Honoring Rev. Frank Barker
By Kent Bailey, CO SERVE Executive Director
Frank Barker passed away on December 27, 2021 at the age of 89.
If there is a Founder or founding influence for Campus Outreach, it is Frank Barker. Rev. Barker planted Briarwood Presbyterian in 1960 and pastored the church until 1999. His heart for God’s Word, personal evangelism, church planting, and missions were the driving forces of the church.
When I try to explain the characteristics of Campus Outreach to others, I always say, "to understand CO, you need to understand Frank Barker." The things that were important to him, he passed on to us. The three most fundamental characteristics of CO come directly from Rev. Barker’s influence:
Our Theology – his commitment to Biblical, Reformed theology set the foundation for the ministry. He was never pushy or arrogant about his theology but clear and firm.
Our Ecclesiology – long before it became popular with others, Rev. Barker believed and lived out the truth that God’s plan to bring redemptive change to the world was through the local church.
Our Methodology – he planted and built a church on personal evangelism and small-group discipleship long before those were widely accepted practices.
We have these characteristics today because we learned them from Frank Barker.
Rev. Barker “broke the mold” in so many ways, yet it was his Christ-like character that God used to multiply his leadership. His life and ministry were the best examples possible that Godly character, not extraordinary gifting, is the prerequisite to effective ministry.
Jim Collins, in his book Good to Great, commented that “the essential ingredient for taking a group to greatness is having a ‘Level 5’ leader, a leader in whom extreme personal humility blends paradoxically with intense professional will.”
When you look at my copy of that book, there is only one name in the margin next to this quote – Frank Barker. His blend of vision and humility set an example for all of us.
Rev. Barker and Barbara at a Campus Outreach event in the 1980s
Rev. Barker loved Campus Outreach — his family would say second only to Briarwood.
Even up until his final days, he would always ask me the same three questions:
What are you guys (CO) learning in evangelism?
Where are the new places CO is expanding? (He was especially interested in those outside the US)
Can we play tennis next week? (He loved tennis too and kept playing even in the last weeks of his life)
He loved CO, and I certainly loved him. His impact on us and through us was profound and will continue for years to come. What a blessing to have a father in the faith like Frank Barker! His desire for us was and still is that we would “pass on to faithful men who will pass on to others those things you have heard and seen in me.” There has never been a greater need for that gospel multiplication than today. God, give us strength and courage to follow Frank’s example.
We currently have a special opportunity available to honor Rev. Barker's life and legacy.
Many of you have also been deeply impacted by his ministry and are seeking meaningful ways to express your gratitude.
If you desire to give to this memorial fund, you can access the Frank and Barbara Barker Founders Circle HERE.