A new name appears in our masthead’s list of writers (to the left of this column), and in bylines throughout this magazine. We are thrilled that Nathan Frank, a University of Regina journalism grad, is now on board with our communications department.
Nathan grew up on a grain farm near Eatonia, Sask., the youngest of three boys in his devoted Christian family. Christ was a part of his life ever since he was a youngster, but his view of Jesus sharpened over time.
“It wasn’t until after I attended Bible college for two years that I discovered that Jesus was a revolutionary God. He not only died on the cross for our sins, but He shattered social customs: He healed a leper, spoke to a Samaritan woman and healed on the Sabbath.
“I realized Jesus is a dangerous God because He asks me to care for the poor, the depressed, the lost and even my enemies. He requests that I give up my desires and love others like He loves me.”
The 27-year-old’s interest in writing started when he composed short stories as a child.
“I found great joy in getting lost in my writing and using my imagination. When deciding what career to pursue, I decided journalism would give me the best opportunity to tell great stories and meet the people of the world.”
Nathan worked at a newspaper and a radio station in Saskatchewan before accepting a writing position with Wycliffe Canada this past summer.
“I couldn’t pass up a chance to see for myself what God is doing around the globe,” he explains. “I want to learn more about what is happening in different parts of the world and to hear the stories that have never been told.”
To that end, Nathan will be travelling to various parts of the globe, gathering stories for Word Alive magazine that inform and inspire Canadian Christians to partner in the global Bible translation movement.
For this issue, however, he met and wrote about some of the approximately 200 people serving in Canada to further the work abroad. People like Nathan himself, wanting to use their skills with Wycliffe. They include recruiters, donation receipting staff, field project liaison officers, board members, church connections personnel, IT managers, linguistic trainers, spiritual enrichment leaders, and others. These and many more all play a vital role here in Canada, so that the necessary staff, prayer and funds can sustain overseas field work among Bibleless people groups.
We who work here at home—from British Columbia to the Maritimes—are not on the so-called “front lines” of ministry abroad. We don’t serve in exotic contexts. But ask field personnel and they will acknowledge that their work cannot happen without the committed effort back in Canada that supports them (for which they thank us often).
That’s why it is so appropriate for our cover photo, of a girl in a language group of West Asia, to be a mosaic formed by images of folks serving in Canada. The home front and the front line are deeply intermeshed, linked and connected.
You can’t have one without the other. We are all missionaries.
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