Behind this successful relationship of 44 years, there is God. Meet 65-year-old, Pastor Steven Frank and his wife Premy Frank, aged 62.

You may have come across this God-fearing couple or even had the opportunity to listen in on their sermons at the Harvestime Tabernacle in Forderville.

Harvestime Tabernacle is part of the South African Evangelistic Mission (SAEM). The couple is originally from the south coastal parts of Durban and relocated to Estcourt in their late teens.

Pastor Steven, after completing his high school career, pursued his religious education with the American Bible School as part of a correspondence course, under the tutorship of Doctor David and Donna Haag, where he achieved a Diploma in Religious Education.
Both Pastor Steven and Premy were raised in homes where values and principles were instituted.

The match made in heaven got them married soon thereafter, sometime in 1973.

“Moving to a small town and not knowing many people can be very difficult, but when you are sent out to do the will of God, nothing can or will stand in your way,” explained the Frank couple in unison. Without a shadow of doubt the call was strong but we persevered despite the challenges (new town, baby boy, new ministry and not knowing anyone) the passion sustained us,” they added.

The Franks moved in with a widow, as arranged by a health inspector, and received hostile treatment at first. At the time the Forderville area had no full-time minister, so a need for a ministry was identified and met by the Frank family. The objective of the couple was to improve morality, lives of the impoverished and empower the community socially and spiritually.

They can boldly say they have achieved that and much more, as Harvestime Tabernacle recently celebrated 41 years since its inception.

“Lives were being changed; our mission was being accepted as the community began to acknowledge God,” they shared.

When asked what the couple does differently to achieve 44 years of flaming love, they answered: “Too many couples commit to one another only on the day of marriage when reciting their vows and God is never in the picture after that day, and that is the fault,” highlighted the Franks. This couple has made it a way of life to revisit their marriage vows.

“God instituted marriage in the very beginning of time. However we are very concerned about the couples within our town; marriage for them is taken lightly. Walking in the spirit; and yielding your love for each other is the key to success in marriage,” ensured the Frank couple.

The Franks urge newlyweds to remember God in all that they do and to reflect on that during this month of love. As the saying goes, ‘what starts right, ends right.’ Pastor Steven Frank and his wife have three children together, Emanuel their eldest son and twin boys Andrew and Anthony.

“We are blessed with five wonderful grandchildren and they are God’s way of rewarding us for not killing our children,” the couple joked. They affectionately repeat that their grandchildren are the joy of their lives.
The Franks say they will continue to step out into God’s boldness and help their congregants find purpose through the ministry at Harvestime Tabernacle.

It brings the church great joy to help others find their purpose in life, for where purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable. The church has many success stories of how their harvest is now gathering its crop.

The ministry of Harvestime Tabernacle has impacted lives in and beyond the borders of South Africa. This gives the Frank family great joy to know God’s mission is reaping what they have sown.

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