Frank Howard is likely the only GCI pastor with a 40-year-old pair of Chuck Taylor Converse All-Star sneakers. He loves to collect things. “I am not a hoarder of stuff. I enjoy collecting coins, stamps, bills, etc.”
Frank, the bi-vocational senior pastor for 24-7 Community Church in Newark, New Jersey, is the youngest of 10 children. “I grew up in the segregated South during the 1950s and 60s in Williamston, North Carolina, population approximately 5,000 at that time. At the age of 11, I participated in Freedom marches for Civil Rights in my hometown. I felt it was the right thing to do for me and for others.”
Frank speaks highly of his parents, the late John and Vernice Howard: “My parents taught us to love God and people, honor and respect the elderly, get a good education, and help those who are in need. We were raised up in the Lord, and I was baptized at the age of nine.”
In 1966, when Frank was in the eighth grade, he and his fellow male classmates participated in a special program. Frank shares, “all the young men in my class at E.J. Hayes School (including myself) were taken to the “Advancement School” in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This school was for young men only. We were to be there for three months. When we arrived with two of our own teachers, each of us was assigned a white roommate to live with for the three months. I knew this was going to be very interesting, and it was; but it was all good. Both black and white young men were given the same educational tools and opportunities to be a success at the Advancement School. As a result, the young men’s (both black and white) performance in academics and sports excelled. It proved that when given the same tools and opportunities, it doesn’t matter what your race is, you can be a success. I will never forget that experience.”
While in high school, Frank had the opportunity to have Coach Herman Boone (portrayed by Denzel Washington in the movie “Remember the Titans”) as his physical education instructor. “He encouraged his students and teams to persevere and never give up. Under Coach Boone’s leadership, E.J. Hayes High School Football Team won two State Championships during the 1960s. In 1974, I received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from North Carolina Central University. In 1984, I received the Master of Science Degree in Human Resources from New Jersey Institute of Technology. I received the Advanced Diploma in Christian Ministry from Grace Communion Seminary in 2012. Over the years, I have worked for General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, New York State Department of Labor, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, and currently for the United States Department of Treasury.”
As a result of occasionally watching The World Tomorrow TV program from 1979 through 1982 and reading the church’s literature, Frank began attending the WCG Manhattan Church in New York City in 1982. “Because I lived in New Jersey, I started attending the Union, New Jersey congregation in 1983 and became a member in 1984. There I met my lovely wife to be, Leslie (Hall).” Leslie and Frank have been married for 27 “blessed and lovely years. We have a daughter, Chantell, 33 and a son, Frankie, 25. We have two grandchildren, Nia, 8 and Jaiden, 5. Leslie is an author of two books, Sister With S.A.S.S. and Love Letters From God. She is also a Christian life coach.”
Frank became the interim bi-vocational pastor of 24-7 Community Church in December 2000 due to the untimely death of Ronald Robinson who had served as the senior pastor for only nine months. Frank became the new senior pastor in October 2001. Of Leslie, Frank says, “she is valuable to me and to the ministry in so many ways. She is a ministry leader over Safe Center, which connects the church with other organizations and churches in the Newark area. Safe Center also provides food and other items to the needy. Leslie also teaches a group of young ladies in the community called Daughters of Imani (Daughters of Faith). She supports me in the ministry and gives constructive criticism when necessary. She gives sermons and occasionally assists me with counseling. I am truly blessed to have a wife with a passion for God and for doing his work.”
As a pastor, Frank says he enjoys the unique qualities, gifts and personalities of people that God brings into his life, and to the congregation. “I am amazed how he uses those gifts to transform people lives as well as my own life. I also enjoy how he allows the congregation to be able to reach out to others. We have a monthly church service at the largest youth detention facility in New Jersey to reach out to incarcerated young men and women. We also have a monthly church service at the New Community Nursing Home in Newark where we reach out and comfort the residents with the Word of God and fellowship. I enjoy participating with Jesus in these settings. I enjoy seeing the youth at church praising the Lord and developing into leaders. I enjoy seeing the singles, married couples and the elderly praising the Lord and participating in Christ’s ministry. My assistant pastors, David Robinson and Lawrence Evans, and the rest of my leadership team have all been exceptional.”
Speaking about GCI, Frank said, “It’s comforting to know the Holy Spirit is using Dr. Joseph Tkach and the GCI team to lead us. GCI is not perfect, (no denomination is), but over the years, under Joe’s tutelage, we’ve grown to understand so much about grace. It helps us reach out to others in love, when spreading the gospel with genuine concern for the physical welfare of those in need.”
Frank’s most memorable moment as a pastor came during one of our nation’s greatest tragedies. “God allowed me to safely exit the World Trade Center after the first plane struck Building One on 9/11/2001. I was moved when many 24-7 members gathered the next evening to pray for the families of the victims and for those who were injured.”
Several mentors have helped shape Frank’s life and ministry. He speaks fondly of Mrs. Bessie Mobley, his first Sunday School teacher who encouraged him to go to college. He remembers an eighth grade teacher, Mr. Walter Harris, who not only taught him academics, but how to deal with practical life issues. He has deep respect for the late Pastor Ronald Robinson, who was a great leader and visionary. “He and I would go to New York City once a month to the Empire State building to meet with other clergy in the New York and New Jersey area. Those train trips over and back from New York gave us the opportunity to share thoughts and concerns about the new church plant (24-7 Community Church) and about ourselves. Little did I know, that God would allow Pastor Ron to die nine months after the church began. During those nine months, he shared a lot with me and his example taught me many lessons that have helped me to shepherd the flock that God has entrusted to me. Thank God for his example!”
Frank says that his passion is “serving God and people and having a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. I love God and I love people. I feel closest to God in prayer, Bible study and meditation. There are times when I am on the express bus coming home from work that I am in deep prayer with the Lord.”
Frank shares a final thought: “When I reflect on my life I see Jesus’ loving hand in every aspect. His hand has been over my family, over GCI and over the 24-7 Community Church from its inception. Through it all, I have learned three important lessons:
- Pray! Pray! Pray!
- Wait on God to make his will and purpose clear.
- Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain (Psalm 127:1).
