RIP Meadowlark Lemon: Basketball Star and Minister

Last updated on: December 28, 2015 at 9:22 am by Deacon Greg Kandra

RIP Meadowlark Lemon: Basketball Star and Minister 2015-12-28T09:22:51-05:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A happy hoopster is gone:

Meadowlark Lemon, who became known as the “Clown Prince of Basketball” during a run of more than two decades as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, died Sunday. He was 83.

Lemon’s death was first reported by The New York Times, who cited his wife, Cynthia.

A North Carolina native born Meadow Lemon III, Lemon recalled making his first basketball hoop out of an onion sack and a coat hanger and using an empty can of Carnation milk to sink his first two-point shot, according to Lemon’s website.

He played college basketball at Florida A&M and was drafted into the Army for two years before he applied to join the Globetrotters in 1954. Lemon said he had seen the Globetrotters playing on newsreels, passing the ball to the tones of the distinctive “Sweet Georgia Brown,” and was struck by the all-black squad. Black players were still a novelty on the court, the NBA having only integrated in 1950.

“When they got to the basketball court, they seemed to make that ball talk,” Lemon said during his Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech in 2003. “I said, ‘That’s mine. This is for me.’ I was a receiving a vision. I was receiving a dream in my heart.”

The determined Lemon began playing for the team in 1955.

Lemon changed his first name to the distinctive “Meadowlark” in the 1950s because, he later said, “The birds named meadowlark are known for their sweet and happy songs. I always tried to put a song in the hearts of my fans.”

…As his basketball career wound down, Lemon became an ordained Christian minister, creating his own self-named evangelistic organization in 1994.

In addition to Cynthia, Lemon is survived by his ten children.

“I want you to always remember that life’s most meaningless statistic is the half time score,” Lemon said on his website, “and as far as I’m concerned it’s always half-time.”

Read more.

His website has more about his ministry:

In 1994 Meadowlark and his wife, Dr. Cynthia Lemon, founded Meadowlark Lemon Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to “changing lives, to change the world.” In 1986, Meadowlark became an ordained minister, and in 1998, he received a Doctorate of Divinity from Vision International University. In 1994, Dr. Cynthia Lemon became an ordained minister and they work together as a team with a heart for people and a mission for the world; a team with a message of hope, joy, grace and unmerited favor.

Meadowlark’s life as a basketball celebrity and as one of the world’s most recognizable athletes and entertainers has given him access to millions who might not otherwise hear the “good news” of a loving God who knows them by name and loves them. Meadowlark’s humorous, dynamic and engaging style of communication makes him a highly sought-after conference speaker, keynote speaker and evangelist.

Meadowlark Lemon Ministries along with Camp Meadowlark and Meadowlark Lemon’s Harlem All Stars™ uses both conventional and unconventional methods to reach out to young and old alike. Through the means of writing books, preaching, evangelical outreaches, music, basketball, television media and technology, Meadowlark Lemon Ministries presents a life-changing message that brings hope, joy and inspiration to millions — encouraging all to stay focused and “finish strong” in every endeavor.

Meadowlark says:

One significant difference between life and any other game or race is that in life we only compete against ourselves. Even though others may be involved, each person’s life is judged by no greater criteria than how they did when measured against their own individual potential. Decide right now that you are going to begin a new chapter in your life. Why wait until January 1 to make your resolution? Make your declaration today and finish this day strong, this week strong, this month strong, and this year strong. The common denominator for all mankind is that we all get 24 hours in a day, just like everyone else. What you do with that time is up to you. Choose well…

God bless him.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him…

Photo: Harlem Globetrotters / Twitter

Uncategorized

Previous Post

December 27, 2015

On the Road: St. Mary's, Rockville, MD

Next Post

December 28, 2015 Baby Jesus Stolen from 5 New Jersey Nativity Scenes

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism education Education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution Politics politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized Vatican VATICAN vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Paul say about weakness in 2 Corinthians 12?

Select your answer to see how you score.

"Weakness leads to destruction." "Avoid all weakness." "The weak shall perish." "God’s power is made perfect in weakness."

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »