Journey of Joy
the ministry site of Paul and Ellie Madsen
“Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road?“
Luke 24:32
Our Mission:
Helping youth to understand God’s love and training them to apply His Truth in today’s world.
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Serving with RCE International
and the Association of Christian Schools Intl.
As a multi-cultural family in ministry in Europe since 1998, we love seeing young people come to understand that God is using them now to reach their world for Him. We currently live near Budapest, Hungary and are working with Christian schools across Europe and locally.
Current assignment: Providing resources and training for Christian educators and leaders to impact the children and youth of Europe through Biblically integrated teaching and discipleship.
Teaching for Transformation
Christ-centered education is a process of transformation
that serves to reorient our lives and our worship.
Rediscovering the glory of God
Modeling and teaching humility
Identifying sin as the problem
Implementing real solutions
Our ministry team
Life and ministry is about relationships. Our desire is to connect you to what God is doing through these relationships.
We invite you to join us in this journey, staying connected through stories and updates, praying with us for the people we serve, and giving as God leads so that these relationships can continue to flourish. Your participation—through communication, prayer, and generosity—becomes part of the living testimony of what God is doing each day.
We send monthly email updates to our prayer and support partners.
All gifts through our sending agency, RCE, are tax-deductible.
ACSI Events
More about ACSI Europe…
Serving schools through ACSI Europe
Ellie serves in ministry and educational support roles at the International Christian School of Budapest. Paul serves as the Assistant Director of the ACSI Europe office, coordinating school services and strategic development for the Europe region.
Our Family
Paul and Ellie met in Spain through church and youth ministry activities. We were married in 2002 and have two boys, Silas and Timothy. We love living in Europe but understand that this involves unique challenges and commitments. It also requires an intentional focus on living out our values and priorities in a culture that is both familiar and strange to us.
We are convinced that God does not call one family member to serve on the mission field – He calls each family member. The official ministry of the parents is only one aspect of how God uses our lives in service to Him. Children (or MKs) are most certainly called to ministry in that God will use them as a blessing within the new culture/language setting even as they are learning of their own need for a personal relationship with Jesus. Young people who understand their calling as Christians have their own unique potential for ministry in the host (foreign) culture, often with a better practical understanding of that culture built on their experiences growing up there.
Partnering with our local community
Ellie hosts activities in our home, serves in children’s ministry at church and develops relationships for spiritual support. She has many opportunities to care for and encourage youth at various stages in their walk of faith.
Paul has several discipleship connections, leads Bible studies, writes, and contributes to youth ministry and music activities. He especially loves conversations with others around the meaning and application of God’s Word.
Involving Christ-followers in Great Commission living
We believe that Christ-followers may achieve their potential when they are able to integrate Christian character with a Christ-centered worldview. This integration of faith and practice requires study and application of God’s Word in every area of life. We are learning that we are not the center of the Story but that Christ is the center of all our stories. He is inviting us into His amazing work of restoration that begins with His finished work on the cross.
Our Teams
We work as a part of several teams, each providing accountability and structure, but consistent with the mission of Christ-centered education. We are also accountable to you as our partners in this work. All ministry gifts should be payable to “RCE International” and designated to account #13903. See more partnership options here.
