InterVarsity Alumni - Frank Stenzel

Frank Stenzel retired from InterVarsity staff in June of 2006. This was the culmination of a long relationship with InterVarsity that began in 1959 when Frank entered California State University–Chico as a freshman. During his school career, Frank was active in InterVarsity, leading Bible studies and learning to help students grow in their relationship with Christ.

In 1969, Jim Berney, an InterVarsity staff member in California, recruited Frank for staff. Frank’s first assignment was to cover thirteen schools in an area from Bakersfield to Stockton.

Frank Stenzel retired from InterVarsity staff in June of 2006. This was the culmination of a long relationship with InterVarsity that began in 1959 when Frank entered California State University–Chico as a freshman. During his school career, Frank was active in InterVarsity, leading Bible studies and learning to help students grow in their relationship with Christ.

In 1969, Jim Berney, an InterVarsity staff member in California, recruited Frank for staff. Frank’s first assignment was to cover thirteen schools in an area from Bakersfield to Stockton. Over the years, more staff were added to the area and Frank could concentrate on fewer schools. Throughout his career with InterVarsity, though he had opportunity to take on supervisory and managerial responsibilities, Frank remained obedient to the calling of God to work directly with students on campus.

Frank also maintained an attitude of learning and being open to the leading of God. In 1984, after fifteen years on staff, Frank took a number of students to Urbana, InterVarsity’s Triennial Student Missions Convention, counseling them to listen to what God would tell them during the convention. Little did Frank know that God would also speak to him at Urbana, in a special way.

At the beginning of a plenary session, Frank entered the arena late and stood alone in the entrance ramp watching the Twentyonehundred Production video Friends, a presentation of international student work. In the comparative isolation of that arena entrance ramp, Frank felt as if God was talking to him alone, asking him to change his ministry focus to international students.

As soon as he returned to campus, Frank told his supervisor what had happened. Soon the staff team met to commission him for work with international students and Frank started his new ministry within a month.

Over the past twenty-one years Frank has befriended students from around the globe who have come to California State University–Chico. Frank developed a program of friendship partners, introducing local church members to international students. Through this program as well as house parties and retreats, he has helped the international students with their English, introduced them to the American culture, and most importantly, introduced them to Jesus.

Frank is humble in his acknowledgement of the help of others in his ministry. He specifically remembers three people: Jim Berney, Barbara Boyd, and Paul Byer. Jim was Frank’s first supervisor. “His wisdom, gentleness, clarity of purpose, and flexibility in allowing freedom of expression of individual gifts in diverse campus settings was appreciated by all he supervised. His affirmation of students and staff initiatives resulted in many fruitful campus ministries,” says Frank. Frank appreciates Barbara and Paul for their contribution to Bible study—Barbara for the inductive study method and her systematic, firm teacher training requirements, and Paul for his socratic teaching methods in the manuscript studies.

After he takes some time to clear out his files, Frank and his wife Shirley plan to travel, visiting the more than one thousand international students they have gotten to know over the years.