Tim Frakes Productions

Candace Minster – Spiritual Journey


This story reminds me of summer. Candace Minster is an Environmental Education Coordinator at the White Violet Eco-Justice Center, a ministry of the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-in-the-Woods, Indiana. I recorded this story for 30 Good Minutes, WTTW, Channel 11, PBS, Chicago on a blazing-hot summer day.

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Carrie Newcomer – 30 Good Minutes, Spiritual Journey

This is a spiritual journey I produced for 30 Good Minutes, WTTW Channel 11, PBS, Chicago. Singer and songwriter, Carrie Newcomer, drawn to the social justice and peace focus of the Quakers, writes songs about the sacred in the ordinary things of life.

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Sayira Khokhar Spiritual Journey, 30 Good Minutes


Sayira Khokhar – 30 Good Minutes – Spiritual Journey
This is a spiritual journey segment I produced for 30 Good Minutes, WTTW Channel 11, PBS, Chicago. Sayira is a young woman who grew up in Chicago and tasted the backlash of anti Muslim sentiment in the years following 9/11.

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Anna Hauge, Gifts of Grace


Here is a story I produced for Lutheran Life Communities Foundation. Anna Hauge was a Navy nurse on board the USS Tranquility, the hospital ship that rescued the survivors of the USS Indianapolis disaster in August, 1945. Anna is one of those unsung heroes who lived through an epic chapter in American history.

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HAPI: Madame Gabriel


My second visit to Haiti in 2011 was with Haitian Artisans for Peace International (HAPI). One of the many projects HAPI has going is Nouvel Etwal (New Stars). The New Stars help young Haitian girls develop self esteem and share their stories through dance. One afternoon we packed the girls in a van and drove to a nearby village to meet with a group of older adult women. One of these women, is a former professional carnival dancer. Many years have passed since Madame Gabriel danced on the big stage, but its clear from this video that she has moves and grace.

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Empowering Haiti: Let’s Hear it from the Girls


It’s back to Haiti in August. This time, I’ll be shooting footage for Haitian Artisans for Peace International (HAPI). HAPI was founded in March 2007 as a fair trade artisan co-op focused on spirituality and creativity. The marketing of the resulting art supports women’s economic development and empowerment.

HAPI Executive Director, Valerie Mossman-Celestin and my friend, photo journalist, Paul Jeffrey asked me to help with this project. The footage will be woven into a short documentary. “Let’s Hear it from the Girls” (working title) will connect the voice of girls in a rural Haitian community to touch us with stories, music and dance that convey the joys and challenges of growing up female in Haiti. The film will also capture the subtle messages of hope emerging from a dream that the community recognize the value and equality of girls and women.

We will be working in Mizak, a mountainous, rural section of La Vallee in South-East Haiti, 80 km south of Port-au-Prince and 12 km west of Jacmel. The total population is just over 35,000. Seventy percent are peasants living under the poverty level of less than $1 US per day, and 63% of the population is under the age of 18. There are no jobs available, no electricity, no telecommunication system, no plumbing, and no water filtration. The majority of households have no measurable income and they rely on system of barter and trade.

HAPI plans to make this DVD available as a teaching resource to folks in the United Methodist Church. The project is funded in part through a grant from the United Methodist Women’s organization.

Look for more in the coming days and weeks!

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Alianza Church, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Zac and Julie Stutler work with the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The Stutler’s and another husband/wife team, Jeff and Deborah Climie, launched a new congregation in this upscale resort community called Alianza. While recording footage for a project with the Alliance Women Ministries, I was able to put this video together for them.

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Rebuilt Homes for Haiti’s Disabled

James Mwangi is a building engineer volunteering with the Mennonite Central Committee, a partner of Church World Service in Haiti. Mwangi is part of a team that assesses damage and helps to rebuild the homes of Haiti’s dissabled.

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Rebuilt Homes for Haiti’s Dissabled

James Mwangi is a building engineer volunteering with the Mennonite Central Committee, a partner of Church World Service in Haiti. Mwangi is part of a team that assesses damage and helps to rebuild the homes of Haiti’s disabled.

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Moody Radio Testimonial: Carolyn Keith


Here is a story I recorded and produced for Moody Radio. Carolyn Keith’s life forever changed with the accidental death of her son. Through this tragedy Carolyn has learned what faith and hope are really all about.

Moody Radio owns and operates 35 radio stations with a Christian perspective on the news, interactive talk, teaching and inspirational music.

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