In 1982 God impressed upon Tony Stark Ephesians 3:20,21 which motivated and encouraged him for days to come. The Lord led the Starks on a journey from Tennessee to California and back in search of the place God wanted them to start a new church. The Stark family settled in Madison, Alabama, in 1983 to begin Madison Baptist Church. It was a dream come true in so many ways. God had given Tony a vision, and now He was fulfilling it.
Pastor Stark and two laymen from the church visited missionaries in West Africa. The Lord used that trip to put the people of Africa in Tony’s heart. He resigned as pastor of Madison Baptist Church, and, in 1990, MBC sent the Starks to Uganda, Africa, to establish East Africa Outreach. God had given Tony another vision and is now fulfilling it. In 2004 God led Tony and family back to the USA so that nationals in East Africa could take more leadership. He traveled to minister in Uganda twice a year and also pastored Hendrix Road Baptist Church in Florence, AL for the next five years. November 1, 2009 Tony resigned as pastor of Hendrix Road Baptist Church so that he and Kathy could return to Uganda with an enlarged vision to do more. They returned in April, 2010. To God be the glory, great things He has done and is doing.
Through the efforts of African nationals the outreach has extended into South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Kenya. Today there are more than forty churches and missions in Uganda that trace their roots back to East Africa Outreach and Madison Baptist Church. These churches and ministries are pastored and led by nationals who have graduated from Uganda Baptist Bible Institute.
Other missionaries sent to Uganda by Madison Baptist Church in the past include the following families Bob Cook, Larry Nelson, Jerrold Myers, Ken Westenberger, Terry Boyd, Jim Justice and Mark Wallace. Each of these men have gone on to new mission fields under Madison Baptist Church World Missions, new ministries or different occupations.
Presently EAO does not have any resident American missionaries on the field of East Africa. In 2014 Madison Baptist Church released all properties to men and ministries in Uganda. Nationals provide leadership in all the ministries including two radio stations and the Bible Institute. All of the churches are autonomous and independent.
In 2016 Tony and Kathy went to Butare, Rwanda to start a new Independent Baptist Church. They are presently involved in planting 10 new Acts 1:8 churches in Rwanda. They reside in Athens, Alabama.