"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?’" - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Born the third of four sons and raised in a small farming community in Morrisonville, Illinois, Max Jay Myers chose at a young age to live a life of service to God, family and country. After graduating from high school in 1971, Myers volunteered to enlist in the United States Army. He was stationed in Germany and served for three years until his honorable discharge. Max was awarded the Army Commendation Medal; he went on to be commissioned an officer in the National Guard. After his service to the country in the military, Max got his Bachelor of Arts at North Central University and began pastoring Assemblies of God churches in several cities, including Morris, Illinois; Waupaca, Wisconsin; and Hutchinson, Minnesota.
Fueled by his accomplishments in military and pastoral leadership, Max continued working with community organizations. While living in Minnesota he was a member of the board of directors for the McLeod Alliance for Victims of Domestic Violence. He also served on the Tri-County Welfare-to-Work Task Force, working with local social service providers to assist those coming off public assistance with transportation. Out of his passion to help people who found themselves in a difficult position, Max participated in laying the groundwork for the non-profit organization Common Cup, which pooled the resources of local churches to assist those in need. He also helped to develop a staffed counseling department at his church that offered its services free of charge to the community.
Max partnered with his wife, Nina, in 2001 to open their first small business in downtown Hutchinson, called “Coffee Company.” A second location was added to their popular shop the following year.
Using the above three decades of experience in leadership, Max moved to Central Pennsylvania and became the director of a ministry school in Mechanicsburg. During this time Max decided to share with others the nature of his success in leadership through the book “The Tail That Wags the Dog,” which serves as an instructional on ways to reshape pastoral leadership. Max’s continuous pursuit of effective community change has motivated him to purchase blighted property in Harrisburg. By renovating and renting the properties Max provides residents with affordable quality housing. He also serves as a “Big Brother” with Big Brothers / Big Sisters of the Capital Region and has a private pilots license. Max and Nina have two children and five grandchildren.
