A man known and respected by the CF Community, Frank Hopkins, passed away last Friday. I attended the funeral today. Frank's Obituary is posted online. While Frank spent more time with my father and my father's friends, as an outsider I held much respect for Frank. While listening to people share about Frank, I started crafting my own Ten Things.
Ten Things I Admired About Frank Hopkins:
10. Business Owner. Frank understood the business model. Knew how to work it. He was interested in the bookstore and C28, and oftentimes gave advice on what direction to take.
9. Visionary. Frank was the type of guy that never stopped, never settled. His goal was to do better in all things.
8. Workaholic. It's one thing to be a visionary that sees things, but doesn't work to achieve them. That cannot be said of Frank. The man was driven in home life, business, and ministry. People look at my life and say "Jeff, how do you have time for everything?" I looked at Franks life and asked him, "Frank, how do you have time for everything?" Seeing what he's done reenergizes me in that I still have resources to give to the Kingdom.
7. Controlling Chaos. If you've ever seen or been a part of a SHARE program at CF, you know this is true. Frank's management style was not "order". It was bringing "order to chaos".
6. Genuine. There were no surprises with Frank. You knew what you were getting. You may not always like what you get, but you knew it was coming. I bumped heads with Frank a couple times in my young life. At the end of the day, I respected the man even more because during those arguments, it was clear that Frank disagreed, but he still respected me. And I respect that.
5. Maven. Read Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell. Frank was the epitome of a "Maven". He knew everyone, but more than that... if you came to him with a problem, he would know how to fix it or who you needed to talk to to get it fixed. He collected resources for the purpose of helping others.
4. Servant Heart. Looking from the outside, I never got the impression Frank's ministry was about Frank. It was about impacting the City of Miami-Dade for Christ. He strove to meet their spiritual needs, but was very Missional by meeting their physical needs first.
3. Man of Faith, Biased to Action. There was never a doubt that God is in control of Frank's life. He was a man of strong faith. But Frank was driven by James 2:14-17...
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead..
2. Entrepreneurial Spirit. When Frank saw a need, he would find a resource to fill it. If he found an unused resource, he would find a need that it could fill. NOTHING was ever wasted with Frank.
1. Aggressive. Read: Pit Bull for the Kingdom. Frank wasn't afraid to bark. When he saw things weren't right, he wasn't afraid to say what he thought. If it required work, though, Frank was the first in line.
God, thank you for the lessons you've taught through Frank's life. Let him enjoy the rest that he so much deserves. Frank, we'll see you soon.
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