The Death of Rev Frank McInnes
I rise today to give tribute to the Reverend Frank McInnes, founder of Southern Cross Crusades, who died in Sydney on the 9th of August 2009, at the age of 89.
I knew Frank for many years. He was a WW2 veteran, where he served as an army tank driver. Upon his return to Sydney after the war he enrolled at the Sydney Missionary and Bible College, and volunteered with the ‘Open Air Campaigners’ (OAC) which had been founded in 1892 right here in Martin Place, with lawyer E P Field preaching the gospel to passers-by. In the early 1940s Frank worked for them, first as a volunteer and later full time, when he pioneered the use of a Gospel Wagon, an old converted pie wagon he got second-hand, to take the message to people wherever they were.
With the OAC teams Frank also took the gospel to the local beaches, reaching crowds of young people who had never had the opportunity to attend Sunday School. The teams also used music, drama, puppets, and object lessons to communicate clearly and powerfully to their audiences. One of his most popular illustrated messages featured the Titanic to demonstrate the story of the gospel, as he acted it out with a koala and platypus. His original style caught the eye of visiting and overseas pastors and he was frequently invited to be a guest preacher at the People’s Church in Toronto, Canada, as well as the Teen Ranch, Mill Valley Ranch, the Outback Patrol Institute and youth conferences.
He met his future wife, Betty, when she was the Secretary to the then Superintendent of Wesley Mission, Dr Rayward, and in 1949 after they married, Frank and Betty moved to Queensland to found a branch of the Open Air Campaigners there.
Eventually Frank was named the OAC National Director and based back in Sydney. In 1982 it changed its name to Outreach and Church Ministries, but by 1958 he had resigned, and begun his work in the medium of radio. Radio station 2CBA-FM was the first Australian Christian FM radio station, where Frank was a Founder and Chairman of the Board for many years. ‘CBA’ stood for ‘Christian Broadcast Association’ and in 2008 the station changed their name to “Hope 103.2 FM”. But back then his regular Sunday morning radio program, “Christian Growth”, was on the air every week for 27 years. He also had for many years a popular newspaper column in the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader called ‘Five Minutes with Frank’,
Frank’s preaching and teaching ministries were also focused on pastorates including the South Cronulla Congregational Church for 12 years from 1962-1974, the Board of Evangelism for 2 years, and then at Sylvania Uniting for 2 years where he was responsible for bringing my now son-in-law, Ron Schepis, to faith, baptising him in the sea. After that Frank continued in active guest preaching for the next 20 years. At this time Frank and Betty became regular members of my Sunday evening congregation at Wesley Mission. He was of great encouragement to me, and every week we discussed my sermons and evangelistic outreach.
Frank’s wife Betty died in 1997 and his second marriage was to Kay Scott two years later. Kay was a highly accomplished banker and teacher and a wonderful wife for Frank. Frank and Kay were active in the Wesley Mission and at the Uniting Church in Double Bay. Frank is survived by Kay, his four children, eleven grandchildren and one great grandchild. On Friday 28 August, a Thanksgiving Service was held in Wesley Church Sydney and many of the people who were touched by Frank’s ministry attended to celebrate his life.
And I see that on the OAC website it has the announcement in large bold print, coloured a festive bright red: “Latest news: Frank McInnes Promoted!” announcing his entry into heaven and proclaiming that ‘heaven will be different now that Frank is there!’ and that to me reflects the real joy of the Christian perspective of life. However, back here, he will be greatly missed.
