Posted: 2/06/04
Texas Envoys' seminary service
impacts ministry throughout Europe, Asia
By John Hall
Texas Baptist Communications
Some Christians adopt a particular people group as the focus of their missions efforts.
Larry and Betty Maddox adopted a continent.
For the last three years, the Maddoxes have volunteered at the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
They serve as Texas Envoys, an effort by the Texas Partnerships Resource Center of the Baptist General Convention of Texas that connects volunteers with mission projects.
Larry Maddox has served as a part-time professor. His wife has worked as the campus hostess, making arrangements for students and staff.
The couple has ministered in many countries through the European Baptist Federation-affiliated school, including Russia, Romania, Serbia and Bosnia. They worked at schools and institutions affiliated with the seminary.
Maddox described the students as eager to learn and apply the seminary's materials. They are grateful for the opportunity to go to the Baptist World Alliance-funded school, he said.
The Maddoxes have touched lives throughout Europe and parts of Asia, teaching English, church administration and Christian ethics.
Beyond the classroom, the Texas Envoys invite students to their home for meals and discuss issues pupils are facing.
The Maddoxes' influence on the students' lives travels further around the world as the pupils take what they learn back to their home countries to serve as missionaries.
Often, the Maddoxes have been amazed to see what the students accomplish after leaving the seminary.
Seminary students are starting schools and churches across Europe and Asia, Maddox noted.
They are strengthening existing congregations. Using relationships, they are training others to spread the gospel.
“Anytime we go to see former students, it is so fulfilling,” he said said.
“This is why we are here. It's the students that captured our hearts.”
This model of training nationals to be missionaries is the most effective way of strengthening and spreading Christianity, the Maddoxes agreed.
Residents know the language and understand the culture of the region without training. They have seen which evangelism methods work.
“We think the way to do missions is to train the student and let him train his people,” she said.
“We have seen it work.”
The work impressed the couple so much that they started raising funds in the United States for the seminary.
A decline in the value of the dollar has decreased the value of U.S. donations.
The school has been forced to cut child care programs and reduced the number of scholarships offered.
If the Southern Baptist Convention defunds the Baptist World Alliance, as recommended by an SBC committee, the seminary will take another economic hit.
Despite financial difficulties, the seminary staff and the Maddoxes continue ministering to the students.
The couple have looked for opportunities to share their experiences to encourage more volunteers to work overseas.
Investing in students is impacting the world for Christ, the couple said.
“It has been three of the best years of our lives,” Betty Maddox said.
For more information about Texas Envoys, contact the Texas Partnerships Resource Center at (214) 828-5181.
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