Max Weighmink

I called him Dad. And that was not a figure of speech. Max loved me like his own son.

How we met

We met at the International church of Saint Petersburg, Russia in 1995. A mutual friend introduced us, and Max approached me with a question that seemed strange at first : "Would you like to be my door?" Puzzled, I asked for an explanation, and in response Max said, that like apostle Paul asked and trusted God for open doors:

"... pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ..."
(Colossians 4:3).

He also prayed and was trusting God for open doors for the gospel—a few young men who would know English, be willing to learn what he had to offer and pass it forward into Russian culture. And right there he gave me a taste of what I could learn—"The Bridge" illustration of the gospel. I was fascinated and readily responded with a solid "yes!"

Being discipled

We started to meet weekly for a meal and a Bible study, and over the time I learned:
- to spend time with God;
- to memorize key passages of Scripture;
- to share my faith using my 3 minutes testimony and "The Bridge" illustration;
- to minister by asking questions and actively listening;
- to notice opportunities and serve.

Being equipped

Besides it was useful for me when we talked way in advance about how to love my future wife and raise kids. Both Max and his wife Dawn were very resourceful—having five kids who were a great and vivid example for me to learn from. I observed the family operating like a team.

Dawn and her daughters also helped me to learn to cook and bake, shared their field-proven recipes which I used when invited people over or visiting.

Being loved

Max also became my barber and cut my hair regularly. And not only mine: being a professional barber, every now and then he would cut the hair of the local community of co-laborers—that was his ministry to many, along with the snacks and fellowship provided by the family.

When I struggled with obedience to God, Max and Dawn prayed for me and spent hours talking over the possible consequences, encouraged me to be obedient to God and do what I knew God was calling me to do. That helped me immensely and kept me out of trouble, prepared me for my future life mate, blessings and ministry together.

I am forever grateful to God for the impact Max, Dawn and their family made on me, my family and those I seek to influence for God's sake.

Thank you, Dad, for loving me like your own son.

Your "door".

I first met Max Weighmink 40 years ago when I was a brand new believer in Jesus Christ. Max was the Navigator (Nav) representative for the Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar where I served in the Navy. I took the trusted advice of the Marine officer who just led me to Christ to go to a NAV New Year’s Eve party though he himself couldn’t go. I soon discovered that the party was designed to be a Christian version of setting New Year’s resolutions. In other words, the purpose of Max’s party was to encourage young believers to prioritize spiritual disciplines in their lives. The evening culminated with everyone sitting in a big circle in the living room praying in the new year.  

As it drew near to midnight Max began to pray and I’ll never forget what he prayed, “Lord, I ask you to give me FIVE men this upcoming year who will give their lives to full-time ministry.” I estimate there were about 35 people in the room. A rush of excitement shot through me. I quickly opened one eye and began to count the number of sailors in the room. Could I be one of the five? Surely there are more than five sailors here that are far more qualified than I am. Then a thought came to my mind, “Maybe I am one of the five after all. That would be fine with me.”

Max had an evangelistic vision to raise up disciples who would raise up still other disciples and a God-given plan to fulfill his vision. As per his plan, I soon became involved in a weekly discipleship study at the base Chapel. One of the guyschallenged me to have daily devotions, and we began to meet one-on-one before work to read our bibles and pray. I was introduced to scripture memory and was given a navigator scripture memory packet. A couple of weeks after coming to Christ, I heard about Tuesday night evangelism. I had never heard the word “evangelism”.  That next Tuesday, God moved me to meet Max at the bowling alley and from there go out two by two learning how and practicing sharing my faith with other sailors at the base and barracks. I discovered that evangelism was a catalyst for all the other spiritual disciplines which I began implementing in my life as a byproduct of Max's faith-filled vision and plan to raise up disciples.  

God used Max's vision and his discipleship training ministry to shape the lives of many servicemen and through them, the lives of many others. God answered Max’s 1984 New Year’s prayer for FIVE men he could influence through his NAV discipleship training who would give their lives to full-time ministry. By God’s grace, he led me to Asia with the same evangelistic vision and plan to raise up disciples who make disciples. Secondly, a marine officer who led me to Christ, went on to serve the Lord in Asia, and then Africa. Thirdly, a sailor who accepted my invitation to Max’s weekly Bible study early in 1984 got saved there, later completed Bible college and left to serve in Southeast Asia. Fourthly, an Executive Officer of NAS Miramarturned down the rank of captain to accept Max's invitation to instead serve at Luke Air Force Base as the NAVRepresentative. And, fifthly, God moved a successful carpenter being groomed to assume leadership of a construction company,to resign and instead accept Max's invitation to also go on NAVstaff and serve at Williams Air Force Base as the NAV Representative. All five men above, by God’s design, who were initially shaped by Max’s ministry, and prayed for by him, are still in full-time service to our Lord Jesus Christ advancing His eternal Kingdom making disciples who make disciples…  

From this snapshot of Max's life, you can see that Max was indeed a godly, dedicated man of vision and faith. Luke 12:48 says, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required.” Anyone who had the privilege of being discipled by Max has been given much and likewise seeks to finish with strong faith in Jesus Christ. Something that Max used to say, “When you're 95% of the way there you're only halfway done.” Max “fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith.”  He certainly will hear the blessed commendation of Jesus, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”  

Forever grateful,

Tom F.

I came to faith in December 1989 at the invitation of the Navy Base’s Chaplain Stephens in Keflavik Iceland, and was baptized in the Blue Lagoon shortly before my reassignment to Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo New Mexico a few weeks later. My faith prayer at conversion was “Lord, if you’re real, I want to know you”. When I arrived at Holloman in January 1990, I still had no clue what the Bible had to do with my conversion but was hungry for reading books on faith. At a local faith bookstore, I stumbled upon a book “The Greatest Miracle in The World” by Og Mandino. The book is a short read about a spiritual friendship that develops between Og Mandino, a high-stressed, successful author and businessman, and Simon “The Ragpicker”, an Abraham Lincoln looking sort of fellow who feeds the pigeons on any given day and bestows ancient wisdom and friendship to those who have given up on themselves if they will listen. Og and Simon begin to meet in his apartment across the street, occasionally at first, but eventually on a daily basis. They would share a glass of sherry and talk about deep spiritual matters and wisdom gleaned from scripture and centuries of God-Gifted writers. I won’t give away the ending (you should read it for yourself) but I remember sitting on the edge of my bed in tears after finishing the story saying “God, I would love to have a Simon in my life”. I went about my business of getting settled into my new dorm room that day and next evening I get a knock on my door… “Hi, I’m Max Weighmink, I’m here on behalf of the base Chaplains… are you interested in spiritual things?” As a matter of fact I was, and invited him in to share what had taken place in my life over past month. I showed him small booklet the Chaplain had given me at my departure from Iceland, which turned out to be one of the Navigator’s bible studies for new believers (first sign for Max that maybe God was in this ;’).

At the end of our meeting, Max invited me to his weekly singles Bible study and left me his phone number; however, I had no intention of ever attending a Bible study nor following up with him. About a week later I get a call from Max, sympathetic to my adversity to a group Bible study, he asked if I would be willing to meet with him one-on one… I agreed and we began to meet in my room, and eventually McD’s on base, and his house in town. Max and Dawn invested in me for 3 ½ years as we worked through all of the Nav’s ‘Design for Discipleship’ series and we ministered in the dorms together, all the while demonstrating for me what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus. At one point He and Dawn invited me to live with them for six months prior to their departure for St Petersburg; a scary prospect for an independent 25 year old but one that shaped the rest of my life as a disciple of Jesus. During that time, Dawn packed my “File Cabinet” with much wisdom and prophetic counsel that I am still unpacking 35 years later. Living with the Weighminks showed me how a healthy family lives openly before God and others, and I am forever grateful for the experience. Shortly after their departure, I moved into a house in town with my roommate Jim H where we had a ministry home for the singles on base and lived out many of the principles we learned from Max and Dawn. Many character traits stand out when I think of Max (and Dawn) as a disciple maker, but here are a few key ones God used in my life.

• Sense of Humor: I will always remember the booming laugh and the corny jokes (some that were actually funny! ;’)

• Humility: Max was always a learner and although he was my mentor, he often received or acted on my input as a peer

• In Tune with God’s Work: Max would often ask questions that led me to the God’s heart on the matter rather than Max’s heart on the matter

• Chose battles that mattered: I had a prominent display of large buddha and black knight statues in my dorm room during our weekly one-on-ones for the first 6 months of meeting and he never said a word. One day I sensed the Spirit prompting me to throw them away which I did; when I shared that with Max he only said he was praying for me on that one.

• Genuine Unconditional Love: I always felt like I was the most important person in their lives when I was around any of the Weighminks and they meant it. I was an important part of their lives as a friend as much as I was a disciple

I am once again in tears as I reflect on my lifelong friendship with the Weighminks and the passing of my mentor Max “The Ragpicker”. I just finished re-reading Og Mandino’s book and it brought about a fresh challenge to continue pursuit of being a Ragpicker myself. Although I am sad to not see or talk with Max anymore on this Earth’s journey, I know there is rejoicing in Heaven over The Lords Faithful Servant… I fully imagine Jesus laughing particularly hard over Joke #19, told on as Max could as he peers over his reading glasses to watch His reaction… I miss you brother and look forward to adding to your repertoire of funny jokes at the feast…

Much Love and Appreciation for you Brother

Mike C

My name is Jean A.  After I had been in the Air Force for 13 years I found out that my elderly mother, who lived alone thousands of miles away in Hawaii, was showing signs of dementia.  I asked Max if I should leave the military and go home to care for mom.  He said the Lord would take care of her and advised me to stay in the military until retirement at 20 years.  I did.  When I retired from the Air Force I went home and cared for mom who was doing well.  I got a job and also started drawing my military pension.  Later mom became a believer in Christ.  I am forever grateful to the Lord and to Max!

Jean A

In thinking through ALL of our memories of Max, I will focus on just one recurring theme, which Max continued to patiently, re-direct ...into my life's priority system....

It was Max's desire to help me, to continually, re-focus on balancing God's Priorities:

1. God FIRST

2. Spouse SECOND

3. Children THIRD

4. Job (USMC) FOURTH

5. Public Ministry FIFTH...even though in reality, we 'do constantly model' Ministry ...as we Navigate life.

HOWEVER...when, I get these priorities out of order...the Result is always CONFLICT !! Which is God's way of letting me know that my life is not within this dynamic balance.

The very first time I met Max, was at the Base Chapel at MCAS Cherry Point...in 1971.

When he perceived, that Ministry at the Base was overshadowing Marriage Relationships...he separated the Married Men from the Single Men...

He then gave us Married Men the following Quote...Prov 9:8...'Chastise a FOOL and he will HATE you...Chastise WISE man, and he will LOVE you.' And then he said...'I think that you men are WISE enough to hear this... NOW, Go home and get some time with your Brides...we will deal with Public Ministry later..'

Years later, Max recruited Rachel and myself to Nav Staff, and we were assigned to MCAS Yuma, AZ.

To continue mentoring us, Max would visit the Base every month, and I would want to show him all of the ministry activities, in which we were involved...basically, to validate my being on Staff...

AMAZINGLY...His FIRST question was always...'SO John, HOW are you and Rachel DOING??' Because he knew...that if we were doing well...then Ministry will flow...

With Marines, it sometimes takes a while...but I finally understood!!

THANK YOU MAX...for not giving up on us !!!

Semper fi,

John & Rachel V

Where to start as Max was the Nav representative at North Island, I believe 1983 to 1984, and was a down to earth leader who encouraged us to share with non-believer's terms, not using words like blessing or blessed.  I had a chance to visit with the family a few times after and Max took me with him to share Christ, he told me when he started, he sensed a certain amount of apprehension or fear but once in the process he overcame, and it is apparent he kept overcoming.  I will miss his updates about the family, it looks like I originally missed the earlier newsletter describing Max's heart attack, but I glad to be able to say something of what Max passed on.  Much more to say but that is a start. I Love you the weighmink family and have prayed for you by name and will continue to do so. May He continue to comfort your hearts through this time, and onward.

Robert C

It is a distinct honor to offer this eulogy for my good friend Max. I have seen no greater faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, than I witnessed in Max, and not only did he have great faith, but he also possessed an uncommon vision of what the Lord could do through people, and how He could use them. I often wondered how people like Max got their insight, I’ve concluded, some people have a different relationship with their Savior. When Jesus calls us, as believers, to “follow Him,” I think most people are some distance in trail. Sometimes walking a few steps behind the Lord, other times, hoping He is still out there in front of them somewhere. But I always thought Max had a special relationship with our Lord, walking closely beside Him, like that of Jesus and His Heavenly Father. They spent so much time together; He always knew what was on His Father’s heart. Then too, Max was the most humble man I ever known. If Philippians 2:3,4 defines humility, then Max was a master of it, he would always put others before himself. He was at peace with his world and contented with what the Lord gave him.

Someone has said, behind every great man is a great woman. This was certainly true of Max and Dawn; I know Max always relied on Dawn’s intuition and opinion. Dawn has such accurate relational insights. They were the perfect complement in marriage!

I want to tell some of my stories about Max to help you understand why this man had such a powerful impact on my life…..I became a Christian at age 31, led to Christ by two men who came to our home to tell me about a local church. They swept into my life one night, shared the Gospel, and I never saw them again, and no one helped me grow spiritually. I had a voracious appetite to read the Bible, my head was getting bigger, but my heart did not change. The next 10 years we attended Bible believing churches, and good Bible studies, but I did not change much without someone to disciple me. I met Max in May 1984, over 40 years ago. Because of my job we had to live on the base at Naval Air Station Miramar, and we decided to attend the base chapel. At the time, my wife Carol and I were having significant marital struggles, and we had been praying we could find a Bible study on base. The first Sunday we attended the Chapel, after the service, Max walked up to me and asked if we would be interested in a Bible study? Wow, I thought, we didn’t have to look for a Bible study, it found us! Several weeks later, after Chapel, Max invited our family to have lunch with them in their home. I was so impressed with the Weighmink kids, they acted like little adults to me, engaging Carol and I in adult-like conversation. The next time I saw Max, I asked him, how do I have kids like yours? He said follow me around and ask a lot of questions, I thought, I will do that…..

Carol and I met with Max and Dawn, as couples, for over a year, they helped us tremendously with not only our marriage but with raising our children as well. They were a categorical blessing to us at that point in our lives. In addition to our weekly couples’ meetings, I met Max at McDonalds on the base every week for time in the Word. At the time, I was convinced Carol was crazy, she would do things that I thought were bazar. So, during these weekly meetings, I tried to convince Max that my wife was crazy. Every week he patiently listened to my story of the week, then he’d look at me and say, “I agree with you Zetty, your wife is crazy, and you made her that way.” It so infuriated me, every week I came back with a bigger story, Max listened patiently, and every week told me the same thing…...”I agree with you Zetty, your wife is crazy, and you made her that way.” As I recall, this went on for months, finally I blurted out at him, if you were me what would you do. He told me something, I don’t recall what it was, but I went home and tried to do what he said. After a week, I noticed a change in Carol, so when I saw Max next, I said what else do you know, you obviously know my wife better than I know her. Max was right, when I changed, Carol changed, and my marriage changed. Max gave me an audio recording by Jack Taylor, called the Principle of Receiving. Rev Taylor uses marriage to illustrate the principle, but it applies to many issues, it changed my life, and the way I see all of life. I have probably passed out a thousand copies in our 38 years of ministry.

After meeting together for a year, Max was promoted and was going to be an Area Supervisor for The Navigator Military Ministry in Western Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. He needed people to staff the bases under his supervision, he asked Carol and I to consider getting out of the Navy and moving to Arizona, to staff one of those bases. I had never done any ministry, but apparently Max saw something in us the Lord could use. I had just been promoted, and thought my future was in the Navy, but gave Max the dutiful Christian answer, “we’ll pray about it.” After seeking the Lord for an answer for a week, Carol and I felt we should get out of the Navy and move our family to Arizona with the Weighminks to minister at Williams AFB, in suburban Phoenix. The Lord used Max and Dawn and Scott and Stormy Morrison to teach us how to minister and disciple people, over the next several years.

In 1992, a Russian general came to the United States to invite all Navigator military staff assembled at the Navigator headquarters in Colorado Springs to come to Russia to minister to the Russian military. This room filled with 125 staff could not believe our ears, hearing a Russian general pleading with us all to come to Russia to do ministry with the Russian military. We all presumed many would go, but after a year, no one responded. The Navigator Military leadership team then asked Max if he and his team of Rich and Cindy Robinson, John and Rachel Voss, and Carol and I would consider moving to Russian and ministering to the Russian military. We made two exploratory trips to Moscow and St Petersburg in January 1994 and February 1995. Ultimately, the Weighminks moved to Moscow for almost 5 years and Vosses moved to St Petersburg for 10 years, they both had significant ministries to the Russian military. I marvel and admire how Max led his family and clairvoyantly saw how the Lord could use them there. At the time Dawn’s health was not good and he had to consider Heidi’s needs as well. But where many would see hardship, and many reasons not to go, Max saw opportunities for how the Lord would use his family, and the Lord met their needs there. I want to share one way the Lord looked after and honored Max’s faith, and decision to go to Russia.

After the Weighminks had been in Moscow for a while, I met a Christian former Navy pilot who was flying to Moscow every week for a US airline company. I asked him if he could transport “things” to a missionary friend in Moscow, and he said yes. So, every week Max would email me things they either needed (like Dawn’s medicine) or other things they would like for ministry use (one Thanksgiving it was several frozen turkeys). My pilot friend would carry them with his gear in the cockpit, so we never had to worry about customs, and take them to his hotel room in Moscow and Max would retrieve them there. This weekly arrangement worked for a couple of years, as a testimony to God’s provision. In conclusion, Max was a legend to me, his faith was larger than life, and his insights from spending time in the Word were not only profound, but entertaining. I so enjoyed just listening to what the Lord was sharing with him. As a discipler, Max was without equal, he loved people best by giving them what they needed, speaking the Truth. I was a rough guy when Max met me, if he had challenged me, I probably would have dismissed him. But Max was like smoke under the door (he never barged the door down) but had his own inimitable way of getting to someone’s heart. God has used his gentle, humble manner in many people’s lives. God used him to change the course of my whole life, for which, I am deeply grateful! Jesus said in Matthew 20:27, if you want to be first in the Kingdom of Heaven, you must be servant of all. I think when we, as believing people, get to heaven, we’ll all be working for Max Weighmink!

Zetty K

I met Max while I was a student at Florida Institute of Technology (Fall of 1974). At that time there was Max and Dawn and Marie, Mary Jo, and Martha. You and Heidi were still a twinkle in your parent's eyes...or as they say in the South, "You were out picking blackberries". There was a note put in my mailbox when I was a freshman inviting me to a Bible Study. When I went I met Jim Mills, Charlie Greenwell, Ralph Doyle, Dave Olsen, and other upper classmen who were involved with the Navigators. I had never heard of a Navigator. In time I began to view Navigators as the Jedai of Christianity. Bob Newman and Jim Cuneen were faculty at F.I.T. and invested a lot of time in me and later students like Tex Landis, Diane Hickey, Tony Timbol, Dave Meurer, Herman Neufeld, and others. Max had responsibility for both the F.I.T. campus and Patrick Air Force Base. He brought with him from a past AFB Terry Holste, Chuck Barber, Martin Harper, Larry Bowman, and others. If you have met any of these folks, then you know what a blessing I had (these are things you don't fully appreciate at the time). Max blessed all of them. Speaking personally, I can say he treated me like I was special...welcome at Bible studies and conferences and Holiday meals at his home. I learned a lot from him not just from his counsel but also observing his life...a life spent honoring and obeying our Lord.

Ronald D

God does work in mysterious ways! As a very young officer in the Air Force at Ramstein Air Force Base, West Germany standing outside of AAFEES bookstore. A female officer who I did not even know came up to me and stated would you like to come to meeting at this address in Rodenbach, Germany. I replied OK? Ended up this was Sue Huggins.

Well this address in Rodenbah was Max and Dawn’s home. Come to find out they were a part of the Navigators’s ministry. While I was raised a Lutheran, this was the first time in my life that I learned about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Max of course challenged me to memorize, of which my first verse was Proverb 3:5-6. That one verse has gotten me through a lot of up’s and downs over my life. Through Max met Leslie Johnsen, Gail and host of others. Thank you Max!

David H

Another unique opportunity that comes to mind is when we as a family prayed and asked God if there was anyone He had on His heart, that God would bring them into our life.  Sure enough, we got this puddle that kept reappearing in the middle of our kitchen floor.  We needed a plumber.  God guided us to the right one.   It was a couple days job and we had him for lunch both days.  Later, we had a leak behind the toilet.  Dad (Max) was able to share with this plumber.  He became a Christian.  Then Dad asked him to see if his wife would be interested in a Bible study in the book of John for 4 weeks.  She was hesitant, but agreed.  They extended another 4 weeks and by the end, she also became a Christian.  God is so amazing!

Another opportunity God gave Dad (Max) was at a wedding.  Dad had been asked to give the Christian testimony of this couple at their reception as their families were not Christians.  The wedding was about 300 guests of which only a handful were Christians, the rest mostly Buddhists.  At the reception, their uncle had just told some dirty jokes about the couple that were not true.  Dad was praying, “Lord, how do I follow this?”  As Dad was walking up to the podium, God gave it to him.  Dad started out, “I didn’t know (this couple) before they became Christians.”  Mom said, you could have heard a pin drop!  Dad had everyone’s attention and was able to share the Gospel through telling their testimonies.  Mom remembers this lady who kept yanking her swivel chair around and asking, “Is that true?”   

Over the years, God gave Dad (Max) a number of neat and sometimes quite interesting opportunities to share the Gospel.  One of these was in a courtroom.  Dad gave testimony in a trial.  The defendant was someone who had some sort of drug charge. (I don’t remember the specifics of the case).  Since the crime, he had become a Christian and his life was wonderfully transformed.  Dad testified that he had all the earmarks of a real Christian.  To that, the lawyer asked him, “What is a real Christian?”  Dad turned to the judge and asked if he could take a few minutes to explain.  The judge nodded.  He had everyone’s attention.  What an opportunity!

I can remember Dad (Max) relaying a conversation he had, where someone asked him, “If you had to do it all over again, would you have done anything differently?”  Dad said, “You always have regrets, but generally I don’t think I would, except if I could only have done it without the fear.”  It is said that courage is not the absence of fear, rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.  I look at my Dad and I see someone who with God’s help was courageous, whether it was following God and taking the whole family to live in Germany or a bigger step moving to Russia or in the small things, having the courage to come alongside someone and speak truth to them in love.  My Dad really tried to be faithful to what God laid on his heart, big or small and our family is forever grateful.  Thanks for being such a great example in so many ways, Dad.  Will miss you!

I must say first and foremost that I never heard a disparaging word about Max or can remember a time that Max did not seek to reflect an example of his Savior, our Lord.  I remember meeting Max while stationed in San Diego with the Navy.  I had heard rumors of this wonderful man that sought to walk with Jesus and share his faith as much as he could, along with his wife and family, with neighbors and fellow military personnel.  I very much appreciated Max and his family’s kindness and hospitality, especially around the holidays with my own immediate family so far away in Massachusetts.  I have fond memories of dinners around the table, my first viewing of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the fun games played in the living room of their home, and the sincere sharing of struggles and victories.  Max seemed to draw out thoughts and reflections at a deeper level than other men I had been involved in ministry with.  You truly felt like you were talking to a friend and someone that listened and made you feel like you were the only one in the room at the time.  He was very gracious, patient, and understanding with my immaturity in the Lord and age.  He passed on to his family this same willingness to be patient and overlook other’s shortcomings and serve them without expecting anything in return.  I think that’s one of the most heartfelt lessons I learned from Max is to serve rather than seek to be served.  I know he will hear the precious words we all long to hear from our Savior, “Well done good and faithful servant.”  Max will be missed but I look forward to spending eternity together worshiping our Lord together which he helped me to know more while he was here with us.  I pray you and your family are doing well and the God will provide you the peace to make it through this difficult time.  

Love you all, 
Scott D

I met Max while I was working construction in San Diego, around 1983.  He was definitely a man God strategically placed in my life, never to imagine the impact he would have on it.  As I grew in my friendship with Max, he challenged me to join him a couple evenings a week to hang out with the sailors stationed at Miramar Naval Air Station.  He would invite them to get to know Jesus in a personal way.  His desire always being to help them grow in their walk with God, and maybe see them do the same one day.  This is when I learned to also share the great love that God has for us..."Jesus proved God's passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly." (Romans 5:8)

This time with him was life-changing!  As I embraced Max's vision for others, it became mine as well. I marveled at how simply and easily Max would share the Gospel message... Christ died for our sins, but triumphed over death, and how we just need to ask Him into our hearts, to be our Lord and Savior. God was using a "barber from Michigan" to help a "carpenter from San Diego. I will be forever grateful that God brought him into my life and I am certain Max was greeted in heaven with "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

Rich R

I know ONLY God could have orchestrated these life changing events in my life. It began when the Air Force assigned me temporarily to school in late summer of 1978. Initially, I had friends stay at my apartment in Germany.  However, several weeks later the Navigator's new rep for Ramstein (Max, Dawn Weighmink) asked permission to have his family settle at the apartment until their rental became available.  I consented without hesitations. Upon my return the Weighminks asked to continue their occupancy so I roomed with other Brothers in Christ.  The Weighminks invited me to visit, play my piano and get to know them better. Several topics of interest -- we talked about christian dating and relating;  Max stated he could use some help especially with  administrative tasks associated with ministry. He asked if I would be interested in helping. I said yes and, from this point onward -- God did some magnificent things in my life!

Foremost was "man-to-man" times with Max as he Discipled me (Matt 28: 18-20) from a young christian man to a young man stage of maturity in Christ before departing from Germany to another Air Force assignment  (though there have been other mature christians who subsequently invested in my spiritual life -- but, it was Max who began to lay a spiritual foundation of consequence).  To this very day I'm still  actively and fruitfully involved in the Great Commission (2 Timothy 2:2). Another significant life issue -- the Weighminks mentored me in the process of christian marriage (i.e., 2nd most important decision after accepting Jesus Christ - who, if any, would be my mate to co-labor for a lifetime). Through their mentoring in courtship God blessed me with a partner (my wife)!!  Max then - was my Best Man in the marriage journey.  I've had a lifetime connection with the Weighmink Family and, especially with Max. 1 Corinthians 4: 15

Max we grieve, for a while, and miss your physical presence with all, but I'm comforted to know that you are now trully home with the Lord. Yes Max, well done faithful servant - 2 Timothy 4: 7-8

Sincerely In Christ - Bert F

I have the privilege of being mentored and discipled by Max. It's been some time since we have connected, but his impact on my life is felt daily. He has deep and profound impact on my life and walk with Jesus. I just heard about his going home to the Jesus he served so well. I know he is hearing, "Well done good and faithful servant!" May the God of all comfort comfort you his family with His love and presence and peace. Praying for you and the family. Better than I deserve.

Blessings,

Todd K