Frank Cole (1925~2015) A Journey of Dependance on God
Frank Edward Cole was born in Chicago, IL on Oct. 28, 1925 to Francis and Ruth Cole. He grew up in the western suburbs of Illinois, graduating from Glenbard High School in Glen Ellyn, IL. At age 13 he believed in the Lord Jesus Christ at Boys Brigade camp, and began attending First Baptist Church of Glen Ellyn, IL where he was baptized in early 1944 . His senior year of high school he was voted most valuable player in the Chicago area baseball league in which he pitched. He considered professional baseball and art as career possibilities, but ultimately sensed God leading him into overseas missions. Frank often told the story of how his pastor relentlessly prodded him to apply to Wheaton College in the neighboring town. But having graduated in the lower third of his class, he thought there was no way of being accepted. Still his pastor pushed him saying, "If it's God's will, you'll get in." Finally the day before Fall classes started he went to the college to submit an application, and to his great surprised, was accepted (by accident he thought) without delay.
In 1944 Frank was drafted into the Navy, from which he was honorably discharged as a
Signalman 3rd Class 26 months later. While in the Navy and stationed in San Diego, Frank experienced a brush with death through a severe case of pneumonia. His faith was strengthened by the strong sense of God's presence during this ordeal. Also during this time, his unit shipped out for amphibious warfare in the Pacific without him, which likely resulted in his life being spared. He was then sent to Missouri University (Columbia) and Northwestern University for Officers' Training. After his discharge, he returned to Wheaton College, where he majored in Bible and History. Already General Douglas MacArthur's famous call for missionaries to serve in Post-War Japan was stirring the hearts of thousands of Christian young people. Frank responded by committing his life to missionary service in Japan.
It was during archeology class his senior year that he sat behind Evelyn Clingan. One day in the cafeteria line, he found himself next to Evelyn and casually asked what she was doing after graduation. When she replied she wanted to become a missionary in Japan, Frank moved her to the top of his "To Date" List. Before the school year was over the two were engaged, and then married in June, 1950. Before the wedding, Frank studied for a year at the newly formed Fuller Seminary in Pasedena, California, after which, he and Evelyn attended Columbia Bible College Graduate School. Frank and Evelyn were accepted as
missionaries of the Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society, and in late 1952 they were steaming across the Pacific toward Japan.
After two years of language study, in April of 1955, they headed toward the unevangelized northeast seacoast of Japan, known as the "Tohoku". Here they worked with Lorraine Fleischman, Virginia Bowen, and the George Martindale family to start a church. Meanwhile, Frank also was working with Mo Sabina to launch a publishing ministry focusing on theological education resources. This came to be called "Seisho Tosho Kankokai". In December, 1956 their only child, "Timmy", was born. A year later, they went on their first "furlough" back to America.
Upon returning to Japan in 1958, they moved to Sendai, until returning to Ishinomaki in 1961. Evelyn was plagued with health issues starting in the late '50s, and had surgeries every few years until 1970. But there were mission agency "issues" as well, involving conflicts between "the Field" of which Frank was often the leader, and "the Home Office". This situation became increasingly unworkable to the point where Frank and Evelyn chose to resign in conjunction with their 1963 furlough. During this furlough, spent in Royal Oak, Michigan. Timmy believed in Jesus and was baptized.
In mid-1956 the Coles had bought a plot of land in Karuizawa, Nagano Ken, which was divided 3 ways, and cabins built. It was to this location the Coles returned in the summer of 1964, in time for the Tokyo Olympics. Frank and Evelyn attended Japanese language school, while Tim attended the local elementary school. In 1965 the Coles moved to Iruma, Saitama Ken, to fill in at a church started by Harry and Betty Smith for one year. Finally, on Sept. 30, 1966, the Coles moved to Nakayama, a Yokohama suburb, where they would live until Evelyn's death in 1994. Their church planting there began with a Sunday afternoon English class + Bible study on Sunday, Nov. 13, 1966. Along with church planting,
Frank and Evelyn taught a variety of courses at Japan Bible Seminary in Tokyo and Kyoritsu Women's Bible School in Yokohama. Frank's specialty was Apologetics (Christian Evidences) and Evelyn's were Christian Education and Christian Home. Frank also served as interim pastor at Zama Baptist Church.
In the mid '70s Frank and Evelyn began helping a church start in Tamagawa Gakuen (in Machida). Then in early Oct. of 1977, meetings were begun in the neighboring town of Kamoi. These would grow into the Matsumigaoka Christ Church, and the Kamoi Bible Church respectively. Tim married Katie on April 5th, 1980 and Frank and Evelyn's first grandson Levi arrived on Aug. 1983. A year later Tim and Katie started camp ministry in Karuizawa, where Silas was born in 1985, and Emma in 1987. Then in 1988 they moved to Nakano, Nagano Ken, to begin church planting, while Frank and Evelyn continued church work and teaching in Yokohama. Two more grandchildren were born in Nakano, Amos in 1990, and Caroline in 1992. In the Fall of 1994, Evelyn was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. After being in and out of the hospital in Japan, she and Frank returned to the US the following spring, where she passed away Oct. 16, 1994. At this time, Frank moved to his Karuizawa house, while continuing to teach at JBS, and spending
weekends with Tim and his family. It was also around this time that he began to show the early signs of Dementia.
In 1997, Frank retired from active ministry in Japan, and moved to McMInnville, OR. It was here that he spent his final 18 years of life. While still healthy, even though his memory was failing quite badly, Frank would take friends on long drives, and would drive around the US by himself visiting family and friends. All his life Frank had been fond of telling jokes. Now, he listed his favorite jokes in his pocket notebook. Upon visiting someone, he would often ask "I'm sorry but...how do I know you?". Then he would tell as many jokes from his notebook as people would let him. As his Dementia advanced, Frank first moved into assisted living, and then memory care. His increasing loss of memory frustrated him no end. And yet he was friendly and helpful to everyone. In 2006 Frank made his final trip to Japan in celebration of the Nakayama church's
40th anniversary. In 2009 he made his last long drive, with Tim, down the Oregon and California coast to spend Thanksgiving with Tim's family in L.A., including his great grandchildren Phoebe and Max. He never had the chance to see his other great grandson Phin. In the end, although Frank forgot almost everything he ever knew, he could usually identify Evelyn in a photo, and he never forgot Tim. By Frank's 89th birthday in 2014, he had lost most motor skills. Then a high fever in early Feb., 2015 took away his appetite and speaking ability. Frank slowly sank into a deeper and deeper sleep until going to be with his Lord on the morning of March 4th, 2015.
How will Frank Cole be remembered by those who loved and knew him most? He loved adventure and challenge in the outdoors, taking advantage of opportunities to fish, hunt, camp, hike, and explore whenever possible. He also had a great sense of humor, keeping his seminary students awake in class with jokes all numbered and listed in his notebook. His jokes and pranks were popular among cousins, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren as well.
He will be remembered as an outstanding teacher, organizing his content methodically and logically. And while he knew what his own beliefs were, he presented all sides of an issue with fairness and objectivity. A large number of Japan's pastors and Christian workers today have sat under his teaching. Members of the four churches he helped plant will remember his pastoral concern, his even spirit, and his love for ice cream. Frank was a man of purpose, integrity, and faithfulness. His lifelong motto was a quote from a poem by C. T. Studd, missionary to China: "Ony one life, 'twill soon by past, only what's done for Christ will last."
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