Frank was the kind of man you don’t forget—sharp, kind-hearted, and always ready to serve. He had a quiet intelligence about him, the kind that didn’t need to be announced, and a servant’s heart that showed in everything he did.
I met Frank not long after moving to California in 2002. My plan had been to work at Grace to You after college, but with no positions open, the Lord provided another way to serve. I started volunteering at The Master’s Seminary, where they needed someone to help run the media department—setting up video cameras and recording classes. It was a great opportunity, and I enjoyed every bit of it.
On my first Sunday at Grace Church, I met Ellis and Irene Stewart. Irene volunteered at GTY, and after hearing my story, she encouraged me to come out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “This would be a great opportunity for you to serve the Lord and meet new friends.” That sounded like a good idea, so I showed up.
I could have met anyone that day—thousands of people at church—but the Lord brought us together at that moment. Ellis and Irene were exactly the people I needed to meet, and I now know this was how God designed it. He was opening doors, guiding my steps, and leading me in the direction He had for me.
That’s when I met Frank at GTY. He and his wife were already volunteering, and someone introduced us. He was a retired engineer, but not just any engineer—he had worked on top-secret projects at places like Area 51. Now, in retirement, he wanted to spend his time serving.
One of the first things he asked me was why I had moved from the East Coast to California. Before I could answer, Fred, the volunteer coordinator at GTY, jumped in and said, “They moved to the promised land.” Bob, a volunteer, added, “Yep, the land of fruit and nuts.” We all laughed, and I knew I was in good company.
I explained how I had wanted to work at GTY and the struggles of finding a solid church back home. That’s when Frank told me he was from New Jersey, with parents from Germany. He understood what it was like to pick up and move across the country.
At the time, I was also volunteering at The Sword and Trowel ministry, which later became The GraceLife Pulpit. Frank immediately offered to help. “I’d love to make CDs, edit messages, maintain the website—whatever is needed.”
“Well,” I said, “come on board. I’m a volunteer too, and I could use the help.”
And help, he did. Frank had a sharp mind. He fixed programming issues I ran into, made CDs, and helped mail out monthly offers. He was reliable, steady, and a joy to work with.
Frank was a man who knew how to lead. Before retiring, he had been a department manager for many years—the kind of man who could come in, make changes, and get things done. But when he came in to volunteer, he never carried himself that way. He would simply walk in, smile, and ask, “What would you like me to do today, Will?”
Over the years, we volunteered side by side at The GraceLife Pulpit, but we spent countless hours together during the Shepherds’ Conference each year. Frank volunteered with me in the media department for over a decade, helping edit and record messages, organizing them, burning CDs (back when CDs were still the thing), and converting them into MP3s for people to download. It was long, detailed work, but Frank never complained.
One of the biggest projects Frank and I had the opportunity to work on was converting all of John MacArthur’s recordings to digital format. That was a massive undertaking—opening up the GTY Vault, carefully preserving years of teaching, and making John’s entire audio library free for people to download. It took us two years to complete the project, but being part of something that would reach so many was a blessing.
We spent hours together daily during those projects—talking about new technologies, photography equipment, recording gear, and all the latest advancements. He had an engineer’s mind, always eager to discuss how things worked and how they improved. Those conversations, combined with our work, made those years fly by.
Our friendship grew quickly. That first Thanksgiving in California, we spent at Frank’s house. That’s where I met Bob Kostenbauder, another longtime GLP volunteer. Bob had been a photographer, developing film from military reconnaissance missions. Both men were brilliant, but even more than that, they loved the Lord.
Frank and his wife also loved to travel. They took incredible trips worldwide, and when he returned, we’d sit down for lunch. He’d pull out hundreds of photos on his laptop, and we’d go through them one by one as he told stories of the places they had seen. It was never just about sightseeing for him—he truly appreciated the beauty and history of every place he visited.
Then, Frank and I ended up in the audience of The Price Is Right. That was a fun experience—not just being there but getting to hang out with him for the day and see all the behind-the-scenes action of the show. We sat there watching contestants spin the big wheel, listening to the crowd erupt whenever Drew Carey called someone’s name. One of those unexpected, lighthearted memories made our friendship even richer.
Throughout those decades, he has always been an encouragement to me. He prayed for me when I was sick, prayed for my family, and stood by me through my struggles. No matter what I was going through, he was there with a kind word, a prayer, or a reminder to trust in the Lord.
About a year ago, Frank had a fall at home. He hit his head and never fully recovered. Not long after, he called me when he was feeling a little better. His voice was weak, but his words were strong.
“I won’t be able to keep volunteering at GraceLife anymore,” he told me. “But that’s alright. This world is temporary, and times like this remind us how brief it is. There’s no final goodbye for those in Christ—just a momentary separation. I’ll see you again, my friend, in a place where there’s no more pain and sorrow, and our service never ends.”
What an encouragement! Even in his hardest moments, Frank’s faith never wavered. I thanked him for the years of friendship and service, knowing that one day, I’d hear his voice again—not over the phone, but in glory. Last week, he passed away and is now in the presence of Christ.
I have so many photos of the years we spent together—the projects, the conferences, the trips—but I don't believe I have a single photo of us together. I was always the one behind the camera.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” —2 Timothy 4:7-8
