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Born: December 18, 1935 Nampa, Idaho, USA
Died: January 2, 2019
Early Life and Call to Ministry
Harmon F. Schmelzenbach III was born to Elmer and Mary Schmelzenbach missionaries preparing to serve in Swaziland. He was only a few weeks old when they moved to Africa where he would spend his formative years.
At age 12 during a camp meeting in Endingeni, Swaziland Harmon spoke with evangelist Joseph Mkwanazi—a moment that confirmed his call to ministry.
He attended boarding school in South Africa before returning to the U.S. in 1952 to attend Northwest Nazarene College. There he met and married Beverly his lifelong partner in mission.
Missionary Career and Leadership Roles
Harmon and Beverly began missionary service in 1960 among the Pedi people in South Africa. By 1961 they had moved to Blouberg the Church’s northernmost mission station in the country.
In 1971 Harmon independently registered the Church of the Nazarene in Botswana reflecting his vision for expansion. In 1977 the couple relocated to Namibia to develop a new Nazarene district and served there until 1984.
Recognized for his leadership, Harmon was appointed East Africa Field Director in 1984. He moved to Kenya and led expansion efforts into Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Zaire.
He founded a preacher training school and laid the foundation for what would become Africa Nazarene University (ANU) officially opened in 1994.
He personally selected and prayed over the land where the university was built, and the main administration building is named in his honor.
In 1992, he and Beverly pioneered Nazarene work in Ethiopia and Eritrea, capitalizing on a new era of religious openness after decades of restriction under a Marxist regime.
Legacy and Final Years
Harmon was a third-generation missionary. His grandfather, Harmon F. Schmelzenbach I, pioneered Nazarene missions in South Africa, Mozambique, and Swaziland beginning in 1910. Harmon III continued the legacy, serving in South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, and Ethiopia over 34 years.
In 1994 he was appointed “Missionary at Large” traveling globally to raise mission awareness and share stories from his family’s ministry. After retiring in 2001 to Clearwater Florida, Harmon and Beverly continued serving by training leaders in Hungary under the Eurasia Region’s request.
He passed away on January 2, 2019, at age 83, survived by Beverly, their children—including missionaries Harmon R. Schmelzenbach and Quinton Schmelzenbach—and grandchildren.
Enduring Contributions
- Registered the Church of the Nazarene in Botswana (1971)
- Pioneered Nazarene work in six African nations
- Played a central role in founding Africa Nazarene University
- Advocated for local leadership development across African Nazarene fields
- Authored a biography of his grandfather, preserving the story of Nazarene missions in Africa
