“Triumphal” wasn’t just a name—it was a calling.

Honoring the Journey of Triumphal Christian Fellowship and Pastor Tony Canady
A Legacy of Faithfulness in Downtown Waxahachie

Church planting is one of the most challenging and courageous callings in ministry. It’s a journey of risk, sacrifice, and unwavering obedience to the call of Christ. Pastor Tony Canady and his family walked that path with grace, grit, and Gospel resolve. For several years, they poured their hearts and lives into the church, a diverse congregation planted in the heart of downtown Waxahachie.

While Triumphal Christian Fellowship recently held its final worship gathering, the fruit of their labor continues to bear witness to God's faithfulness. Their calling was clear: to build a church that reached across divisions and embodied the reconciling love of Christ. As their own words expressed: “We’re building a church from every walk of life that comes together to exalt the name of Jesus and experience His triumph in everyday life.”

That vision wasn’t just aspirational—it was incarnated in the day-to-day rhythms of ministry. From worship and community gatherings and outreach, Triumphal was a place where people felt welcomed, seen, and loved. With an identity rooted in Ephesians 3:12—“In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence”—they cultivated a culture of openness, freedom, and Kingdom hope.

Pastor Tony often reminded his church that they weren’t simply building a building or organizing events—they were creating space for people to meet Jesus. That kind of ministry leaves a mark, even if the season is shorter than hoped.

The closing of a church is never easy. It comes with grief, reflection, and sometimes even questions. But it is also an occasion to give thanks. In the case of Triumphal Christian Fellowship, we give thanks for the countless hours of prayer, the acts of service, the relationships formed, and the Gospel proclaimed in Waxahachie. We give thanks for a family who said “yes” to the Lord’s call and gave their all to see a new work take root.

As an association, we want to publicly honor Pastor Tony, his wife Melanesia, and their daughter Madisyn. They modeled perseverance, humility, and Kingdom courage. They walked faithfully through the joys and the hardships of planting. They were a blessing to Waxahachie and to our association.

Please join us in praying for the Canady family as they discern what’s next. And let us continue being the kind of association that surrounds planters with love, encouragement, and support—through every season of the journey.

Pastor Tony would say, “Let’s go… let’s GROW!”

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