The Barnabas Ministry:
Birthed from a Burden!

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

A Ministry of Helps in Supplication, Support, and Supply

Barnabas was an encouragement to all who met him, and in the book of Acts we read, “Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:23). In that same spirit, The Barnabas Ministry was born out of a God-given burden to help missionary church planters through what became known as the Barnabas Fund. The ministry exists to offer grants, as funds are available, for special ministry needs, with each request carefully evaluated and approved by the Barnabas Fund Membership Board. The board members collectively represent over 120 years of missions and church-planting experience.

The Creation of the
Barnabas Ministry

Written by Donnie Shumate -
Bethel Baptist Church Missions Pastor

During my pastorate at Bethel Baptist Church, God placed a deep burden on my heart for worldwide missions. He also gave me a promise that one day I would serve Him directly in missions. At the time, I did not know how or when that promise would be fulfilled, but I trusted God to make His will clear in His perfect timing.

God brought several missionaries into the membership of Bethel Baptist Church, and one veteran missionary couple shared a strong burden to help church planters financially with needed ministry projects. We quickly recognized this as a real and urgent need. When a donor gave a modest gift to launch the fund, the Barnabas Fund of Bethel Baptist Church was officially established, and overseers were prayerfully selected to guide the work.

A Real Story from the Field

Sister Barbara McHatton once shared a sobering testimony. She and her husband called a missionary church planter to arrange a visit, and his response was heartbreaking: “You two are the only ones who ever encourage us. No one calls. No one comes. Nobody cares.”
That must NEVER be said of God’s people.

It soon became clear that this vision was bigger than one church. We determined that the ministry would need to be a joint effort involving many churches and not be limited to Bethel Baptist Church alone. God began to burden my heart to serve as the representative of the Barnabas Fund, and He confirmed His will for my wife and me to present this ministry to churches and to help churches help church planters. At that moment, The Barnabas Ministry was truly born.

God has worked miraculously at Bethel Baptist Church and has graciously supplied every need. Like Mordecai’s words to Esther, it became clear that this was “for such a time as this.” What began as a burden became a calling, and in April 2025 we informed the deacons that God was leading us to step away from the pastorate and begin The Barnabas Ministry. After a six-month transition, Bethel Baptist Church called Pastor Justin Blevins to serve as lead pastor.

A Vision Bigger Than One Church

The Barnabas Ministry functions as a three-fold ministry. It is a ministry of supplication, praying for and with missionaries around the world. It is a ministry of support, serving as a traveling encouragement ministry that visits missionaries and church planters on the field. It is also a ministry of supply through the Barnabas Fund, providing financial assistance as funds are available, with needs evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

God has always faithfully provided for my wife and me, and after much prayer and clear direction, He allowed us to purchase a small motorhome and dinghy vehicle. This will be used to encourage church-planting missionaries west of the Mississippi River. Bethel Baptist Church remains committed to helping us in this endeavor.

Our Field Plan (2026)

Our plan for 2026 includes three month-long mission trips to three different western states, with a focus on encouragement and on-site help. When we are not on the field, we will be presenting The Barnabas Ministry and sharing the needs of church planters with supporting churches.

The work is too large for one man, but we must do all we can while we can. Statistics show that the average missionary remains on the field for less than five years, and many leave for preventable reasons. Discouragement and lack of financial support remain two of the greatest enemies facing church planters today.

The name Barnabas means “Son of Consolation.” He was an encourager, and that is the heartbeat of this ministry - to encourage, to strengthen, and to help missionaries continue faithfully for God’s glory.

Barnabas Ministry Oversight Board

Pastor Justin Blevins
and wife Elisabeth

Bethel Baptist Church

Senior Pastor

Pastor Donnie Shumate
and wife Darlene

Bethel Baptist Church

Missions Pastor

Pastor Jason Dowell
and wife Amanda

Missionary of Helps

and Relief

Preacher Plato Shephard
and wife Ann

Veteran Missionary

Church Planter

Bro. Tim McHatton
and wife Barbara

Veteran Missionary

Church Builder

Bro. Gene Absher
and wife Barbara

Veteran Missionary

Church Builder

Moments of the Mission Work
Around the World

From India, Ghana in West Africa, and Guyana in South America to Honduras and across the United States - including Nebraska, Illinois, and Alaska - God has given us the privilege, through Faith Promise Missions, to serve in many places. We have traveled worldwide planting churches, preaching the Gospel, and supporting the work of missions.