Dear Suncreek Family,barry.jpg

I hope this finds you all well and enjoying the blessings of fellowship at Suncreek. I just wanted to send a note to say how excited Melody and I are to be appointed to your church.  One of my colleagues said to me the morning after I met with your Staff Parish Relations Committee, “Well, you sure look happy!” I replied, “Indeed I am. Let me tell you where I am going July 1!”

Over the time we have been in the area, Melody and I have been active at Spring Valley United Methodist Church. I have preached regularly, taught Sunday School classes, led Wednesday night courses on Methodism, and been blessed to performed weddings, funerals and baptisms. I sing in the choir and a male quartet, serve communion for the closing of Disciple classes, and have even taught in Vacation Bible School and Children’s Worship Arts Camp.  I am part of a preaching and worship ministry at a nearby assisted living facility where I regularly preach and share Holy Communion. I started a class for young adults in 2014 which now has around 40 members. Several of the members have already taken leadership positions in the church. I am quite honored to have been a part of their journey.

At Perkins, I lead the Friday morning communion service every other week, which includes a sermon and the sacrament. Through my work as Professor of Supervised Ministry and Associate Director of the Intern Program, I am in 15-20 different congregations each year; working with the intern, the Mentor Pastor and a Lay Teaching Committee for a nine month period. I have preached in many churches in the Dallas area and in other cities in Texas, as well as delivering sermons from Sedona, Arizona to Little Rock Arkansas. What can I say? I’m a preacher with a pastor’s heart. I also lead two Spiritual Formation classes each year for incoming students.

The opportunity to minister to you each week, starting July 1, is a gift from God. I have worked hard to keep my pastoral and preaching skills fresh and my understanding of congregational life current so that I would be ready when the call came. The call has come, and I couldn’t be happier.

Thank you for the chance to say hello and to share a little about my ministry.

With an Expectant Heart, 
Barry