Henry “Hank” Bryant, 73, went to be with the Lord Aug. 8, 2014, in Grenoble, France. In 1967 he married Alice Frantz and they served the Lord together with Crossworld UFM International for 46 years in France. He earned his ThM from Grace Seminary in 1966, having graduated from Princeton University in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering. While at Grace, he attended Pleasant Valley Church (now Community Bible Church, a life-long supporter of Hank’s ministry), where he met Alice Frantz, a graduate of Claypool High School (class of 1961), Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, and Grace College class of 1966. Alice is the daughter of Earl and Ruth Frantz, South County Farm Road, who are both deceased; and the sister of Robert Frantz, also from South County Farm Road near Warsaw, and of Beth Frantz Murray, Pennsylvania. He used his many skills, both academic and manual, to further God’s work in France and in the French-speaking world. His ministry included teaching, speaking, discipleship, training church leaders and laypeople, and translation. He also served with his hands, providing invaluable assistance in a country where resources for Christians were scarce; he remodeled, designed and built several churches and student ministry centers. He built a print shop and was one of the founders of a French Christian publishing house, a combined effort of Crossworld and Grace Missions addressing the scarcity of Christian literature available in France. He authored 10 books in French, including three commentaries and several books designed to present the Gospel in the context of difficult issues. His most widely read work, on the problem of suffering, is “Si Dieu est bon, Pourquoi la Souffrance, I’Injustice?” (“If God Is Good, Why Is There Suffering and Injustice?”). He helped establish a campus ministry at the University of Grenoable, with which he served for decades. That ministry became a model for several other university works throughout France. He was a beloved teacher, discipler and mentor, sought out for his love and knowledge of the Scriptures and his ability to explain them clearly. Some of the words most often used to describe him are gentlenesss, wisdom, humility, service and perseverance. These traits were further exemplified during his long battle with lung cancer the last nine years of his life, which he lived with grace and trust in his Lord. Surviving are his wife, Grenoble, France; three sons: Dan, Dakar, Senegal; Marc, Glendale, Calif.; and David, Seattle, Wash.; one daughter, Laura Hanford, Fairfax, Va.; their spouses; 13 grandchildren; and one brother.
