Frank van Dalen was born of Dutch immigrant parents in New Zealand. He grew up in New Zealand and obtained a law degree there before coming to the U.S. to study for the gospel ministry at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. There he met Emily Wilder whom he married in 1983. The van Dalens have three children (Christopher, Andrew and Laura).

Frank and Emily van Dalen joined the ARP Church in 1985 as missionary candidates for Pakistan. In 1986, they were sent to Pakistan, where they served for 12 years. Frank was involved in theological training and church planting in the city of Karachi – a city of over 12 million people and 26 ARP churches. Emily was involved in a ministry to foreign women in the Karachi Central jail, as well as a hospitality ministry to the many missionary families passing through the city.

In 1998, the van Dalens returned to the U.S. to become U.S.-resident missionaries-at-large with World Witness until December 2003. They were involved in: promoting missions in U.S. ARP churches; training and mentoring missionary candidates; assisting in the development of the ARP Connect ministry to Muslims in the U.S.; and member care of missionary families on home assignment in Columbia, SC.

Frank van Dalen began his appointment as Executive Director of World Witness on June 1, 2005.