Bishop J. Talmadge Gardner, Executive Director, IPHC World Missions Ministries Announces Key Transitions in WMM’s Director Leadership Team

- World Missions Ministries Communications’ Office, from the desk of Bishop J. Talmadge Gardner

The Nix Family, Madeline, Seth and Galia

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – World Missions Ministries’ (WMM) The Awakening is in transition as Rev. Max Barroso tendered his resignation as The Awakening’s Director, effective Jan. 31, 2023, and Rev. Madeline Nix has been appointed as the new Director, effective Feb. 1, 2023.

The Awakening acts as the arm of IPHC WMM focused on equipping, resourcing, and mobilizing emerging leaders globally through one-on-one mentorship, leadership development, hands-on training, practical internships, short-term mission trips, camps, conferences, church planting and more. As such, The Awakening has modeled youth and young adult ministry at its very best on a global stage.

Max and his wife Jessica Pickens Barroso birthed the vision of The Awakening on Oct. 1, 2009, and continued to serve faithfully and energetically in the role for fourteen years. Max is without a doubt one of the most intelligent, creative, visionary, and passionate (true to his Argentinian culture/heritage) ministry leaders that I have had the privilege of serving and serving with over the course of my almost thirty-six-year ministry tenure at the GMC. He is a rare gift and an integral part of WMM’s success.

The Barroso family, Max, Jessica, Noah, Abigail, and Lucas, will always be viewed as cherished members of our World Missions family, and we pray God’s abundant blessing and anointing over them as they step out in faith to pursue God’s will for their lives and ministries.

The Barroso Family, Max, Jessica, Noah, Abigail and Lucas

Max’s ability to strategically mentor leaders has proven to be one of his strengths. One of the individuals that he and Jessica have mentored and invested in through the years will now be his successor. It gives me great pride to announce I am appointing Madeline Nix to serve as the Director of The Awakening.

“It has been a joy and a privilege for Jessica and I to serve our church family in birthing and then leading The Awakening. The Lord has been faithful, and we have seen him do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could think, ask or imagine,” Max Barroso said. “As he has called us to step into a new season of ministry, we couldn’t be more grateful to see Madeline continue to lead this global ministry team towards its greatest days.”

Those familiar with The Awakening know Madeline well. Her influence, anointing and mentorship have helped to guide and grow the ministry over the course of the past ten years. For those who do not know Madeline, be prepared to meet an exceptionally gifted, anointed, dynamic and humble young lady.

Madeline is born and bred IPHC (a part of the Mississippi Lafferty family heritage), attended Southwestern Christian University, and married an IPHC young man, Seth Nix. Madeline and Seth are the proud parents of a two-year-old little girl, Galia Nix.

My wife Stephanie and I have watched Madeline mature into a powerful preacher of the word of God and leader over the course of the past ten years. She is a lady who prays, and I know the Holy Spirit has, and will, empower her as she assumes this trusted mantle of leadership.

On behalf of her WMM family we welcome Madeline and commit ourselves to ensuring that her vision for The Awakening comes to fruition for the Kingdom’s sake.

I do believe that the best is still to come for The Awakening!

To learn more about The Awakening visit goawakening.org or contact Madeline directly at mnix@iphc.org.