Leroy Barber
Bio
Leroy Barber has dedicated more than 20 years to eradicating poverty, confronting homelessness, restoring local neighborhoods, healing racism, and living what Dr. King called “the beloved community.”
Leroy starts projects that shape society; In 1990, burdened by the plight of the Philadelphia’s homeless, he founded Restoration Ministries, to serve homeless families and children living on the streets. In 1997, he joined FCS Urban Ministries, to serve as the founding Director of Atlanta Youth Academies, a private elementary school, to provide quality Christian education for low-income families in the inner city.
He is currently the President of Mission Year, a national urban initiative introducing 18-29 year olds to missional and communal living in city centers for one year of their lives. Rev. Barber is the Pastor of a church plant, Community Fellowships Church; and on the boards of Atlanta Youth Academy and DOOR. Leroy was also chosen as a contributor to the ground-breaking book, UnChristian: What a New Generation Thinks About Christianity and Why It Matters.
Leroy is married to Donna and together they have three children, Jessica, Joshua and Joel.
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Leroy Barber's Blog
Lifestyle of Offering / Mar 11, 10:43 AM
Dear Friends,
What do you think would happen if you gave a homeless man $250? Our team members in Houston recently found out.
They first met Don on a Sunday afternoon in the park. With friends at their church, Ecclesia, our team members spend many Sundays at a local park, sharing home-cooked food. It isn t a feeding program exactly, but more of a family meal with brothers and sisters who don t have homes. They call it Simple Feast. Don is a regular, never without his sketchpad and pencil.
Early in her Mission Year, Sarah noticed that Don appeared to be sketching her and her teammate Andy while they patiently listened to the long, rambling story of another Simple Feast friend. Later, he approached her and gently offered his drawing. It turned out that Don was not only a talented artist; he was a kind and thoughtful friend as well. Before long, Don was a regular at the Mission Year team’s house, stopping by to play a board game, share a snack, or just talk.
Since their church has an art gallery, Sarah and Andy eventually arranged for Don to display some of his drawings at Ecclesia. A few pieces of his art were sold, totaling $250 that went directly to Don. So what did he do? Don promptly donated it all back to the church. Really.
“When Don gave that money,” Sarah said, “I was so humbled that it brought tears to my eyes. I don’t think I would have done the same. I probably would have kept some of the money for myself, justifying it by the fact that art supplies cost money. But Don, who has so little, gave everything. It was so beautiful.”
On my last trip to Houston, I got to experience Don s generosity and what Sarah calls his incredible joy – for myself. He complimented me on our Mission Year team’s approach to outreach. “These young people really are my friends, and I thank you for sending them here. Keep up the good work!” Wow. I love it that our young people were able to draw this gentle man back into fellowship and remind him that he has something to give the world. And I love it that he showed them the truth that Jesus keeps trying to show us:
“Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, “The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford she gave her all!” (Luke 21:1-4)
Your donations to Mission Year have made it possible for our team and their church to connect with a homeless man who literally offers all he has to the work of God. Our ‘small’ gifts, when combined with the extravagant gifts of the Dons of this world, make for a truly wonderful offering!
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Lifestyle of Love / Feb 19, 11:21 AM
The following story from Mission Year alum Emily Newlin is a great illustration of the kind of relationships – and the kind of growth – that your support makes possible. I hope you are encouraged by her experience as much as I have been. Thanks for all you do to keep our team members out there, loving their inner-city neighbors in the name of Jesus.
With Love,
Leroy Barber, President
Mission Year
When my teammates and I arrived in La Villita (Little Village), a Mexican neighborhood in Chicago, in September 2007, we were immediately welcomed into the Aldana family – 2 boys, 2 girls and their very sweet mother. The Aldana house was our refuge during our year. Still to this day, the Aldanas are our family.
My most significant relationship was with Sarai, the eldest daughter, who was a senior in high school at the time. We gushed together over Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice, watched chick-flicks, spent time downtown, and talked about the future. Her life had always been spent in La Villita, but when it came to college, she wanted an adventure.
I told her about my alma mater, Southern Nazarene University, which is right outside of Oklahoma City. I shared with her about experiences and friends, and I told her to check out their website. Still, I was still surprised when she told me she wanted to go there. At first I was skeptical because the school was 13 hours from the Aldana home. But she asked for my help, and together we struggled through the application and financial aid processes. Then we waited.
Near the end of my Mission Year, I decided to move back to Oklahoma City. I knew that Sarai might still possibly go to SNU, but she was wrestling with leaving family and being completely on her own for the first time. Two weeks before I left, however, she told me that she was for sure enrolling. I could not believe it! I was going to have a little piece of Chicago with me in Oklahoma City!
Right away I called my cousin, who had just finished her freshmen year and was already buying new trimmings for a dorm room makeover for her second year. She gladly gave everything to Sarai that she needed to make her first dorm room cozy. My parents and grandparents pulled together funds and reserved a hotel room in OKC for Sarai’s mother and brothers that were driving her from Chicago and helping her move. It was so amazing to see my two families come together…and to see how excited everyone was!
When the day came for Sarai to move into the SNU dorms, I was right there…it was wonderful. I dragged them all over town, introducing them to everyone I knew and sharing my stories. It was one of the best days of my life (barely surpassed by the day before my wedding when I got a call from the Aldana brothers saying that they were waiting at the bus station in my hometown. They had come all the way from Chicago for my wedding…I could not believe it!).
Sarai soon found out what it was like to be on her own. She got her first job and was involved in clubs, running around with new friends, and working with professors to improve her grades. It was beautiful! Sarai was succeeding, and giving all the glory to God. And I got to be part of it. Since then, Sarai has transfered to The University of Illinois in Chicago and lives in the dorms there. It has been the right transition for her and her growth. I am so proud of her! I miss her, of course, but how great is it that she has a piece of my life in her heart forever, and I have a piece of hers in mine? That is what Mission Year is about, after all: living a lifestyle of love by sharing in life together.
Miles for Missions and mid life / Dec 7, 10:12 AM
I turn 45 on December 16th and I have been thinking of a good way to celebrate my birthday and to keep from feeling old. I have come up with just the plan. I will be riding a bike from one mission year city to another. No worries, our Married couples are serving in Lagrange, Georgia. It is 65 miles away. I will be doing this for a couple of reasons. One probably has to do with mid life crisis and the other is to raise some resource for our ministry. So I am asking people to sponsor 1 dollar a mile that is 65 dollars to see me suffer and support mission year at the same time.
The date is December 16th 2009. We will get started at 9am. The ride should take about 6 hours but no commitments there.
Keep track of our progress and training by following this blog.
Bikes will be sponsored by Beltline Bikeshop
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Lifestyle of Prayer / Sep 28, 09:49 PM
Dear Friends,
There is a God in heaven whose standards and power are far beyond my limited understanding and although he gives me freedom, he should be thanked and praised.
God, who exists outside of time, has a place of peace where He dwells and that place is what He would like each of us to experience. Some long for it to come and for His way and rule to take over our present conditions in the world.
We acknowledge our dependence on you, God, and request our daily sustenance. Recognizing that we depend on you for every moment, we ask that you supply our needs for the day.
Our hearts are constantly compromised as we live each day. We know that we disappoint you, God, on many occasions with our attitudes and deeds. As the giver and sustainer of all life, we ask your forgiveness and since we boldly ask for your forgiveness we are obligated to forgive others who offend us just as boldly and swiftly as we have received your forgiveness.
Lord, there are temptations around us every day as we walk the streets of our neighborhoods, as we head off to work, and as we relax and play. Please help us to avoid the evil that is around us and to live a life that brings hope and life to all and keeps our souls from being damaged.
God, it all comes back to you. This is your created world. You have all power and we will praise you every chance we get and pray it lasts forever, completely confident that it will last. Amen.
A lifestyle of prayer means moving prayer from the impersonal, obligatory routine to an intimate, voluntary and practiced way of life. Making our Lord’s prayer alive in our Mission Year neighborhoods is one of the ways we transition God from being an abstract idea to a highly personal, present God that meets us every day.
Thank you for your generosity as you support us every month. Your practical gift helps bring a personal God near.
With Love and Thanks,
Comment [1]
Thoughts on Diversity / Aug 3, 10:47 AM
I woke up this morning and I was overwhelmed with sadness, as I thought about how many people I love who don’t go to church with me, and most of us go to churches where we are comfortable. I know people want a break on Sunday and don’t want to talk about race, culture and such, nor do we want to feel awkward when we are trying to worship God, but that sounds so crazy. I also know that my relationships are not confined to church and that’s cool as well, but it sure would be nice to see it all come together somewhere and I have always though church would be the place. It seems like church is the most unlikely place for diversity to happen.
It all saddens me to know how monocultural many churches are, I feel even sadder when I realize how few diverse churches are led by African Americans. I have been a dreamer thinking that perhaps diversity could work out, and me as a black man could do something different. Today I found myself only sad.
You may say that I’m a dreamer, I am not the only one, I hope some day you’ll join me and live as one.
I think we need to have conversation on this. What frustrates you about Diversity?
What would be your ideal Church?
How do you try to create diversity in your life?
Where have you seen diversity played out well over time?
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