed and obedient servant. God began to reveal His purpose and will for Elder Hatchett’s life and on Wednesday, August 24, 1987, he preached his Trial Sermon. He was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel on November 18, 1995. Over the course of time, he served as Director of the Radio Ministry, Minister to the Young Adult Ministry, Youth Crusade Coordinator, Sunday School Teacher, Bible Institute Instructor, and was an active member of the H.O.P.E. Ministry.
He has received his ministerial training under the tutelage of Bishop Anthony G. Maclin, Pastor of the Sanctuary at Kingdom Square, (formerly Glendale Baptist Church) and Bishop Melvin E. Blake Jr., Senior Pastor of In His Image Christian
Ministries. He is a strong advocate for education and is constantly called upon to assist in capacities that further the educational needs of others.
He currently serves as an Elder at In His Image Christian Ministries (IHICM), is a member of Men After the Heart of God Men’s Ministry at IHICM and is an IHICM Saturday Kingdom Class Instructor. He has led Bible Studies for IHICM on Zoom, Facebook Live, In-Person Worship/Study, and participated in their “Be About It” Podcast.
He served as the 1st Chaplain of the Alumni Association of Maple Springs Baptist Bible College and Seminary and has participated in the Radio Ministry through Preaching & Teaching for Maple Springs Baptist Bible College & Seminary on numerous occasions.
Since his calling, Elder Hatchett has been blessed with the opportunity to speak on Church Anniversaries, Men’s Day Services and Conferences, Youth’s Day Services, Revivals, Pastors’ Anniversaries & Appreciation Services, Men’s Retreats, fellowships, and other forums to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He lives by the principle that “he can do all things through Christ that strengthens him” (Phil. 4:13) and “if you just wait upon the Lord, He shall renew your strength” (Isaiah 40:31). Elder Hatchett’s constant prayer is to do the will of the Father.
He has been married to Adranne for 33 years, and they are the proud parents of two terrific sons, Nathanael and Matthew.
Elder Hatchett has the desire to become a published author and possibly enable others to do the same through establishing his own publishing company entitled Hatchman Press.
The Lord has told him that there is still much more to come through his Ministry of Service — so, stay tuned.