Congregation sends volunteer to Thailand

HAWKINS, Texas--The Church of God Big Sandy on Oct. 27 sent 23-year-old Amie Hufton to Thailand for six months to teach classes at the new school operated by Legacy Institute.

The institute, founded by Leon and Gloria Sexton, who have residences in Thailand and Rowlett, Texas, began the Legacy Institute Leadership Training Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 31, 2002.

The school is designed to train young men and women to help evangelize for "the work of God in Asia," Mr. Sexton has said.

"Our congregation has long been interested in the work of Leon and Gloria Sexton," said Dave Havir, pastor of the Big Sandy congregation. "When he comes to the United States to visit family in the Dallas area, we regularly invite him over to speak."

Mr. Havir referred to benefits of having Mr. Sexton speak in the Big Sandy congregation.

"Not only are his sermons helpful to our congregation, but we like to send his sermons out on our tape program to advertise the work Legacy does in Thailand," Mr. Havir said.

Mr. Havir explained how the Big Sandy church's board decided to help provide a teacher for the school.

"At a board meeting, Bernie Monsalvo [a board member from Gladewater, Texas] proposed an idea about our congregation sponsoring a worker to help at the Legacy Institute," he said. "The board liked the idea, and the congregational budget committee set aside funds for this worthwhile project."

Mr. Havir told The Journal why he recommended Miss Hufton for the project.

"When Amie told me that she was considering doing some missionary work in South America, I asked her if she would consider doing some missionary work in Thailand instead," he said.

"She immediately expressed an interest and gave a commitment to me after she researched the details of Legacy Institute."

The congregation paid for transportation and visa costs. Though Legacy Institute provides Miss Hufton's housing and food, the congregation agreed to also pay her a monthly stipend.

Miss Hufton graduated from Texas A&M University at Galveston last December. Her major was marine biology.

See also "Legacy School Opens in Chiang Mai, Thailand," The Journal, June 30, 2002, "Sextons Visit Remnant of Thomas's Ministry," The Journal, April 15, 2002, and "Legacy Institute Founder Exhorts Church of God Folks to Get to Work," The Journal, March 31, 2000.