Personal Biography and
Testimony of Max Harmon

• Approved as a Baptist Bible Fellowship Missionary in 1982
• Baptist Bible College (Springfield, MO) B.A. degree 1976
• Perryton (Texas) High School graduate 1972

When I was 9 years old, I accepted the Lord as my personal Saviour. My Sunday School teacher led me to the Lord after S.S. class. It was not a Baptist church, but I have been saved ever since.

At the age of 16, I decided to follow the Lord in baptism in the Fellowship Baptist Church where Bro. Bill Frerking was pastoring.  In the following months I became very faithful to all the services and felt God dealing with me to prepare for full time service. After battling His leadership a couple of months I surrendered.

I entered Baptist Bible College majoring in missions at the age of 17. I chose missions so that I would not need to return to study no matter what area of the ministry I felt led to enter. I did not know God's will for my life other than I needed to prepare to serve. I stayed the fourth year and got my B.A. only because no one offered me a job after my third year; being only 20 years old I did not know what else to do. Before I graduated with my B.A. I was asked to return to my home church to do missionary internship for one year. (My major was missions) I still had no idea to what field (if any) I was to go even after I had stayed 6 months more than we agreed. I had no leading to a specific field. I was offered a permanent position at the Perryton church, but could not get peace about it. I felt if I was to be a missionary I needed pastoral experience so I began looking for available churches. Being only 23 years old, I accepted my first church in Illinois. I pastored there for almost 5 years.

I had planned to serve a year or two and then surely God would reveal to me what field I should go to. I had no plans nor desire to stay long with those Yankees who talked so differently! Finally, I surrendered to stay there the rest of my life if that is what God wanted, I really meant it. It was then that God allowed me to visit Peru as a pastor with the sole intent to learn more about missions and missionaries in order to be a better supporting pastor.

God used that trip to touch my heart for the field of Peru. I fought the Lord for one year arguing that I would be more effective as a pastor in the USA. Finally I let the church know of my internal struggle and resigned. I stayed until a new pastor was called and then moved back to Perryton. I then worked in the oil field for a couple of months until I was officially approved as a BBFI missionary in May of 1982. After an eleven month deputation we were off to language study in Mexico for one year.

Experience and Qualifications

• Associate pastor to W. A. Frerking, 1½ years (Perryton, TX)
• Pastor, First Baptist Church, Geneseo, IL, 4+ years
• Deputation of only 11 months on the road with very few open dates
• One year of language study in Queretaro, Mexico; Georgia Webb, director & founder
• Married 26 years (since 1974) & faithful to the same woman
• Three children: daughter, Dionne, 24; son, Cade 21; and daughter, Shay 18.

Work in Peru since 1984 (click here for map of details)

• Started church in Paramonga (3 hours north of Lima)
• Helped start work in Piura (Castilla) North Peru
• Started work in "Virgen del Sol" Lima -- September 1994 Iglesia Biblica Bautista de los Alisos
• Pastored churches in Peralvillo, Pro, Huaraz (co-pastor), and Ingeneria
• Helped in missions of Yungar (near Huaraz), Matara, Choque (Near Puente Piedra), Santa Rosa, Tupac Amara de Villa (Delicias)
• Attended as a missionary member of churches in San Borja, Pro (both in Lima), Huaraz (Andes), and Centro Biblico Bautista in Villa Salvador (southern Lima)
• Used the Fellowship revolving fund to:
  • Roof the Pro church ($5,000) REPAID
  • Buy land in Huaraz ($4,500) REPAID
  • Buy land in San Borja ($50,000)
  • Build in Paramonga ($20,000)
  • Repair in Villa Salvador ($10,000)
  • Build in Condor ($40,000)
• We still lack funds for the following 2 Church Project requests:
1. Paramonga, north of Lima, lacks $15,000 of the amount requested. (C-7430-4) BBFI reference number
2. Condor, near the airport, lacks $30,000 of the original request. (C-7430-5) BBFI reference number
• Organized works in Santa Velita (near Pulcalpa) and Cerro de Pasco
• Started and organized a mission in Gorgor (Cajatambo); closed because of terrorism
• Numerous missions trips and preaching engagements as well as summer church camps & retreats
• Professor at Seminario Biblico Bautista (Chillon), Lima, Peru; taught various courses in both day and night schools.
• Since 1998:
  • Helped in rescuing Central Bible Baptist Church in Villa Salvador from doctrinal problems.
  • Founded a spiritual counseling office on John the Baptist University Campus (2,000+ students) Lima
  • Home Bible Studies with businessmen and political officials (for 2 years)
  • My wife and I are also board members for an orphanage in Lima & Bible college professors.
• My wife, Debbie:
  • Is a founding board member of a crisis pregnancy center in Lima.
  • English teacher at John the Baptist University in Lima, a secular liberal arts school.
  • Professor at Baptist Bible College of Lima (Seminario Biblico Bautista)
  • Always active in Sunday Schools and supplying teaching materials to other churches.
  • Active in translating materials for churches in Peru.
  • Always active in founding and directing ladies groups in local churches.
  • Active board member for an orphanage in Lima.

Other Items Helpful in My Christian Growth

• Sword of the Lord Conferences in the USA
• Jack Hyles Pastors School (one time)
• Seminars by Bill Gothard, Basic-Advanced-Pastors (very idealistic)
• My wife's books and love for reading
• Contact with so many pastors (82 supporting churches + others)
• BBFI (MOM) missions retreats in Colorado and Arkansas
• Teaching "Through the Bible in One Year" by Alan Stringfield
• Contact with other missionaries (BBF and other groups)
• Baptist Bible Fellowship Missionary Retreats
• Goal of reading the entire Bible each year (I've read it a number of times, cover to cover, in English and Spanish.)

La Molina

Since 1998:
Founded a spiritual counseling office on John the Baptist University Campus (2,000+ students)
Lima Home Bible Studies with businessmen and political officials result is new work in La Molina.  Click here for a photo of our anniversary Sunday with over 100 in attendance.

Our Sending Church is and always has been:

Fellowship Baptist Church
Perryton, Texas
current pastor: Wes Stevens