Kirk grew up in Papua New Guinea (PNG) amongst the Kewa people as a missionary kid (MK). As an adult, he joined Wycliffe US as a media-communications specialist and served with SIL International and the local Bible Translation Association. While in PNG, Kirk met and married Christine from NSW who was teaching at SIL’s primary school. Later Kirk served with Wycliffe Australia in media-communications, governance and executive leadership roles.

From 2008-2020, Kirk was the Executive Director of the Wycliffe Global Alliance—comprised of over 100 organizations. Kirk is now involved in research, training and teaching where he draws upon his years of mission executive roles and leading organizational change in a global mission agency. Kirk uses an interdisciplinary approach through the fields of missiology, intercultural studies, missional leadership and globalization. Kirk and Christine attend Warrandyte Community Church. The Franklins have three adult married children and three grandsons.