Religion & Spirituality
Many blessings accompany a long ministry with the same people. James Frank shepherded a flock for 40 years and challenges those who aspire to pastoral ministry. About Our Guest James Frank serves as pastor emeritus for Galilee Baptist Church in Saranac, Michigan, a church he had pastored for over 40 years. He graduated from Bob Jones University and Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary. He has been married to his wife Beth since 1960 and the Lord has blessed them with two children, three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Featured Resource Association of Certified Biblical Counselors: Increase your skill in bringing God’s Word to people in need of help and hope. What You Will Learn “The seminary is so wonderful to remember, but ... being in the ministry itself really sharpens everything. It becomes more valuable than the seminary itself.” Welcoming veteran missionaries into the home encourages obedient faith. His call to the ministry of preaching and teaching came by working with chain gang prisoners in Rock Hill, South Carolina in the 1950s. “I came to Galilee [in 1964] for $40 a week and it seemed like a million because I was able to preach.” How the church went from no godly, capable men to an abundance of them. What to do when hypocrites are in the church. How AWANA has been useful as a tremendous community influence. How area churches can work together and why this is important. God brings growth to the church through the faithful preaching of His Word. “I felt that rather than have a beautiful building, it was important for us to have a cathedral of truth, that we would not have anything to say except what was in the text and that the truth would be there and be evident in the text.” How to retire from pastoral ministry and what to do next. How a return to the church after retiring could look like. “I think we do not need more ministers. We need more ministers that are called of God.” “If you aspire to the ministry, you need to learn to study. You need to pay attention to books. You also need to pay attention to speech.” Listen to the interview with Andy Mooren, who succeeded Jim as pastor for Galilee Baptist Church.