Archpriest John Maxwell fell asleep in the Lord on February 4, 2025.
Father John was born Bruce Wayne Maxwell on October 31, 1954, in Lynnwood, CA to the late John Vester Maxwell and the late Stella Zinaich Maxwell.
As early as age 5, he demonstrated a zealous love for God and told his parents he wanted to be a minister. He was baptized in Rivera Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on April 12, 1964, where he became the Sunday School Assistant Superintendent, Vice President of the Christian Youth Fellowship, Boy Scouts Chaplain and Sr. Patrol Leader for Troop 911. In 1971, he became the Youth Director at La Mirada Baptist Church. While attending Cerritos College in Norwalk, CA from 1972-1974, he became the President of the Campus Crusade for Christ and met his future bride, Debra Joy Fisher, who was the daughter of a Baptist Minister. They married on August 29, 1974.
He graduated from Biola College with a B.A. in Communications in 1977. His daughter Jennifer (1976) and son Peter (1978) were born around this time. Then from 1979-1982 he attended Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in San Francisco, CA for his MDiv Program part time. He was licensed as a Southern Baptist Minister in 1980 and ordained a Southern Baptist Minister on January 25, 1981. Rev. Bruce Maxwell, along with two fellow Baptist Ministers (Rev. Alan Waisanen and Rev. Peter Heckman) founded the Good News Baptist Church, which then became known as the Emmanuel Community Church. It met at the YMCA Chapel in Fullerton, CA.
Realizing a doctrinal disagreement with the Baptist denomination over the issue of rebaptism but driven by a desire not to start a new denomination, Rev. Bruce, Rev. Alan, and Rev. Peter began a spiritual quest for a solution, not knowing it would lead them to the Orthodox Church. After attending a Pascha service at the Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Christian Mission, Rev. Bruce asked his congregation to extend hospitality to this Church and allow these Christians to share their facility at the YMCA. Once the Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission began sharing facilities, Rev. Bruce and the other ministers began attending Vespers and Bible Studies overseen by the late Fr. John W. Anderson.
Consequently, about half of the Baptist Church Congregation and all three ministers were brought into the Orthodox Church through the sacrament of Chrismation at a hierarchical service presided by His Grace Bishop Basil on January 30, 1982, at the YMCA in Fullerton, CA. Once again a layperson, Bruce Maxwell, Chrismated with the Christian name of John, continued to work as a drapery installer, a job he had begun as a youth. On March 13, 1983, Bruce was tonsured a Reader in the Orthodox Church and soon thereafter began his studies in the extension program at Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, PA. Meanwhile, his wife Debra finished a degree in Respiratory Care and began employment as a Respiratory Therapist, to support Bruce and their family through seminary.
Bruce and his family moved to Saint Tikhon’s Seminary in July 1987. He was ordained as a Deacon on October 9, 1988; then as a Priest on January 29, 1989, by His Grace Bishop Herman. Father John graduated from Saint Tikhon’s Seminary with a Masters of Divinity and from Marywood University with a Masters of Science in Religious Education in May 1989.
Once ordained, Fr. John was assigned as pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Uniondale, PA, where he served faithfully from 1989 to 1996. During those same years, he served as the Registrar and Director of Extension Studies at Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. Father John taught several courses at Saint Tikhon’s including Introduction to the New Testament, Pentateuch, Prophets, Introduction to Orthodox Christian Doctrine, Dogmatic Theology, Soteriology, Modern Belief, Evangelism and Missions.
In 1996, Father John received the blessing from His Eminence Archbishop Herman to relocate to Fort Smith, AR to start Saints George and Alexandra Orthodox Mission and care for his aging father. Once in Fort Smith, Father John pastored the Saints George and Alexandra Orthodox Mission through various phases in its growth, from its early meetings at the St. Edwards Mercy Hospital Chapel, to a storefront at the Phoenix Village Mall, to its current location at an old military chapel on Fort Chaffee, AR. While studying at Hillcrest Medical Center to become a Certified Hospital Chaplain, he earned the 1999 Chaplain of the Year Award. By June 1999 he became a Staff Chaplain at St. Edwards/ Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith, AR and by May 29, 2011, he became Manager of Pastoral Services after officially receiving recognition as an APC Board Certified Chaplain.
In May of 2011, His Grace Bishop Mark commissioned Father John to plant an Orthodox Mission (Saint John of Chicago) in Rogers, Arkansas. Due to his many ongoing responsibilities, Father John initially could only offer Friday night Vespers and Saturday morning Liturgies in Rogers. In October 2012, Father Paul Fetsko became the priest in charge at Saints George and Alexandra, allowing Father John to serve the growing community of St. John of Chicago Mission in Rogers, Arkansas full time. Having received a metastatic cancer diagnosis in December 2013, Father John was reduced to part time duties at the Rogers Mission in August of 2014 until 2016. During that time, Father John Wehling was assigned to serve both Missions (Fort Smith and Rogers) on alternating Sundays. Father John stayed on as Manager at Mercy Hospital until he retired from his full-time duties in 2015.
During his illness and reduced duties, Father John used his remaining energy on researching, writing, and revising his still-unpublished book, Worship Old and New: Jewish-Orthodox Christian Connection. Regaining partial strength and health, Father John returned to full time status at Mercy as Manager of Pastoral Services in 2019. In 2020, he returned to full time Rector status at Saints George and Alexandra Orthodox Mission, until June 11, 2023, when he officially retired with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy concelebrated by His Grace Bishop Gerasim and was granted the status of Priest Emeritus of Saints George and Alexandra.
Father John and his wife Matushka Debra moved to Jackson, TN in 2023 to live closer to their daughter Dr. Jennifer Mary Fox. Since moving to Jackson, TN, Father John has become a beloved member of the Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Mission, having served as Church School Teacher and occasional speaker or homilist. Father John will be remembered by many for his wisdom and compassion as he helped them through life’s most difficult times. He was an active listener and communicator who gave life-changing sermons. He had a beautiful singing voice and played the guitar and the bass fiddle. He was a natural born leader, administrator, and visionary. From his youth he had grit and always stood up for the truth. Those closest to him will never forget his sense of humor, his ability to tell a good story, and his deep love of sports. He had a heart of prayer and especially loved serving at the Holy Altar.
Father John is survived by his loving wife, Matushka Debra, daughter Jennifer Mary Fox, son Peter (Andrea) Maxwell, grandson Elijah Maxwell, brothers Johnny (Linda) and Gary Maxwell, sisters-in-law Jeannie (Kirk) Lowery and Charlotte Marlow, and his last remaining aunt Sally Zinaich Visnick. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Stella Zinaich Maxwell, his sister Gayle Maxwell, his sister-in-law Mary Maxwell, his brother-in-law Don Marlow, and his son-in-law James Fox.
Services for Father John will be served at three churches. Panikhida services with a potluck style meal will first be held at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in Jackson, TN, then at St. John of Chicago in Rogers, AR, and finally, the funeral and burial services will be held at Saints George and Alexandra in Fort Smith, AR.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the building funds of the churches of Saint Nicholas in Jackson, TN, Saint John of Chicago in Rogers, AR, and Saints George and Alexandra in Fort Smith, AR.
May Father John’s memory be eternal!