BARNABAS is one of the lesser known of the apostolic missionaries who was scattered abroad from Jerusalem when persecution was begun against the infant Christian church, but judging from the few scriptural passages making reference to him, he must have been a successful trainer of ministers—young ministers.
Barnabas means "son of consolation" (Acts 4:36), and what a kind, compassion ate, and understanding minister he must have been. First we find him successfully interceding for Saul of Tarsus when the other apostles feared to accept or believe in the conversion of the former persecutor of Christians (Acts 9:26-27). Later we read that it was Barnabas who traveled from Antioch to Tarsus "for to seek Saul" (Acts 11:22-26). Obviously it was Barnabas who recruited Saul for the ministry and helped foster his ministry until he became the "apostle Paul." Although we find no record that Barnabas was a great winner of souls, yet how rich and fruitful was his work of preparing others (the chief of whom was Paul himself) to become effective soul winners.
Spirit of Prophecy counsel and the manuals of the Seventh-day Adventist Church tell us that young ministers are to be trained by older, successful, God-fearing ministers who are to foster the growth of the younger men in soul winning. Here we find Barnabas, son of consolation, to be an outstanding example. Youthful John Mark, the ministerial intern accompanying Paul and Barnabas on their initial missionary journey, got cold feet when the party encountered hardships in Asia Minor and turned back. To Paul this was an unpardonable act, and he refused the request of Barnabas to take Mark on another campaign. Paul saw in Mark no possibilities for the ministry, for he was unlike Paul's favorites, Timothy and Titus. But Barnabas was a wise and compassionate veteran minister who saw in Mark, despite his defects, possibilities for the ministry. The last direct mention of Barnabas in Scripture is in Acts 15:39 where we read, "And so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus."
A Trainer of Ministers
Barnabas, son of consolation, was successful as a trainer of ministers where Paul failed. Paul took only those who showed good promise, but Barnabas took Mark, a young man who had failed once, and in a patient, fatherly way cultivated and trained him until he developed a minister of whom Paul could write to Timothy years later, "Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry" (2 Tim. 4:11).
Oh, that each of us now counted as ministers could be a Barnabas, diligently cultivating younger men to make them profitable for the ministry! Surely such efforts are greatly needed, for while the cause of God on earth can always use our financial support, our crying need is for men—men who will take the gospel of Christ and preach it to all the world. Truly we now see fulfilled before our very eyes the Master's prophecy, "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few." We need to heed the Lord's counsel and pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth more laborers, for every division of our church organization is in need of ministers. In many instances the lack of ministerial workers holds back the advancement of God's work. Where can we find new ministers?
The Ministerial Association of the Middle East Division, after noting that in recent years few students at our Middle East College were studying for the ministry, sent out a questionnaire to each minister in the field to ascertain, if possible, what factors lead men to enter the ministry. While this division is relatively small in membership and number of workers, yet the results of the questionnaire may well parallel those of other areas.
Significant Results of the Questionnaire
1. Little, if any, difference was noted between questionnaires of national or over seas workers, thus indicating that men who find their way into the ministry tend to do so from the same basic factors.
2. On the average, a man is 16.5 years old when he initially entertains the idea of becoming a minister. Therefore, we must begin looking for prospective ministerial students before their college years, while they are still in academy.
3. In 35 percent of those interviewed, father or mother were a major influence in helping men decide for the ministry, this fact thus showing the need for ministers to help build strong Christian homes in our churches.
4. In indicating whether the influence of their own pastors upon their decision to enter the ministry was negative, neutral, influential, or very influential, it was shown that:
Three percent were negative, 32 percent were neutral, 26 percent were influential, and 38 per cent were very influential.
A disturbing fact stands out in the above data: Thirty-two percent felt their pastors had no influence on them and 3 percent had a negative influence as far as leading these men to want to become ministers is concerned. How unfortunate! But hope fully it was clearly demonstrated that pas tors played an important role in the lives of many men now in the ministry, for 64 percent of those questioned credited their pastor as being a significant factor in forming a desire in them to enter the ministry. Thank God for those ministers who per formed like Barnabas in making men profitable for the ministry.
The Barnabas in My Life
Part of a man's duty as a minister is to be like Barnabas by making young men profitable to do God's work. As you and I (ministers) review our own experience, we will most likely find some older minister who did that for us. From early childhood I dreamed of becoming a doctor, but when I was fourteen my childhood pastor, R. F. Bresee, became a Barnabas to me when he stopped me in the hall of Eugene Junior Academy. Placing his hand upon my shoulder, he solemnly said these words I will never forget, "Curtis, perhaps you should become a minister." Those words kept ringing in my mind, until two years later my pastor and Bible teacher at Loma Linda Academy, Charles Baker, asked me to share the Sabbath sermon hour at the Hill church with a young woman class mate. After I gave that initial sermon, that godly teacher called me into his office to offer words of encouragement toward my entering the ministry. I still declared my self for the practice of medicine, but I had met my second Barnabas.
The next year found me at Laurelwood Academy, with H. A. Peckham as pastor and Bible teacher. Somehow this man of God was impressed to become a third Barnabas to me. He got me involved in a Sabbath morning ministerial seminar, speaking in small churches, and even preaching at one or two of the evangelistic meetings he conducted near the academy. After giving a talk during the student Week of Prayer while a senior, I felt Pastor Peckham put his hand on my shoulder as he looked steadily at me and said, "Young man, your calling is to the gospel ministry." By now I, too, was convinced, and it was mainly because three ministers in my life had been like a Barnabas to me.
Fellow minister in Christ, I do believe that one of the best ways of influencing more young men to enter the ministry is to be found in us as ministers. Pastor, be like Barnabas as you inspire your young men by passing on to them the mantle of the gospel ministry!
