90 Years With Jesus: Frank Mawler

Left: The Band: Frank Mawer sitting with his acoustic guitar, second from the left on the first row. Elizabeth Mawer is standing with her violin on the far left of the middle row. Fourth from the left is Pastor Philip Duncan, Chairman of the AOG (now ACC) movement from 1945 to 1950. While leading the movement, Duncan made the executive decision to start a ministry-training Bible college; in1948 establishing the Commonwealth Bible College, which is today Alphacrucis.

90 years with Jesus

A conversation with Sydney’s oldest living man

by Aziza Green

Frank Mawler can often be seen on a Sunday morning at Horizon Church, Sutherland Shire; wearing a Tweed jacket, button down shirt and smart trousers. With some help from a walking-frame and his son Barry (Horizon Church Elder), he is full of life and no less passionate about the things of God as the day he accepted Jesus as his Saviour in the 1930s. Born on 15 August 1912, Frank is heading for his 109th birthday and is the oldest living man in Sydney. At the age of 18, while working as a builder at a factory, his manager asked him if he attended church. It turned out his manager was a pastor of a Pentecostal church, named Philip Duncan. Despite Frank’s reservations, he went along one Sunday night to that pastor’s church, at the invitation of a girl named Elizabeth, who would years later become his wife. When the invitation to accept Jesus as the Saviour was given Frank said he, “went down to the front of the church” and accepted Jesus. That church would become Petersham

AOG, the first Assemblies of God (today Revive Church) in NSW and the third oldest church in our movement. That was just the beginning of Frank’s 90 years of walking with Jesus. Q: What was the church like when you were a younger man? Frank: The Pentecostal church was so different to the traditional form of church. There was a lot of very bright singing and clapping of hands. The pastor preached interesting subjects from the bible, so I became very interested. Q: What do you appreciate about the church today? Frank: They are always encouraging a lot of young people to come to church, which is a good thing. I believe they are on the right track. Q: How has your faith helped you to overcome difficulties over the years? Frank: I have passed through various good and bad times. I can remember when I was at a very low time in my building experience. The little scripture came, ‘Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.’ (1 Peter 5:7) It was a little text the Sunday School gave to the children, I can remember that clearly. It really helped me. I came out from a financial loss. I had to build my finances again and it took a long time, but God has rewarded me. Q: Why do you come to church on a Sunday morning? Frank: If I can’t get out of the house, I find it encouraging to watch Horizon on the computer. It is a bit better when you can get to the church, because you are surrounded by people; it makes my spirit come alive. The activity and the voices are uplifting. Q: What are you grateful for? Frank: My family are very supportive of me. My children were brought up in the Pentecostal church. Some are more keen than the others, but I would say, most of my children are believers. It comforts me to know they have a belief and background that has been solid for them.

Frank was married to Elizabeth for 71 years. Together they had 6 children, 13 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.