Frank Garrott
11 min read ⭑
“In Matthew 25:40, Jesus tells us that when we minister to the ‘least of these,’ we are ministering to him. Psalm 68:5 reminds us that God is ‘a father to the fatherless.’ We claim that promise on behalf of these desperate children.”
For many years, adoption has been a key passion in Frank Garrott’s heart. After a long, successful career in financial services, he pivoted to nonprofit work as the president of the Gladney Center for Adoption. Eventually, he started working with Both Ends Believing, a software company that helps developing countries place orphans in qualified, loving families.
In today’s interview, Frank opens up about how God supernaturally prepared his heart to work in the adoption world, the highs and lows of traveling to orphanages around the globe and what God has taught him about prioritizing what’s important over what’s urgent. You’ll also read about how Frank leaned into his delight in writing to create a book on finding God in rock and roll — plus his favorite ways to meditate on Scripture.
QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT
Food is always about more than food; it’s also about home and people and love. So how does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind your web bio?
Many people have thought about where they would like to enjoy their last meal. Unfortunately, for me, it’s a place that closed down in 2018, having operated at the corner of Know and Travis in Dallas since 1912 — the Highland Park Pharmacy. I imagine I ate there over 100 times, starting at about age 4, when my dad first took me, just like his dad did many years before, and like I did with my children many years later.
I can’t provide much of a view on the overall menu since I never ate anything other than a toasted chicken salad sandwich and a chocolate milkshake. To be clear about the latter, it is not squeezed out of a machine; it is hand-dipped. And it does not include malt, the only purpose of which is to ruin a good milkshake.
I still remember the names of the servers: Charlie, Sara and Sheila. When I lived away from Dallas for several years, I’d come home and sit down at the counter, and Sheila would serve me my lunch — no questions asked.
Some people may have thought the old-timey decor was designed by a decorator. Nope, it was simply what had been on the walls since World War II. Authenticity!
Maybe there is a Highland Park Pharmacy — heaven branch. I hope so. Instead of my last meal on earth, it will be my first meal in heaven, sitting at the counter with Dad.
Pyro Jenka; Unsplash
QUESTION #2: REVEAL
What “nonspiritual” activity have you found to be quite spiritual, after all? What quirky proclivity, out-of-the-way interest or unexpected pursuit refreshes your soul?
I work for a nonprofit called Both Ends Believing. We provide a technology platform to low-income foreign governments at no cost to enable them to transition the orphans and vulnerable children in their care from orphanages to qualified families who will give them love, a sense of belonging and the chance to live a fulfilling life.
As we now work in 18 countries, this has afforded me the opportunity to travel to Latin America, Asia and Africa. Most of my travels have been to Africa.
When I travel to these countries, part of me is exhilarated because I know our technology will give children living in an orphanage a digital identity, ensuring that they won’t get lost in the system.
The other side of the exhilaration coin is that it can be gut-wrenching. On a recent trip to southern Africa, I visited an orphanage for disabled children. The orphanage was severely under-resourced, and the children reflected it. As painful as this experience was, and others like it have been, I experienced a heightened spiritual awareness — evidence of a broken world and Satan’s trail of destruction. At the same time, I am overcome by the hope that characterizes the Christian faith. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus tells us that when we minister to the “least of these,” we are ministering to him. Psalm 68:5 reminds us that God is “a father to the fatherless.” We claim that promise on behalf of these desperate children.
QUESTION #3: CONFESS
Every superhero has a weakness; every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re all broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite, and how do you confront its power?
A well-known booklet from years ago titled “Tyranny of the Urgent” captures a major weakness of mine. The author drew the distinction between the urgent and the important, suggesting that most of us allow the urgent to crowd out the important. The urgent matters are essentially the daily tasks in front of us, while the important matters are relationships with God, family, our circle of friends and those in need whom we would serve.
As a Type A personality, I need this lesson drummed into me every day. I need to better enjoy the experience of allowing the important to push aside the urgent. I know in my head what really matters, but I need to get better at living it out.
This challenge exposes a deeper flaw in me. I’m not a very good lover — whether of God and of those closest to me. My relationship with God is characterized by trust, gratitude and contentment, but adoration is hard for me to muster.
Although my wife knows how deeply I love her, she has to graciously remind me to let what’s in my head — the feelings I have for her — come out of my mouth.
On the thinking-feeling spectrum, you can guess where I naturally land. But it’s no excuse for not outwardly demonstrating my love for God and for my family.
QUESTION #4: FIRE UP
Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your current obsession? And why should it be ours?
As noted in my response to the second question, I work for a nonprofit called Both Ends Believing. We aim to bring hope to orphans by helping them get placed in suitable families.
When I look back at my life, I can see how God orchestrated the events and redeemed painful trials: years of infertility, miscarriages and a stillborn daughter. That led us to adopt two children who thrive to this day. Eventually, I joined the Board of the adoption agency. As I was considering a dramatic shift from the corporate world to the nonprofit arena, I was asked to run the agency, which I did for 10 years.
During this time, I met the founder of BEB, joined his Board and, over time, transitioned to a staff position. Everything from infertility to my current position was God’s Plan A.
Writing was always something I enjoyed. I realized a few years ago that it had become my hobby, much like golf is for many of my peers.
I began to notice surprising aspects of the lyrics of rock and roll classics that made references to Jesus, several of which were spot on.
I felt a stirring in my heart to begin writing, and I was confident that I knew where that stirring was coming from — the Holy Spirit. So I persevered and finished my book, “Rock & Roll and the Rock of Ages.” I’ve got another one stirring inside me called “Headscratchers,” essentially all the bizarre things in the Bible that should actually convince a skeptic that it is the authentic Word of God, because if mere men were making up a story of God’s pursuit of his creation, it sure wouldn’t look like the Bible we read.
QUESTION #5: BOOST
Whether we’re cashiers or CEOs, contractors or customer service reps, we all need God’s love flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?
As noted in the previous response, I felt a stirring in my heart to write. For me, one way to sense that it is truly the Holy Spirit is that the stirring won’t go away. He’s kind of pushy!
Then as I started writing, I found myself searching for the right word, the right phrase, the most appropriate story, a powerful opening or close. Something clever would hit me, and I would ask myself, Where did that come from? My first inclination was that it was my own cleverness. But the realization set in that it was too ideal in terms of timing and content. Credit goes to the Holy Spirit!
About 25 years ago, I was in a Russian orphanage for teenage boys. I was still in the corporate world, but volunteered to go on this mission trip. It was only after I said yes that they informed me that my responsibility throughout the 10 days would be teenage boys. You can picture me sharing Scripture with them, trying to hold their attention.
What I remember at one orphanage was how bright the boys were and how they respectfully challenged me. Working with an interpreter, I found myself providing remarkably clear and compelling responses. Later that night, I asked myself, How did I do that? Aha, it wasn’t me.
Ministering to those boys was another piece of the puzzle of my life that led me to put the corporate world in the rearview mirror. And I’ve never looked back.
QUESTION #6: inspire
Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied habits that open our hearts to the presence of God. So let us in. Which spiritual practice is working best for you in this season?
I take time each morning to center myself on the Lord. While I love reading and studying the Bible, prayer is more of a discipline for me.
From reading the Bible for many years, I have embraced the notion of internalizing Scripture so that specific verses immediately come to mind when needed. A few examples:
When I am anxious about the day, I let play, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10).
When contentiousness arises between me and another: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood ...” (Eph. 6:12). I recognize that Satan has sneaked in there and stirred things up.
When life seems complicated and overwhelming: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Mic. 6:8) The Christian walk is not complicated.
While memorization may be the best way for some to internalize Scripture, for me, it’s more just a function of reading it a lot so that it plays in my head, much like my favorite songs that I play over and over. The lyrics have sunk in, become embedded, internalized. I find that analogous to the way Scripture sinks in for me.
I have read through the Bible a few times. I find more practical value in reading the Gospel of John often rather than checking the box to get through Leviticus. No offense, Leviticus!
I didn’t set out to internalize Scripture as a spiritual practice. I simply realized that it was happening and, therefore, named it.
QUESTION #7: FOCUS
Looking backward, considering the full sweep of your unique faith journey and all you encountered along the way, what top three resources stand out to you? What changed reality and changed your heart?
It’s a challenge to narrow the list of resources that have impacted my Christian journey. Certainly, the author who has had the greatest impact on me is Tim Keller.
But I’m going way back to the ’70s when I was a new Christian. I read a book titled “The Taste of New Wine” by Keith Miller. I began to see myself as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17) and appreciate the transformation that was taking place in my life. I realized my decision to follow Christ meant more than just smoothing out a few rough edges; it meant an overhaul.
Fast forward to about 2004. I was living in Connecticut and working in New York. I had enjoyed my years in the corporate world but began to feel a drain in my soul. I read Bob Buford’s book “Halftime” about transitioning from success to significance. It caused me to stop in my tracks and question what I was really passionate about. I shifted to the nonprofit arena, focusing on adoption and orphan care. To be clear, I firmly believe I could have been an effective ambassador for Christ in the corporate world my entire career. Nonetheless, I am grateful for God’s call to make the transition when I did and grateful for Bob Buford and his book that helped steer me toward living my passion.
Another resource is Christian praise music. Thanks to Alexa, I play Chris Tomlin, MercyMe and others. It lightens my mood and brings joy to the whole house.
Certain things can be godsends, helping us survive, even thrive, in our fast-paced world. Does technology ever help you this way? Has an app ever boosted your spiritual growth? If so, how?
As many would agree, technology can be used for good or evil. Naturally, working for a technology-focused nonprofit, which is empowering low-income foreign governments to bring the hope of family to their orphans and vulnerable children, I see and experience a powerful example of how technology can be used for good.
On the other hand, I choose to minimize my use of social media. The harm has been well-documented. Perhaps the most disturbing abuse is its use as a vehicle to enable child trafficking.
Certainly, there are positive stories of connection. But for me, it’s more distracting than beneficial.
More specifically, I don’t think I could do without the Bible app. I travel a lot to remote places. After losing my luggage twice on trips to Africa, I’m a firm believer in making do with a carry-on and a backpack. Thus, no room for my Bible. Instead, I carry the Bible on my phone.
When I’m on the other side of the world, this enables me to stay as consistent as possible with my quiet time. Moreover, it allows my wife and me to share our readings together when I’m away, especially through WhatsApp, which typically connects us when nothing else is working. I learned this from my African friends and colleagues who rely primarily on WhatsApp for communication.
I enjoy the benefits of technology and rest in the assurance that we serve a God who is a righteous judge and will deal with those who exploit technology for evil purposes.
QUESTION #8: dream
God’s continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?
I’m in the fourth quarter of life, but hopefully not in overtime.
Nonetheless, my dreams are still alive and well. I envision gradually winding down my work with Both Ends Believing as the travel is a beatdown. But I will stay involved as a volunteer.
I dream about my books gaining a wide audience — not for money or notoriety, but to point more people to Jesus and the Word of God. I use the word “books” loosely. I have only written one, but I do have a second one in process, and only God knows what may stir within me after that.
I dream of going to heaven. Since we are called to have an eternal perspective, I think it makes sense to dream and imagine what the next chapter will be like. Kudos to MercyMe for their beautiful song “I Can Only Imagine.” It makes the dream more vivid.
In Philippians 1:21, Paul says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” I never really liked the second half of that verse, but I’m coming around. I’m anxious to see what heaven is like and how the majesty of it dwarfs even my best dreams.
It made me chuckle that Frank has already planned out his first meal in heaven — a toasted chicken salad sandwich and a chocolate milkshake, shared with his dad. But it also makes me wonder: Do I dream of going to heaven, letting myself delight in the intricacies of what it may be like, the plans I’ll make, the people I’ll see and what I’ll talk about with Jesus? Do you, reader?
If not, maybe we should start. Heaven isn’t some faraway ideal that we only hope is real. It’s a place. It’s where the full presence of God dwells — and it’s where you and I and everyone else who puts their hope in Jesus will live one day.
So, like Frank, let’s allow ourselves to dream about it. To ponder its mysteries. To wonder what it will be like and what we will enjoy and whom we’ll see and how we’ll worship our good, good Savior. After all, if we can imagine it, we can start living in light of it today.
Frank Garrott enjoyed a lengthy career in financial services before transitioning to the nonprofit arena — first as the president of the Gladney Center for Adoption, then in various capacities with Both Ends Believing, all focused on improving the lives of orphans. Frank and his wife, Lynne, have five married children and two grandchildren. They live in Dallas and worship at Grace Church Lake Highlands. Frank did his undergraduate work at Duke University and his graduate work at the University of Texas at Austin.