Why Barnabas?
And when he had come to Jerusalem, he (Saul) attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. Acts 9:26-28
Birthed from KP and ZacH’S observations of one of the most successful churches with one of the most competent staffs crumbling under sin which was hidden within flattery, unhealth, and loneliness maxed with flimsy and fake team. So many leaders just needed a safe and healthy friend to be honest with. So many staff needed margin to process and pursue the Lord. We wondered how we could help and started dreaming...as Zach’s own brokennes bubbled up and led to needing a time of restoration, He became even more convinced that healthy leaders have healthy friends and hidden spaces to be honest and rest...in weakness and disappointment and/or in wins and celebration...safe spaces for wins or losses...
The majority of Barnabas's ministry is currently assumed or sadly de-emphasized in the hustle and grind of Christian leadership. Everyone has friends right? Leaders aren't lonely...they're surrounded by people, right?
Leaders are called and impervious to discouragement and bummer days...we laugh at this idea but We think many leaders are seen this way.
Years ago Zach sat around a table of leaders that were leading some of the most impactful things in the western church. From the the outside looking in, these were successful and strong leaders. But when one asked a brilliant and sensitive question, the assumed facade of strength unraveled, revealing discouragement, a fight for hope, and for some, a desire to quit and experience relief. None of these folks were going to slink off into sin but things had become extremely difficult. The communal nature of sharing that reality seemed to dignify one another's fight; the round table mattered, the honesty mattered, and the safety mattered. This sort of thing matters, and Barnabas got started.
Barnabas in the bible, the "son of encouragement," was a leader in the early church that had sold some land to invest in the church. With his clout and heavenly perspective, he identified and vouched for this man who had just came to Christ that was making folks nervous...Saul, now Paul. Barnabas leveraged what he had to catalyze the apostle Paul. They ministered together for a season of immense fruitfulness with Barnabas often taking the back seat.
In a season where we long for entrepreneurial, apostolic leadership, we need some cheerleaders and encouragers. Barnabas is that leader.
The prophetic does not always have to be a hard truth or a correction but can be reminding of what's true...about an individual and/or what God can do. The son of encourgement can be the son of prophesy...