Frank - Middle East Updates

My Letter to Future Goers

By on November 24, 2015 Track: Sports Region: Middle East

Hello!  This time I write you not from Turkey, but from...wait for it....Michigan!  Yep, my two years in Turkey is done and I find myself back home in America.  It's a bit surreal being back, I think mostly because my time in Turkey just flew by; hardly seems like.  And yet, so much happened over two years and I have returned a different person in many ways.  As I think back on my time there, there are a couple things that stick out to me, and I'd like to take this opportunity to share those with you.     I went to Turkey with the hope of being able to… Read more >>

Football as a means

By on April 17, 2015 Track: Sports Region: Middle East

Football is officially done, but it has served its purpose.  It gave me and the other missionary coaches a reason to be here, and an opportunity to form friendships and share Christ, and a couple months ago, one of the players on our pro team began reading the Bible with one of the other American coaches here.  About 7 chapters into the book of Matthew, he began to believe in the Scriptures he was reading and the Jesus found therein.  God made himself known to him!  He is currently in a sort of weigh the cost mode as he is nervous about what his family, friends, and… Read more >>

Announcing My Retirement

By on April 17, 2015 Track: Sports Region: Middle East

Hello from Izmir!  And a belated Happy Easter (week and half late doesn't seem so bad when you remember I said Merry Christmas over a month late does it?)!  I hope that you all had a special Easter and were not only were overwhelmed with thankfulness in remembering how much Jesus suffered for our salvation, but with joy in celebrating that he is alive and with us!      I spent my Easter Sunday coaching in a University football game about an hour away from the ancient city of Nicaea (currently Iznik) which is where nearly 2000 years ago the Council of… Read more >>

Christmas...In February....

By on February 18, 2015 Track: Sports Region: Middle East

I realize we're like, way past it already, and a Valentines Day post would be much more appropriate, but I haven't posted since November (oops...) so I'm going to go ahead and say a very very late Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you from Turkey!  I hope that the advent season was an incredibly blessed time for each of you filled with carols, movies, lights, cookies, ugly sweaters, loved ones, and most of all, encountering Jesus in new and special ways.   Christmas in Turkey kinda blows because, well, it isn't celebrated here.  Go outside in December and it… Read more >>

A Year In

By on November 12, 2014 Track: Sports Region: Middle East

I'm over half way through 2 year term, I'm incredibly excited for this coming year, especially as I reflect back to where I was about a year ago.  I had just gotten off of a plane in this foreign country, not knowing what to expect, not knowing a soul, having little knowledge of the city, culture, food, and I barely could even say "hello" in their language.  I had no idea what football would be like, and I wasn't in good game shape.  The biggest unknown, though, was how Turks would respond to me, and more importantly, to the Gospel message.  A year later I have come to… Read more >>