Leroy Barber
Bio
Leroy Barber has dedicated more than 20 years to eradicating poverty, confronting homelessness, restoring local neighborhoods, healing racism, and living what Dr. King called “the beloved community.”
Leroy starts projects that shape society; In 1990, burdened by the plight of the Philadelphia’s homeless, he founded Restoration Ministries, to serve homeless families and children living on the streets. In 1997, he joined FCS Urban Ministries, to serve as the founding Director of Atlanta Youth Academies, a private elementary school, to provide quality Christian education for low-income families in the inner city.
He is currently the President of Mission Year, a national urban initiative introducing 18-29 year olds to missional and communal living in city centers for one year of their lives. Rev. Barber is the Pastor of a church plant, Community Fellowships Church; and on the boards of Atlanta Youth Academy and DOOR. Leroy was also chosen as a contributor to the ground-breaking book, UnChristian: What a New Generation Thinks About Christianity and Why It Matters.
Leroy is married to Donna and together they have three children, Jessica, Joshua and Joel.
Invite Leroy to speak at your event!
Leroy Barber's Blog
Lifestyle of Love / Feb 19, 11:21 AM
The following story from Mission Year alum Emily Newlin is a great illustration of the kind of relationships – and the kind of growth – that your support makes possible. I hope you are encouraged by her experience as much as I have been. Thanks for all you do to keep our team members out there, loving their inner-city neighbors in the name of Jesus.
With Love,
Leroy Barber, President
Mission Year
When my teammates and I arrived in La Villita (Little Village), a Mexican neighborhood in Chicago, in September 2007, we were immediately welcomed into the Aldana family – 2 boys, 2 girls and their very sweet mother. The Aldana house was our refuge during our year. Still to this day, the Aldanas are our family.
My most significant relationship was with Sarai, the eldest daughter, who was a senior in high school at the time. We gushed together over Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice, watched chick-flicks, spent time downtown, and talked about the future. Her life had always been spent in La Villita, but when it came to college, she wanted an adventure.
I told her about my alma mater, Southern Nazarene University, which is right outside of Oklahoma City. I shared with her about experiences and friends, and I told her to check out their website. Still, I was still surprised when she told me she wanted to go there. At first I was skeptical because the school was 13 hours from the Aldana home. But she asked for my help, and together we struggled through the application and financial aid processes. Then we waited.
Near the end of my Mission Year, I decided to move back to Oklahoma City. I knew that Sarai might still possibly go to SNU, but she was wrestling with leaving family and being completely on her own for the first time. Two weeks before I left, however, she told me that she was for sure enrolling. I could not believe it! I was going to have a little piece of Chicago with me in Oklahoma City!
Right away I called my cousin, who had just finished her freshmen year and was already buying new trimmings for a dorm room makeover for her second year. She gladly gave everything to Sarai that she needed to make her first dorm room cozy. My parents and grandparents pulled together funds and reserved a hotel room in OKC for Sarai’s mother and brothers that were driving her from Chicago and helping her move. It was so amazing to see my two families come together…and to see how excited everyone was!
When the day came for Sarai to move into the SNU dorms, I was right there…it was wonderful. I dragged them all over town, introducing them to everyone I knew and sharing my stories. It was one of the best days of my life (barely surpassed by the day before my wedding when I got a call from the Aldana brothers saying that they were waiting at the bus station in my hometown. They had come all the way from Chicago for my wedding…I could not believe it!).
Sarai soon found out what it was like to be on her own. She got her first job and was involved in clubs, running around with new friends, and working with professors to improve her grades. It was beautiful! Sarai was succeeding, and giving all the glory to God. And I got to be part of it. Since then, Sarai has transfered to The University of Illinois in Chicago and lives in the dorms there. It has been the right transition for her and her growth. I am so proud of her! I miss her, of course, but how great is it that she has a piece of my life in her heart forever, and I have a piece of hers in mine? That is what Mission Year is about, after all: living a lifestyle of love by sharing in life together.
Miles for Missions and mid life / Dec 7, 10:12 AM
I turn 45 on December 16th and I have been thinking of a good way to celebrate my birthday and to keep from feeling old. I have come up with just the plan. I will be riding a bike from one mission year city to another. No worries, our Married couples are serving in Lagrange, Georgia. It is 65 miles away. I will be doing this for a couple of reasons. One probably has to do with mid life crisis and the other is to raise some resource for our ministry. So I am asking people to sponsor 1 dollar a mile that is 65 dollars to see me suffer and support mission year at the same time.
The date is December 16th 2009. We will get started at 9am. The ride should take about 6 hours but no commitments there.
Keep track of our progress and training by following this blog.
Bikes will be sponsored by Beltline Bikeshop
Comment [10]
Lifestyle of Prayer / Sep 28, 09:49 PM
Dear Friends,
There is a God in heaven whose standards and power are far beyond my limited understanding and although he gives me freedom, he should be thanked and praised.
God, who exists outside of time, has a place of peace where He dwells and that place is what He would like each of us to experience. Some long for it to come and for His way and rule to take over our present conditions in the world.
We acknowledge our dependence on you, God, and request our daily sustenance. Recognizing that we depend on you for every moment, we ask that you supply our needs for the day.
Our hearts are constantly compromised as we live each day. We know that we disappoint you, God, on many occasions with our attitudes and deeds. As the giver and sustainer of all life, we ask your forgiveness and since we boldly ask for your forgiveness we are obligated to forgive others who offend us just as boldly and swiftly as we have received your forgiveness.
Lord, there are temptations around us every day as we walk the streets of our neighborhoods, as we head off to work, and as we relax and play. Please help us to avoid the evil that is around us and to live a life that brings hope and life to all and keeps our souls from being damaged.
God, it all comes back to you. This is your created world. You have all power and we will praise you every chance we get and pray it lasts forever, completely confident that it will last. Amen.
A lifestyle of prayer means moving prayer from the impersonal, obligatory routine to an intimate, voluntary and practiced way of life. Making our Lord’s prayer alive in our Mission Year neighborhoods is one of the ways we transition God from being an abstract idea to a highly personal, present God that meets us every day.
Thank you for your generosity as you support us every month. Your practical gift helps bring a personal God near.
With Love and Thanks,
Comment [1]
Thoughts on Diversity / Aug 3, 10:47 AM
I woke up this morning and I was overwhelmed with sadness, as I thought about how many people I love who don’t go to church with me, and most of us go to churches where we are comfortable. I know people want a break on Sunday and don’t want to talk about race, culture and such, nor do we want to feel awkward when we are trying to worship God, but that sounds so crazy. I also know that my relationships are not confined to church and that’s cool as well, but it sure would be nice to see it all come together somewhere and I have always though church would be the place. It seems like church is the most unlikely place for diversity to happen.
It all saddens me to know how monocultural many churches are, I feel even sadder when I realize how few diverse churches are led by African Americans. I have been a dreamer thinking that perhaps diversity could work out, and me as a black man could do something different. Today I found myself only sad.
You may say that I’m a dreamer, I am not the only one, I hope some day you’ll join me and live as one.
I think we need to have conversation on this. What frustrates you about Diversity?
What would be your ideal Church?
How do you try to create diversity in your life?
Where have you seen diversity played out well over time?
Comment [12]
A Different Kind of Doctor / Jun 15, 01:20 PM
John was a team member in Mission Year five years ago. He came to Atlanta just after finishing at the Philadelphia School of Pharmacy. John felt a call to serve and live out his faith in the midst of discerning where his life and career path would lead him.
John has a strong family tradition that values education and faith. He was excited to serve in Atlanta but also felt pushed to further his education. John’s family had always believed that he would be a doctor; John felt this pressure but wanted to be sure that this was what he should do before pursuing a medical degree. After arriving at Mission Year, he began volunteering at Habitat for Humanity and helped prepare homes for low income families in Atlanta. While serving with his team, John coached sports, worked in after-school programs and served the homeless near his downtown Mission Year home. John had a great team and a wonderful year, and his passions for Jesus and people grew while serving. As the end of the year approached, John decided that his year was going so well that he would stay in Atlanta and continue loving and serving his neighbors.
I was the city director when John did Mission Year, and part of the role of city directors is to meet once a month with each team member individually. As John’s year progressed, he wrestled more and more with his call. Habitat for Humanity was a great organization, but it didn’t strike a chord with his passions and gifts. Perhaps God could use John’s gift for academics and his passion for people. We began to talk about medical school and his call to be a doctor. Perhaps his parents’ dream had been the beginning of God’s process of calling John, and Mission Year was the place to help confirm it.
John applied to Morehouse School of Medicine because he was interested in going to a school where healthcare for the poor is a priority. Their mission statement reads: Morehouse School of Medicine is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals and communities; increasing the diversity of the health professional and scientific workforce; and addressing primary health-care needs through programs in education, research, and service, with emphasis on people of color and the underserved urban and rural populations in Georgia and the nation. It was the perfect match. After Mission Year, John spent the following years attending Morehouse and staying active in his community in Atlanta. He graduated this May and will soon begin a residency in Tulsa.
John is a doctor that has a heart for the poor, a follower of Jesus that uses his call to serve the world. He is a different kind of doctor. When Mission Year was started twelve years ago, the philosophy was for team members to give a year that would change the way they looked at life. “If you’re going to be a doctor, you can still be one – but you will be a different kind,” were the words of Tony Campolo, one of the founders of Mission Year. It is good to see team members live out this vision. Please keep supporting these young people as they begin to discern and connect to God’s call on their lives.
With Love, Appreciation and Thanks,
