Interviewed for the Australian Missionary News IPTV by anchorman Mark Tronson, Frank Duracher explained that he grew up in New Orleans by his grand-parents who were Assembly of God preachers and he had in many ways an idyllic Christian child hood which was loving, positive and affirming.
He can still recall the day as a high schooler that he gave his life to Jesus Christ to become his Lord and Master, it was 9 May 1971 and even at that age he sensed in his Christian development the Call of God upon his life and moreover to the Salvation Army.
Frank attended a Salvation Army Corp (local church), played in the band, and attended their Corp Cadet Studies as a teen which led to a decision to have his life offered to Christ through the Salvation Army's Training College in Atlanta Georgia.
For twenty one years after graduation Frank and Libby Duracher served in Corps (local churches) pastoring congregations in different parts of the USA and the South Lands (Washington DC south to Texas). He loved the pulpit and caring for the peoples of those congregations.
This then led to the Salvation Army's editorial department's at both national and south lands regions and when the Salvation Army headquarters based in the United Kingdom contacted him to consider going to Australia to edit the Warcry, it came as a bit of a surprise.
Frank Duracher said that had anyone asked him twelve months prior to coming to Australia that this would have occurred, he would have laughed at them, he would not have believed it. He had never felt led to come 'down under'.
But he was aware that he would follow where the Lord directed him, and in that, there was no uncertainty. He had said that he would serve in an English speaking country in his editorial and writing gifts and when this came up, he and Libby prayed about it, but the answer was already given as they'd made a covenant before the Lord to be sent anywhere.
So In February 2011 they landed in Australia. Frank explained it took him only one day to adjust to driving on the other side of the road, but a whole lot longer to learn a new language that although it is English, it is not American nor are the cultures the same.
Rather, Australia is surprisingly different. Writing Australian English to convey the Gospel message of Jesus' Salvation is a wonderful challenge as the idioms and underlying philosophies of thinking are not the same at all.
Moreover Frank Duracher is loving the ministry here and living in such a dynamic place, yet in many respects, so similar. One of the delights he said of doing this interview is that he can send the link to his family and friends and ministry associates in the United States.
Mark Tronson says Frank and Libby has a desire for their friends to visit 'down under' and enjoy the Australian experience.
Frank Duracher's interview with the Australian Missionary News IPTV can be viewed on YouTube here