Max Tucker, a pastor and church planter, died October 29. He was 93.
Max, a graduate from the first graduating class of Cedarville University in 1953, served in pastoral ministry for over 70 years.
He served in many churches across the Midwest, including Calvary Baptist Church, Sandusky, Ohio; Fostoria (Ohio) Baptist Church; and Norwood Baptist Church, Cincinnati, Ohio.
He was also involved in seven church building programs and church planting ministries across the country. In addition, he and his wife, Phyllis, held evangelistic meetings and conferences throughout the United States, Canada, Central America, Latin America, and Africa.
In retirement, Max took on the position of church-planting coordinator and consultant for the Ohio Association of Regular Baptist Churches, serving from 2000 to 2006. In that capacity he led a Barnabas-type of ministry.
“Barnabas of Bible times was known as an encourager and a great helper to the apostle Paul and to the early New Testament church (Acts 4:36; 13:2–5),” Max explained in 2007.
Max continued that Barnabas ministry in his next roles: consulting for Baptist Church Planters and leading evangelistic meetings, Bible and missions conferences, and church finance and building programs.
“Someone has well said, ‘Years wrinkle the skin, but the lack of enthusiasm wrinkles the soul,'” Max said in 2007. “By God’s grace, [Phyllis and I] do not want to have our enthusiasm dampened by spiritual apathy and lack of service for Him.”
Even though Max was bedridden for the last three years, he made it a point to tell everyone he met of the saving grace of his loving Savior.
Max was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Phyllis, on February 19, 2024, and a son, Timothy.
He is survived by his son Keith; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
