Frank Jenner (1903-1977) The evangelist of George Street

Frank Arthur ‘Bones’ Jenner was an Australian evangelist, born in England. His signature approach to evangelism was to ask people on George Street, Sydney,
If you died within 24 hours, where would you be in eternity? Heaven or hell?

Frank was born on 2nd November 1903 and raised in England. According to his posthumous biographer, Raymond Wilson, he was anti-authoritarian and during WW1, aged 12, sent to work on a ship for misbehaving boys. In South Africa he was bitten by a tsetse fly and contracted trypanosomiasis (a sleeping sickness) and in a coma for 15 days. He recovered but suffered from narcolepsy (sudden and uncontrolled episodes of deep sleep) for the rest of his life. He was never allowed to drive a car.

He joined the Royal Navy but deserted in New York to join the US Navy. Aged 24 he deserted again while in Australia. He then worked for the Royal Australian Navy until he bought himself out in 1937- with no pension. By this time he was into gambling and he kept a rabbit’s foot for luck - hence his nickname ’ Bones’.

While in Melbourne he met Charlie Peters who invited him to dinner. On 6th of July 1929 he married Charlie’s daughter, Jessie.

In 1937 he encountered a group of men from Glanton Exclusive Brethren. One was engaged in open-air preaching. Frank said he would listen to the good news if he could share his first -they played crap on the pavement. One of the brethren invited him to his home and he converted to Christianity.

Jessie thought he had become manic or insane and left him, taking their daughter Ann. Jessie then had boils and with care from the Brethren became a Christian. Frank and Jessie made up. He stopped gambling but money was tight-he was often unemployed because he would evangelize at his work place and get fired! Jessie then had a peptic ulcer and moved to India until she recovered.

In 1939 he was recalled to active duty and given a shore duties in Sydney.
After WW11 he was a janitor for IBM.

For the next 28 years Frank engaged in personal evangelism. He set himself the target of speaking to 10 people a day. He woke up at 5 am daily to pray. He kept a verse in his pocket* I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me* (Phil4:13)
He probably spoke with more than 100, 000 people - by opening with ‘If you die…’ on George Street and giving them Scripture tracts until he was debited with Parkinson disease.

In 1952 Rev Francis Willmore Dixon, from Bournemouth, decided to travel to Australia with his wife, Nancy. He had heard Peter Culver, his youth pastor, and Noel Stanton testify that Frank was the reason they were converted. They met Frank in 1953. Frank was now 50 and he cried when he heard for the first time that his evangelism had worked

Frank died of cancer in 1977.

By 1979 Dixon had discovered 10 people. Nancy, wrote The Jenner story

2000 Wilson published
Jenner of George Street: Sydney’s Soul-Winning Sailor
the true story of an extraordinary man