When Frank Shirvinski reached his 50s, he began sensing a shift. After decades spent in aerospace engineering and full-time ministry, he found himself drawn back to the simple question that had guided him since his youth: how can I help people understand Scripture for themselves?
It was not a dramatic crisis or a sudden upheaval that redirected his purpose. Instead, it was a quiet realization that his greatest contribution at this stage of life would come not from leading a congregation, but from equipping others to grow in their faith.
“I have always been curious,” Frank said. “I like to understand things at their foundation. That is how I approached engineering, and later how I approached the Bible. Now I want to help others gain that same confidence in studying Scripture.”
That spark has grown into a flourishing second-act calling. Today, Frank writes Bible study guides, children’s books and devotional resources through Purpose Press, a company he launched with his daughter, Abigail.
What began as a simple idea has become a deeply meaningful way for him to encourage believers of all ages.
The quiet turning point
Frank did not expect his life to take its current direction. After years working in ministry, he stepped away from full-time church leadership around 2018.
He loved shepherding people, but he felt a growing tension as more and more of church life became about budgets and administrative details.
“I reached a point where I realized I wanted to serve the church, but not be part of the payroll structure anymore,” he explained. “So much of a church budget goes to salaries. I wanted more of the resources to go directly into ministry, local outreach and missions.”
Stepping away from paid ministry gave Frank room to breathe, reflect and rediscover his passions. He still preached occasionally and taught whenever he was invited, but the change opened space for something new.
Around that same time, Frank’s lifelong love of learning resurfaced with new intensity. He found himself drawn again to biblical languages, spiritual formation and creative teaching.
Instead of preparing weekly sermons, he could dig deeper into Scripture without rushing. Best of all, instead of working inside just one congregation, he could develop resources that reached many people.
“When I left full-time ministry, I knew I was not leaving my calling,” he said. “I was simply expressing it differently.”
A providential return to engineering
The transition might have felt uncertain if not for one unexpected blessing. During the pandemic, Frank reached out to a former supervisor from his early engineering career, whom he had not spoken to in 25 years.
He thought the conversation might lead to a contact or short-term project. Instead, it led to a full-time job.
“He said, come work for me,” Frank recalled. “It was such a clear answer to prayer.”
The position allowed Frank to work from home, design satellites again and enjoy a stable schedule that supported his creative work. Instead of choosing between ministry and engineering, he found a way to blend both.
“This job gave me the flexibility to write, teach and serve the church in ways I had always wanted,” he explained. “It was a gift and still is.”
A new season of writing and teaching
With time and energy available again, Frank teamed up with his daughter to create Purpose Press. Abigail brought creativity, design and a keen sense for what younger believers were seeking. Frank brought decades of theological study and a teacher’s heart.
Working together across generations became one of the most meaningful parts of his new mission.
“It is wonderful to create something with your child,” he said. “We see things differently, but that makes the work better. She helps me shape things so they are relevant for people who are exploring faith, and I bring the biblical foundation.”
Their first publications included a women’s prayer journal and two children’s books featuring a character named Rosie. Each story illustrated a gentle spiritual lesson drawn from everyday life.
In “Rosie and the Rattling Cup,” Frank tells the story of a moment with his daughter when she was 5 years old. After passing a man in a wheelchair seeking spare change outside a baseball game, young Abigail looked up and asked, “Who was that?” Frank realized she saw a person where he saw only a cup.
“That question stuck with me,” he said. “It reminded me that generosity is not just about giving money. It is about seeing people.”
The second book, “Rosie Finds Joy,” focuses on gratitude and the simple pleasures of relationships during the holidays. Both books include watercolor illustrations by an artist in Ukraine, which allowed Purpose Press to support someone living in difficult circumstances.
Creating resources for deeper study
The book blends Scripture with stories, questions and practical insights to make group discussions more meaningful. A companion leader’s guide offers tools for facilitating conversations, encouraging participation and helping groups move beyond surface-level sharing.
While the children’s books reached families, Frank also wanted to help adults grow in their understanding of Scripture. That led to the creation of “Toward the Horizon,” a 10-lesson small group guide based on the Gospel of Matthew.
“I have seen a lot of small groups over the years,” Frank said. “People mean well, but sometimes the discussions stay shallow. I wanted to help leaders guide their groups into real study while still keeping it accessible.”
Each lesson includes a story that brings the biblical theme into the context of everyday life. These stories make the material approachable for people who may feel intimidated by Scripture or unsure where to begin.
“It is important that people feel confident when opening the Bible,” Frank said. “When they understand how to study it, it changes their spiritual life.”
Helping people read the Bible with confidence
Frank’s most ambitious project, “The Trail,” took more than 20 years to complete. The two-volume resource guides people through the entire Bible in 320 days in a format that honors the flow of each story.
Instead of following standard chapter breaks, Frank returned to the original languages to determine where each narrative naturally begins and ends. The readings are paired with space for notes, questions and insights. The design encourages readers to not just finish the Bible, but to engage with it.
A companion podcast provides daily commentary and reflections, offering guidance for new and seasoned believers.
“My goal is to encourage people to read Scripture in a way that feels manageable and meaningful,” he said. “Some will read all four tracks. Others may start with just the New Testament. The important thing is to begin.”
Passing faith to the next generation
Frank and his wife recently learned they will soon become grandparents, which adds new joy and purpose to this season of life. The children’s books he created with Abigail will now become stories he can share with a new generation.
“There is something special about reading to a child,” Frank said. “These simple moments can shape their faith for years.”
He believes grandparents have a significant role in spiritual formation, especially in today’s culture where distractions compete for attention and fewer families participate regularly in church.
“When you sit down with a child and read a story or talk about Scripture, you are planting seeds,” he explained. “Those seeds matter.”
Living with purpose after 50
Frank’s message for others entering the second half of life is simple. Meaning comes from curiosity, service and intentional living.
He encourages people to keep learning, remain active, and limit the noise that comes from endless screens as well as social media. He also believes that purpose is found in serving others, whether through teaching, mentoring or small acts of kindness.
“You are never too old to start something new,” he said. “If God has given you gifts, then use them. Do what you love in a way that helps others. That is where fulfillment comes from.”
For Frank, the combination of engineering, writing and teaching allows him to serve both the church and the world in a way that fits who he is today.
“I want to help people understand the Bible,” he said. “If I can do that, then I am doing exactly what God has called me to do in this season of life.”
For more information
People can connect with Frank on these platforms:
- Website = www.purpose-press.com
- LinkedIn = www.linkedin.com/in/frank-shirvinski
- Substack = purposepress.substack.com
- X = www.x.com/Purpose_Press
Frank’s books, “Rosie and the Rattling Cup” and “Rosie Finds Joy” can be found on Amazon and in other bookstores. If you are interested in starting a plan to read the Bible in 2026, you can find The Trail: A Journey Through the Bible at purpose-press.store.
If you order a book from a link above, Forward From 50 may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
