Faculty Highlight: David Madsen, MBU English Professor
What was supposed to be an invigorating walk near the Moody Bible Institute turned into a nightmare for David and Melissa Madsen. But God is never surprised by anything that happens. Instead, He used a near-death experience to direct a family in the way He wanted, and to ultimately impact students’ lives across America.
Mr. Madsen writes, “God certainly works all things for good—even near-death experiences. My wife, Melissa, and I had met in Bible college. One day, she told me she had a P.E. class assignment in which she had to walk and raise her heart rate several times. The college was in downtown Chicago, and after supper, we took a walk in the city blocks around the campus to complete the assignment.”
“By the time we finished and were headed back to campus, the sun had gone down, and a heavy rain began to fall. We were within a few minutes of the campus, leisurely walking across a busy intersection on a ‘walk signal,’ when a sports car zoomed around the corner and hit us, our bodies ricocheting off the car and into the street. Melissa was hurt much worse than I was, and was unable to move. I limped over to where she was and carried her across the street and under an awning. An ambulance came and took us to the hospital.”
“Our injuries were not life-threatening, so we were released from the emergency room later that night. However, we were both in constant, chronic pain. Melissa’s pain was so severe she was not able to attend classes regularly for the remainder of the semester, and we knew she would have to take time off from college to recuperate. We decided we didn’t want to be separated, and at the end of the semester we were married. The accident certainly changed our plans, but I’m thankful that the Lord uses even difficult circumstances to guide our lives.”
How did the accident guide and change your lives? Could you walk us through the events that happened after the accident?
Because I decided to do online distance learning in order to take care of my wife, I graduated with a degree in Biblical Studies. While I was finishing my bachelor’s degree, my wife and I were helping out in a local church. That church was instrumental in our decision to dedicate our lives to Christian service. Our pastor had previously been a Christian school teacher, and as I heard him tell of the impact he had on students, I began to feel a burden to serve in Christian education.
Coupled with the impact my high school teachers had on me, I wanted to be able to impact other students as well. After finishing my undergraduate studies, I taught at a Christian high school as a junior high teacher for the next ten years.
However, English was always what I have been interested in. When the time was right, my family and I moved to the East Coast where I worked as an GA at Liberty University and studied for a masters in English. After completing my master’s degree, I signed a contract to teach at the college level for several years.
That journey from a hard place to where you are now is a testimony of God’s strength. But obviously, your journey did not end there. What brought you to MBU?
My wife and I are originally from the Midwest, but we’ve predominantly been living around the East Coast area. After completing my master’s degree and the contracted teaching on the East Coast, my wife and I began to pray about finding a permanent place to serve around the Midwest area. And, with my girls growing up, especially my oldest daughter who was in high school and would soon be college-age, we wanted to be in an area where there would be a good conservative Christian school to send our girls.
Soon I heard of a Christian school opportunity in Milwaukee and began to research the surrounding area. I knew Maranatha was relatively close and it was a school that mirrored our family’s convictions and standards. Providentially, Melissa was glancing at the MBU website when she saw an MBU job posting for an English professor. The requirements seemed tailor-fit to my background (M.A in English, high school teaching experience, residential and online college teaching experience), so I decided to apply. After three phone interviews and a trip to the MBU campus, I was invited to join the Maranatha family.
Now that you’ve been here for almost two years, what is your favorite part about MBU?
The camaraderie among colleagues is something I really appreciate. I enjoy working with the people in my own department as well as other departments. Maranatha also promotes spiritual values that I hold dear to. Not to mention, the high academic standards are a character of the school that I want to promote and to be part of. There are many unique qualities about Maranatha, but the camaraderie and high standards are qualities that really stand out to me.
It’s clear to see that you love working at Maranatha. What is your advice for prospective students?
MBU is like a family. The students, teachers, and staff are here to help you grow and mature in your academic and spiritual life. Very rarely would you be able to get such a supportive school that is willing to go the extra mile of becoming a true school family to its students. There are also plenty of opportunities as well – opportunities to grow spiritually, to have quality academic training, and to get plugged into job-related activities. Not to mention, the tight-knit community you can build around school – everyone seems to enjoy each other’s presence.