Biography for Pastor Shawn Barlow

Full Name:  Shawn Michael Barlow

 

Born:  August 31, 1963 in Germany, but I grew up in West Virginia

 

Family Status:  Married to Theresa, with 3 adult daughters (basically)

 

How I met my spouse:  Our church called her father to be our pastor and she came too.  I consider it to have been Divine Providence, because I don’t deserve her.

 

How I became a Christian:  I was led to Christ through the ministry of my 6th grade Sunday School teacher, Ruth Howard - a.k.a. Grandma (literally), who was teaching the Ten Commandments that year.  She made me realize that I was a sinner and needed Christ.  I publicly professed Christ during a regular Sunday service.

 

I’d describe my faith as:  “my assurance of God’s free gift”

 

Spiritual gifts:  Teaching

 

Education:  BA Biblical Studies, Southeastern College at WakeForest, 2004.  For those of you struggling with finishing college, allow me to encourage you - I crammed a four year degree into seven years!  There’s hope for you yet.

 

How I arrived at LRBF:  I was between pastorates and had a home bible study going on in my living room and the living rooms of study members.  We spent about ten months studying worship and LRBF is the result.  Frankly, I consider it an honor and privilege to be the pastor of this work.  It is the result of God placing a desire in the hearts of the study members to take our fellowship, and His work in our lives, to others.

 

Favorites

  • Album: the Passion CDs and the Beatles

  • Movies: Blackhawk Down

  • Food: Italian!

  • Place: St. Thomas, USVirgin Islands

  • Book of the Bible: my favorite book to teach is Nehemiah, other favorites include James and Romans

  • Verse(s): Psalm 19:7-11

 

How I spend my days off:  Since I am bi-vocational, my days off are spent (hmm?) what’s a day off?

 

First jobs:  Mowing lawns and stock boy at a local grocery

 

Most powerful book I’ve read:  Obviously, the Bible.  After that there are a lot of favorites: The Cross of Christ, John R. W. Stott; The Life and Letters of John A Broadus, A. T. Robertson; Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis

 

Best way to make me laugh:  Point out something stupid I’ve done!

 

Best gift I’ve ever received:  My wife and kids.  But if you want something material, it is a ring that my father had made of the cross that I was given when he went home to be the Lord.

 

I’d appreciate prayer for:  My ministry at LRBF - that I would lead with a shepherd’s heart and have a passion for the lost in our community.

 

What I’d like to say to the people of LRBF:  Thank you for allowing me to share God’s word with you.  It is refreshing to minister among people who have a passion for God and are seeking to love Him and their neighbors completely.  I hope you have gained a fuller appreciation for the amazing grace of God through our studies together - I know I have!  Thank you for your prayers, they are effective every week, as I see God take His word and grow each of you.

 

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.  Psalm 95:6