A Long Obedience
"Some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.” 3 John 1:3 (NIV)
Faithfulness - a long obedience in the same direction
He's 86 years old. His lovely wife for over fifty-five years now suffers from dementia. This year they left their home and moved to an assisted living community. The week of the move, the elderly man began a weekly Bible study at their new retirement home. He is often seen at Panera Bread with his Bible open and studying one to one with a younger man. Sunday night at our annual Thanksgiving service, the elderly man was the last one to the microphone saying, "I am grateful for our denomination and so glad we got to have a part in it." He takes God at His Word and claims Isaiah's words written some 2700 years ago, "Even to your old age and gray hair I am he. I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and rescue you." (Isaiah 46:4)
If I had only one word to describe Dr. Frank Barker, Pastor Emeritus of Briarwood Presbyterian Church (PCA), it would be the word "faithful." Webster's dictionary defines faithfulness as "steadfast in affection or allegiance." Author Eugene Peterson once defined faithfulness as "a long obedience in the same direction." Peterson's definition certainly describes Dr. Barker's life and legacy.
Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra, writing today for The Gospel Coalition, describes Dr. Barker's life and ministry over the last 60 years in her article "The Amazing Story of Frank Barker and Campus Outreach." Zylstra describes Barker's early life as a Navy pilot and his conversion to Christianity; his commitment to personal evangelism, discipleship training, and church planting; his vision for missions and community outreach; and his willingness to send out Briarwood's best people to plant other churches and ministries. Among the most successful of the 120 ministries begun by Briarwood is Campus Outreach, a collegiate evangelism and discipleship training ministry. Campus Outreach began on the campus of Samford University and now has 750 Campus Outreach staff serving on 122 campuses in 11 countries. In its 40 years, Campus Outreach has seen 55,000 students at evangelistic events; discipled 15,000 students over weekly Bible studies and worship times; and sent 1,447 students on to serve in ministry or missions. Campus Outreach franchises are as far north as Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota and as far east as Capitol Hill Baptist in Washington, D.C. The 18 international Campus Outreach campuses stretch from New Zealand to Peru.
Acknowledging Dr. Barker's confession that he had to train himself to evangelize others, Zylstra writes, "Barker had the zeal of a new convert and the discipline of a Navy pilot." Zylstra's article can be found at this link: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/amazing-story-frank-barker-campus-outreach/
On a personal note, our family has been profoundly impacted by Frank and Barbara Barker's lives and ministry. Here are just a few ways:
Meredith and Clay - the Barkers and their Men's Weekly Prayer Breakfast attendees prayed for their marriage and children long before Meredith & Clay were a couple. Dr. Barker performed their marriage ceremony and Barbara Barker directed their wedding.
Robert - was discipled first by Student Stampede staff as a high school student and then by Campus Outreach members while a student at Samford University. Robert's 9 week short term missions trip with Campus Outreach to Brazil and CO summer beach project trips were life changing.
James Bruce and the Briarwood Special Needs ministry - Dr. Barker listened to and acted on my plea for developing spiritual resources for special needs families. Once Dr. Barker said, "We're going in!" Briarwood was "all in" with Special Ones Sunday School, Special Ones Support groups, Special Ones VBS, Special Ones Camp Briarwood, Special Ones Respite, and more. Briarwood hosted a national Disability conference for equipping over 450 churches to begin Special Needs ministries.
Daniel - faithful weekly expository pulpit preaching and teaching
Faithfulness - a long obedience in the same direction- for 60 years. A mentor and a model of humility, prayer, and faithfulness.
Thank you, Dr. Barker!