Pastor Henry Barry
Theology and Call to Ministry
My conversion and call to ministry was in 1982 while attending Fitchville Baptist Church. Struggling with the addictions of this life was taking its toll and I often felt like an aimless vagabond. Through this sense of emptiness I appealed to the Lord Jesus to save me from my hopelessness. I committed my life to the Lord was baptized and started growing in the faith.
Theologically, I was justified and began the process of sanctification being made holy, by the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit. Through teaching a third grade Sunday school class I started to grow in the word. Eleven years later in 1993 I entered Seminary of East in the Master of Divinity program finishing in July 1998. I received a call to pastor Faith Community Church in October 1998.
Theology of Ministry
Theology of Ministry must be Biblical and according to the Lord’s mandate in the Great Commission,
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Matthew 28:18-20 |
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18 And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. |
The Lord is the Founder and architect of the church,
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Matthew 16:18-19 |
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18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. |
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Matthew 28:18 |
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And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. |
Matthew 28:19 |
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Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: |
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Matthew 28:20 |
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Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. |
The Scriptures reveal the purpose making disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all the things the Lord commanded the disciples.
Theologically I believe it takes Commitment to the Great Commission. The Greek constructions relating to going, making disciples, baptizing and teaching are imperative and participles meaning mandate.
The gospels reveal the Lord ‘s mission relates to seeking and saving through His person and work
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Luke 19:10 |
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For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. |
He justifies and sanctifies through the Holy Spirit through evangelism.
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1 Corinthians 15:3-4 |
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3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: |
Through evangelism and the proclaiming of the above Scriptures, the Holy Spirit brings conviction and conversion through the Holy Spirit,
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John 16: 8-11 |
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8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. |
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Reaching the Multitudes through Preaching and Teaching
The gospels reveal that the Lord was first reaching the multitudes through preaching and teaching.
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Matthew 4:23 |
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And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. |
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Matthew 9:35 |
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And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. |
Apostolic Church
The apostles continued the mission of discipling the multitudes through preaching and teaching with worship and fellowship the outcome.
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Acts 2:42-47 |
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42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
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Apostolic Succession
The Apostle Paul in his pastoral letter to Timothy and the church at Ephesus likewise points toward apostolic succession in the mission.
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Ephesians 4:11 |
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And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; |
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Ephesians 4:12 |
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For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: |
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2 Timothy 2:2 |
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And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. |
Purpose Statement
I believe the Scriptures reveal the purpose is to continue in the apostolic mission. The purpose is to worship God by preaching, teaching and reaching the multitudes with the gospel in order to extend and expand the Kingdom of God.