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The Schmelzenbachs were assigned to Africa in 1960 and have served continuously as missionaries since then. Harmon is a third-generation missionary, having grown up in Africa. Shortly after the turn of the century, his grandfather founded the work of the Church of the Nazarene in Africa, establishing the national church in the countries of Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa.

THE WORK IN AFRICA
Assignments for the Schmelzenbachs have centered on church pioneering and the formation of national districts. Harmon registered the Church of the Nazarene in Botswana in 1971. They entered Namibia and organized a pioneer district there in 1976. In 1984, they went to Kenya to initiate the work of the Church across East Africa. This work, now comprised of eight nationally-led districts and two pioneer districts, covers the countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Zaire. By 1996, there were over 1,000 churches.

The training of pastors led to the laying of the foundations for Africa Nazarene University in Nairobi, Kenya in 1986. The University is now fully operational and under national leadership. The Schmelzenbachs moved from Kenya to Ethiopia in 1992 to begin the work in Ethiopia and Eritrea. In September 1994, Harmon accepted the assignment of “Missionary-at-Large" from the Church of the Nazarene. Currently they are involved in conventions, The JESUS Film project and the establishment of national work in the country of Hungary. The Schmelzenbachs have three grown children: LeAnn, Harmon and Pamela.

ABOUT THE SERIES
Dr. and Mrs. William Griffin founded the Griffin Missions Conference. Griffin was an early leader in and helped found the concept of Work and Witness trips in the Church of the Nazarene. Serving as assistant to the president for Church Relations at MVNU in the 1990s, Griffin had a desire to bring missionary couples to campus to share with the community. He offered to cover the expenses, and the tradition continues today.

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ABOUT MVNU
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students and working adults. U.S. News & World Report ranks MVNU in the top 50 Best in the Midwest (Bachelor’s-Comprehensive) institutions for the fourth year in a row. With a 400-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and eight additional satellite Adult and Graduate Studies campuses throughout the state, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education to more than 2,670 students from 27 states and six countries/U.S. territories.