“Hazel and I were talking one evening and we wondered if there was something we could do to help others in the world,” said Frank, 86, of Brookfield. “I had read quite a bit on mission work and Bangladesh.”
Contacting the Church of the Nazarene, the Lockes asked about a project they could become involved with and learned of a project through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.
“Things just seemed to fall in place,” Hazel said. “Plans had already been drawn up and on paper for a school needed in a rural area. But they did not have the finances. This is something that has been vaguely in the back of our minds, we just had not crystallized it. We wanted to be involved with something that would be lasting and giving after our lives are over.”
Further interest was fueled, in that their son, David Locke, and his wife, Kristan, taught school the past three years in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Frank and Hazel proceeded to fund the construction of the Kanainagar School Building, a two-year project. Recently opened, a plaque on the school reads, in part, “To The Glory of God through educating his children in Bangladesh. Inaugurated by Mr. David Locke April 29, 2016.”
“We were invited to the dedication but we decided to ask David to represent us,” Frank explained. “The trip from Dhaka to the rural area is about 80 miles, David traveled all day to get there. He crossed through two rivers in a van and he went part of the trip in a taxi. Travel was very slow.”
The school has been constructed to allow for a second story to be added.
“We hope there will be a day the school will grow and they’ll need the extra space,” Frank said. “It seemed like the Lord was directing us with this project. We feel privileged to be able to help.”
Hazel agreed.
“It’s thrilling,” she said. “It’s given perhaps more joy and satisfaction than anything we ever spent money on. This has been like no other involvement. To think this opportunity was out there and that we were directed to it. I feel almost indebted to the Nazarene Church for allowing us to take part.”
On Sunday, June 19, Rev. Frank was asked by the Brookfield Baptist Church, where he serves as Minister Emeritus assisting Rev. Pastor Eric MacKinnon, to talk about the recent mission experience. Using colourful photos on an overhead screen, a humble and sincere Rev. Frank thrilled an attentive congregation with his presentation. Frank emphasized “here, there and everywhere” and noted Christians should be interested in helping people in their own community, communities beyond and around the world. At one point, Rev. Frank brought a chuckle from those in attendance.
“And, Hazel and I had some money left over so we decided to get involved in another project,” he said.
Through the Canadian Baptist Ministries they made a donation to allow a school to be built in northern Bula Pamoja, Kenya, with a population of 300.
“A mud hut was all they had before,” Frank said. “Now, they have two classrooms and two washrooms. The school was recently used by residents due to bad floods. Besides educating the students, the school is used to teach people to farm and provide for themselves. The school also provides meals for 65 children every day.”
Frank spoke of the wonderful work in Kenya being carried out by missionaries Aaron and Erica Kenny, of Canadian Baptist Ministries. The Brookfield Baptist Church helps support the Kennys.
A minister for 65 years, Rev. Frank, a Brookfield native, was the author of “History of the Brookfield Baptist Church 1862-2006.” In 2012, he wrote the play “How The Church Began.” Hazel, the former Hazel Sharpe of Bass River, taught school in Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Alberta.
True Christians, Frank and Hazel are loved by people far and near.
Lyle Carter’s column appears every second Tuesday in the Truro Daily News. If you have a column idea, contact him at 902-673-2857.
“Hazel and I were talking one evening and we wondered if there was something we could do to help others in the world,” said Frank, 86, of Brookfield. “I had read quite a bit on mission work and Bangladesh.”
Contacting the Church of the Nazarene, the Lockes asked about a project they could become involved with and learned of a project through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.
“Things just seemed to fall in place,” Hazel said. “Plans had already been drawn up and on paper for a school needed in a rural area. But they did not have the finances. This is something that has been vaguely in the back of our minds, we just had not crystallized it. We wanted to be involved with something that would be lasting and giving after our lives are over.”
Further interest was fueled, in that their son, David Locke, and his wife, Kristan, taught school the past three years in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Frank and Hazel proceeded to fund the construction of the Kanainagar School Building, a two-year project. Recently opened, a plaque on the school reads, in part, “To The Glory of God through educating his children in Bangladesh. Inaugurated by Mr. David Locke April 29, 2016.”
“We were invited to the dedication but we decided to ask David to represent us,” Frank explained. “The trip from Dhaka to the rural area is about 80 miles, David traveled all day to get there. He crossed through two rivers in a van and he went part of the trip in a taxi. Travel was very slow.”
The school has been constructed to allow for a second story to be added.
“We hope there will be a day the school will grow and they’ll need the extra space,” Frank said. “It seemed like the Lord was directing us with this project. We feel privileged to be able to help.”
Hazel agreed.
“It’s thrilling,” she said. “It’s given perhaps more joy and satisfaction than anything we ever spent money on. This has been like no other involvement. To think this opportunity was out there and that we were directed to it. I feel almost indebted to the Nazarene Church for allowing us to take part.”
On Sunday, June 19, Rev. Frank was asked by the Brookfield Baptist Church, where he serves as Minister Emeritus assisting Rev. Pastor Eric MacKinnon, to talk about the recent mission experience. Using colourful photos on an overhead screen, a humble and sincere Rev. Frank thrilled an attentive congregation with his presentation. Frank emphasized “here, there and everywhere” and noted Christians should be interested in helping people in their own community, communities beyond and around the world. At one point, Rev. Frank brought a chuckle from those in attendance.
“And, Hazel and I had some money left over so we decided to get involved in another project,” he said.
Through the Canadian Baptist Ministries they made a donation to allow a school to be built in northern Bula Pamoja, Kenya, with a population of 300.
“A mud hut was all they had before,” Frank said. “Now, they have two classrooms and two washrooms. The school was recently used by residents due to bad floods. Besides educating the students, the school is used to teach people to farm and provide for themselves. The school also provides meals for 65 children every day.”
Frank spoke of the wonderful work in Kenya being carried out by missionaries Aaron and Erica Kenny, of Canadian Baptist Ministries. The Brookfield Baptist Church helps support the Kennys.
A minister for 65 years, Rev. Frank, a Brookfield native, was the author of “History of the Brookfield Baptist Church 1862-2006.” In 2012, he wrote the play “How The Church Began.” Hazel, the former Hazel Sharpe of Bass River, taught school in Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Alberta.
True Christians, Frank and Hazel are loved by people far and near.
Lyle Carter’s column appears every second Tuesday in the Truro Daily News. If you have a column idea, contact him at 902-673-2857.
