What is The Barnabas Project?

In March of 2003, we began working to establish the Barnabas Project: Blessing others through encouragement and HOPE. We felt the Holy Spirit’s leading to work out passages like Matthew 25, Luke 14, Romans 12, and 2 Timothy 2.2. We knew that God wanted us to begin to "break the strongholds of the curse" and would help us develop a strategy to do that.

We began by asking, "Who is Barnabas?" We thought of Hebrews 13.7, which says, "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith." It’s good to learn from the truth of the gospel, the doctrine aspect, but sometimes it really helps us to consider the examples/portraits of men and women living out the truth of the Word.
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Barnabas did not seek his own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10.33) Led by the Holy Spirit, he sought to teach, bring others into the Fold, minister the Gospel of Christ and give encouragement and hope to those, especially individuals, who were left out or forgotten. He understood the authority of Jesus Christ and so submitted to authorities as under Christ. (1 Peter 2.12-20) He took Christ’s example, speaking truth, not reviling in return, uttering no threats, entrusting himself to God who judges righteously. He did not take offense. He bore the offense, seeing the grace of God in suffering as sanctifying him. (1 Peter 2.21-25) He blessed others through encouragement and hope. (1 Peter 3.8, 9)

For more about Barnabas, see: Acts 4:36,37; 9:26,27; 11:19-30; 13-15; 1 Cor. 9:1-6.

This is the purpose of our Barnabas Project: Blessing Others Through Encouragement and H.O.P.E. We endeavor to glorify God by displaying His goodness and graciousness to all; to advance the Christian faith through representation and recommendation; to minister to Jesus by serving His people; and to be in a position of being blessed by God by being a blessing to others.

Our goal is to break the strongholds of the curse and remove barriers to the blessing of God by serving as a "paraclete" to those in need of a Barnabas through symbolic, strategic, and specific acts of good done in Jesus’ Name and for His glory. Our objectives?

1. Help recipients in achieving their potential in the Christian life and faith by sharing God-given resources and investing in their life potential
2. Offer appropriate encouragement, consolation, and means of edification to targeted people groups as led by the Holy Spirit.
3. Provide recipients with Barnabas boxes containing assistance suitable to them and their situation
4. Empower recipients by inspiring them with courage or confidence and by giving assistance or approval in order to stimulate love and good works and aid them in fulfilling their God-given purpose.

Through "Barnabas boxes," visitation, communication, research, offering the means of grace, prayer, education, discipling and counseling, MCM will seek to bless the individuals, families, and/or communities the Barnabas committee targets under the leading of the Holy Spirit. After much prayer and seeking, our first targeted community is the migrant farm workers of South Florida.

This means we will be interceding for the migrant farm workers, seeking to identify with their condition, and considering what one thing or things would break a barrier, help jump a hurdle, or remove resistance to wholeness. For example, shoes and vaccinations are required for the children of migrant workers to attend public schools. Food helps. Learning English and being able to read government forms is essential. Migrant workers get robbed easily because they tend to cash their paychecks and walk home. Many are kept in debt because, though working very hard, they are paid little. This is for starters!
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And they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.
Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of God,
he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain
true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and faith.
And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. (Acts 11.22b-24)

From Be a Barnabas: Son of the Power of the Paraclete