Honoring Barbara Barker
Much like her husband, Frank, Barbara Barker was also used by God to influence Campus Outreach during its launch and development significantly. It was Barbara’s persistent evangelism in the life of a wayward college student that led to his conversion and ultimately to him being one of the original staff of Campus Outreach. After years of sharing the gospel with Tom and his conversion, Barbara told Frank, “God is going to use this young man.” And God certainly did, as it was through him that Campus Outreach launched on campuses across Alabama. It was Barbara’s evangelism that started Campus Outreach.
Barbara had an ongoing influence on Campus Outreach in so many strategic ways.
Love of the Word – whether in personal conversation or speaking to groups, Barbara always quoted God’s Word that she had memorized. It was clear that she loved God’s Word and that it was the foundation of her life and ministry.
Life of faith — Barbara always shared stories of God answering seemingly impossible prayers. She constantly challenged you to trust God to work in ways only He could be credited with the results.
Life on life discipleship — Barbara modeled real discipling through her ministry with young women in ballet. She was a ministry model in doing the day-to-day work of discipleship with these women in a real-world context.
Ministry partner with Frank — Frank and Barbara spoke to Campus Outreach conferences and staff teams across the US and on four continents. In every situation, her gifts and presence complimented and collaborated in powerful ways with Frank. Together, they taught us what complementary ministry could be like.
Through all of the years and in every situation where Barbara was with Campus Outreach students and staff, you could always be certain that she would be joyfully pointing to what God was doing in and through the ministry and trusting Him to do more. She often said, “I meet a Campus Outreach person in every place I visit.” How amazing that she would encounter the extended fruit of her own ministry in places all over the country and around the world. Just like Barbara would say, “only God could do that.”