Madison leaves state missions post for Mount Zion, Huntsville, pastorate

After more than four years with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), Ron Madison recently resigned as director of the office of associational and cooperative missions to accept the pastorate of the 1,243-member Mount Zion Baptist Church, Huntsville. His first service at the nearly 150-year-old church will be Oct. 17.
   
“From the day that I came to work as a state missionary until today, I have never stopped missing being a pastor,” Madison said. “As fulfilling as my work has been as a state missionary, it has not afforded me the opportunity to be involved pastorally in the lives of people on a day-to-day basis.”
   
At the SBOM, Madison led an eight-member staff that worked with associational development, black church relations, language missions, churches in changing communities, church and community ministry, long-range planning and church planting and building services.
   
Gary Swafford, who served under Madison’s leadership in the associational office, assumed the responsibility of acting director on Oct. 1.
   
He credits Madison with helping the office work together as a team to respond to directors of missions and church leaders throughout the state. “He broadened our perspectives,” said Swafford, director of church planting and building services.
   
“One of our sayings is we need all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people and he has helped facilitate that spirit,” Swafford said.
   
SBOM Executive Director Rick Lance said, “Ron Madison has served faithfully as a state missionary for the past four and one-half years. He is indeed a pastor at heart, and we will miss both Charlotte and him as they follow God’s call.”