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Barnabas

Throughout life, God places people on our path to inspire us. It may be a quick conversation at a cafe, maybe it’s a mentor, or perhaps it’s in the form of an autobiography. However you encounter them, these individuals alter the trajectory of our lives in special and unique ways. This blog is about someone who has recently impacted my life in such a way that I believe it will affect the way I live for years to come. 

Unfortunately, I will not be able to use this individual’s real name due to the nature of his ministry and wanting to be wise with what I post online. So for this blog, I will be referring to him as Barnabas

It might seem like a funny pseudonym to use; however, if you are familiar with the book of Acts in Scripture then the name might just have a familiar ring to it. 

You see, Barnabas was someone God used greatly to encourage and inspire the people with whom he came into contact. The name Barnabas actually means, “Son of consolation or on of exhortation, son of comfort.” At his very core, he was someone set apart to our into the lives of others. The two most famous individuals whom Barnabas impacted in Scripture are Paul (the Apostle) and John Mark (author of the Gospel of Mark). 

The reason I chose this name for my new friend is that I feel as though he “Barnabased” me during my time in India. 

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If you’ve read my blogs you know that mission work is very close to my heart. In fact, when I was thirteen years old God put it on my heart to be involved in overseas missions in one way or another as a life calling. The calling has brought nervousness, excitement, fear, joy, confusion, and even doubt. I don’t use the word “calling” lightly, nor would I be using the word at all if it wasn’t for crossing paths with people like Barnabas (the one in India, not the one in Scripture lol). 

In my mind, it’s one thing to say that missions is a passion vs. saying that missions is a calling… let alone a life calling. I figured I would be involved in missions from time to time, but now, it seems as though this is how God wants me to spend my life and Barnabas gave me so much confidence without really even knowing it. 

Without revealing too much, Barnabas graduated from a nice school, a baller degree in hand, and landed an awesome job soon after completing his schooling. It was the type of job you build your life on and one others wish they had. He was there for a few years, paying off student loans, and grinding it out to gain the American dream… at least, that’s what it looked like on the outside. 

On the inside, he could not imagine this being his life’s work. He felt as though there was more to see of the world, more to experience in the Lord, and greater opportunity within the kingdom of God.

So he left his job and went on the World Race. To everyone around him, his was a life of reckless abandon. Some even shook their heads thinking him foolish to give up the “stable” life he possessed. To Barnabas though, it was stepping into abundance and actually feeling like he was living the way he was meant to live. To him it wasn’t abandon, nor was it foolishness… it was gain

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Today Barnabas lives in India serving the Lord, experiencing an amazing culture, living through donations, and building the kingdom of God the way he was designed. We had a lot of conversations and Barnabas passed on many nuggets of wisdom, but the words that impacted me the most were, “I live off of $13,000.00 a year and I am richer now than when I was making $70,000.00 a year.” 

Wow!

That is the kingdom of God. That is doing what you were made to do. That is abundance!

I left India with a confidence I have never experienced before in my life. I left seeing a first-hand example of someone who has committed his life to missions as a single man and is THRIVING! Living the life he wants to live because it is the life he is called to live. He saw the opportunity to stake his claim in the kingdom by serving the people of India and he went for it. That’s what I want to do. I have no desire to grind it out at some random job back in America. No, I must embrace what I believe the Father has called me to do. To bring the Gospel to the nations, to tell those who haven’t heard, and to spend my life investing in that which lasts forever. 

Thank you God for this passion and calling. Thank you, Barnabas, for being a powerful example of abundant living and for impacting me along my journey. 

14 Comments

  1. Thank you Beth! So glad I got to meet you and know that we are praying for you as you set out to be coaches! Oh yeah!!

  2. Wow, thank you so much Keith. I am honored to have you as a partner on this trip and hope we get to see you guys in the future! Thank you for being amazing friends to our family 🙂

  3. I love this Connor! This is so beautiful that you know and listen to Father and your calling. Especially missions overseas 🙂 it’s amazing to watch you all grow so much and to watch you fall deeply in love with God! Praying for a clear direction for where God wants you! Love and prayers, Momma Starbuck

  4. Great blog Connor and love how you shared your news and passion and how Barnabas influenced you. Keep Growing, Loving and Learning~

  5. dang this is sweet. im so thankful you had that time with him in india to be encouraged by his way of life. Seriously, such a good example of an abundant life.

  6. Hi Connor! I was reading your blog to Jay and I couldn’t help but have a quiver in my voice and a tear in my eye. What an amazing call you have on your life and Barnabas has such a beautiful testimony to encourage us all. Step out boldly in everything the Lord has for you! Love you!

  7. Connor! Thanks for sharing such an inspiring divine appointment God gave you. This proves that true joy and true fulfillment is found at the center of God’s will, no matter the sacrifice.

  8. Connor,
    My daughter (Lene’) will be going on the 2020 Expedition. We have been watching several vlogs of previous racers and racers on their journey now. I have watched several of your vlogs and have loved seeing how the Lord is taking you to a deeper understanding and relationship with Him. Lene’ has just started getting things set up with her blogs. We decided to read some blogs from people we have been watching. This one was our first. It deeply moved me to hear of how the Lord is working in and through people such as Barnabas and yourself! Thank you so much for sharing both stories of how you young men are setting out to live in the most perfect fulling place ever, God’s will for your life. I am praying for you and the other racers as you grow closer to the Lord and spread the amazing gospel of Jesus!

    “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8
    And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

  9. It has blessed my soul to read of the beauty your soul has found in the mere thought of wreckless abandon for the Lord.

    Now, dont let anything convince you to look or stay back. Go!

  10. Connor,
    So glad the LORD is speaking to your heart and you are listening. You have my prayerful and financial support.
    Keith Harrison

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