About Devin Maddox

About Devin Maddox

Associate Director

Baptist Vision of Georgia

1. Intro./General Things.

"Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ." (Eph. 1:2)

My name is Devin Maddox and I am saved by the Lord Jesus Christ. I was born in Indianapolis in 1983 and spent my early childhood there. When I was a teenager, I moved with my mother and stepfather to Brown County in southern Indiana. After high school, I attended Vincennes University for the major of aviation maintenance. I earned an associates degree along with an airframe and power plant certification. After schooling, I married my high school sweetheart, Lucy. We have two children and another child due in November. We currently reside in Columbus, Ohio near the airport where I work.

I would like to lay out some basic facts that pertain to my life and the ministry. Through the testimony of my salvation, family life, church activity, and ministry burden, I hope to reveal to others how God has worked in our lives. May he receive the glory in all that we do.

2. Testimony of Salvation.

At the age of sixteen, I would probably be considered by most to be an average teenager. I had plenty of friends, was active, athletic, and obtained average grades. To top it off I also thought that I knew it "all.” As a self-centered teen with a driver's license and newfound freedom, I sought out "fun" activity with school friends.

The truth is I was only learning to commit behavior that was more sinful. By the age of seventeen I had been drinking, lying, using profanity, became disrespectful to my parents, and had adulteries in the heart. By no means should this sound normal. Unfortunately, this behavior is common for teens in our society.

The question is what happened next? The answer is--a big change!

First, I must say that my mother and grandparents were good influences on me concerning basic knowledge of the Gospel. My mother did teach me that the only way to heaven was through Christ. The seed was planted, but the harvest was still a ways off. As I stated earlier, with pride and freedom I willingly forgot about God.

At age seventeen, I was definitely interested in girls, but usually the wrong ones. However, I met one that was hardworking, polite, clean in conversation, caring of others, and she had my full attention. As a dedicated Christian I do not know what she saw in me.

We worked at the same restaurant and before long started seeing each other more. I usually spent time with Lucy and her family at home. It did not take long before Lucy had me watching my mouth and staying farther away from bad influences. I was also invited to church which I visited for her sake more than mine, but something started to happen. I actually listened to the sermon! I heard the Word of God preached! It was not simply read or discussed, but preached! Suddenly my life was overwhelmed by the thought of Almighty God. I did not see God as a smiling ray of sunshine, but as the Supreme Judge of the world! I felt like God's eyes were always upon me and his countenance was not pleased.

In 2001 around the end of January, the church had an evangelist come to preach. It was then that I really connected with the preaching and realized I had to make a change. That service I went to the alter to pray to God that He would help me live a better life. The next week following, I still felt as if I was not in any better standing with God and found myself doing the very same things I had hoped to get over. I remember that time as a week of solid conviction.

On Feb. 4, 2001, I went to the Sunday morning service. Pastor Brown Sr. preached, but I do not remember what, or know if it really even mattered at that point. All I knew was my heart had been squeezed and pulled by the Holy Ghost of God! When the invitation was underway, there was no hesitation. I remember thinking, this is not for any show to people, but to ask God to save me and forgive my sins! When I had placed my knees at the front of the platform and started to pray, I felt the hand of the preacher on my shoulder. He asked, "Are you saved, do you know Christ as your personal Savior?” I replied that I needed to be saved and he showed me with the Word of God that I needed to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart and to call on him asking forgiveness for my sins.

The Lord Jesus Christ saved me and I am eternally indebted to Him. Before I called on the Lord with all my heart, He pulled on my heart and called on me! Salvation is a gift from God! Where is boasting? The Lord Jesus, so wonderful, has kept me, fed me, and blessed me every day. Even when things are tough. I am also blessed with my wife, Lucy, and daughters, Abigail and Annabel. Lord willing, we will also be having a boy in November! To God be the Glory!

3. Family life.

My wife is Lucy Mae Maddox. We are high school sweethearts that married on May 22, 2004. Our first child was born on March 17, 2005. Her name is Abigail Marie Maddox. I like the root meaning of the name Abigail, which is "father's joy.” She has definitely been my joy many times and continues to amaze me. Our second daughter was born on November 16, 2006. Her name is Annabel Lynn Maddox. She makes the most lovable and unique faces I have ever seen. She is always learning from big sister and spends most of her time playing the copycat. Our newest addition to the family is not yet born, but the date of delivery should be about Thanksgiving time. Lord willing, everything will go great and I will have a son. The Lord has been exceeding gracious to us in the past births of our children and I pray his grace will continue in the birth of our next.

As a family, we have always been faithful and active in church. We love to see fellow families who are staying faithful to the Lord. It is a joy knowing there are many children being brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It pains me to think of the millions that are not, but by God's grace, we will strive to bring our children up according to His will.

We like to be active and love the outdoors. Our daughters rarely refuse to play outside, even in extreme conditions. We enjoy our backyard games and play together as a family. Lucy enjoys long walks where there is nice scenery. I could be found doing anything from hunting and fishing, to learning knife throwing, or working on an outdoor project. We love the change in seasons, but hate long winters.

My wife is definitely a big help to me and she makes my life a whole lot easier. If not for her hard work and loving care, I would be miserable. I thank God for all that she does!

4. Church activity.

The first thing I had the privilege of doing in the church was taking up the offering and greeting people at the doors as they walked in. I especially like to greet the older crowd who are always tickled to have a young person hold the door for them. I love to see their smiling faces.

Eventually, I started to help with song leading, even though I am not much of a singer. Sometimes a church has to take what it can get. I was glad to do it, but always felt like we needed someone with a better voice and loud volume. During this same period, I also taught a basic Sunday school class for the age groups of thirteen to eighteen. It was a small class, but we learned, laughed, and had a good time. I always tried to challenge the young group to look forward to where we were going the next week and what it was that we were trying to accomplish. I did not want us to play Sunday school or go through motions.

Once I had a family to start providing for, my focus changed to my career and we moved to a different state. Eventually, we joined another Baptist church and after faithful attendance, I was voted as deacon to replace a dear servant of the Lord that had passed away. I received some experience going door to door in the city to share the Gospel and invite people to church. In our free time, my wife and I would help with projects at the church site. Lucy would usually clean or organize and I would do yard work. I have remodeled a kitchen and helped with a security light project.

In total, the Lord has given me opportunities to serve in the church for over six years. I am looking forward to getting involved more specifically in the ministry. I know I will not be able to stop working to go full time at this point in my life, but I have not ruled out "full time" service for the future. I am looking to God for our future and believe that He will continue to mold me and use me as He wills. My prayer is that I will always remain usable for the Lord and be a blessing to others.

5. Ministry burden.

The ministry that I have a desire to help and be a part of is the Baptist Vision. I have come to the understanding that Christians and especially Baptists need to be salt and light in every aspect of life. Certain preachers have said, "so goes the home...so goes the church...so goes the nation.” In all of these things, we need to be actively making a difference to preserve God's institutions.

"If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Ps. 11:3)

When we look back at our American and Baptist heritage, we see commitment to the Word of God and biblical principles in everyday life, including the home and civil government. Christianity was never meant to be boxed in by a temple made with hands.

When I was waiting for God to show me how He might use me for a more specific purpose in the ministry, I considered a couple of different ways, such as a missionary or politics in local government. While I support missions and have compassion for those in the fields, I have a greater burden for the soundness of our supporting churches here in the states.

In addition, I have a greater burden to make a difference with current politicians and help shape future ones, instead of jumping into politics myself. The Lord has given me a strong desire for my nation, our families, and our churches. I believe the ministry of the Baptist Vision is the perfect way for me to serve the Lord and make a difference. I am excited and look forward to the blessings of God in this ministry.

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." -Proverbs 29:18