Our Mission
Barnabas Ministries is passionately committed to reaching high risk youth and families with the message of freedom, hope, and healing found only in Jesus Christ.
Our Vision
To create an environment where hurting youth and families can discover their value in Christ, grow in that knowledge, and pass that knowledge on to others.
Values
Christ-centered * Biblically Based
Local Church Connected
Prayer Dependent * Relationally Focused
Volunteer Driven
BARNABAS MINISTRIES MORAL CODE
July 1, 2015
Statement of Faith
A. The Holy Bible (Genesis to Revelation) is the complete, true and authoritative Word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit, and provides instruction for our daily lives(2 Peter 2:20-21, Tim 3:16, Deut. 4:2, Rev. 22:18-19)
B. There is One God (1 Tim. 2:5, Is. 44:6) and He is the Trinity of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. (John 1:1, John 14:9, Gal. 1:1, John 5:18, Luke 1:35-37, Heb. 9:14, I Cor. 2:10-11)
C. Jesus was fully God and fully man. (Eph. 1:7, Col 1:15)
D. Salvation is a free gift of grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9) through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as an atoning sacrifice given by God (John 3:16) for all human sin and is received (John 1:12) by repentance of one’s sin and a deliberate decision to accept Jesus as one’s personal Savior. (John 14:6, Acts 4:12)
E. The Holy Spirit indwells all Believers to convict, comfort, and counsel (John 14:16-18; John 16:8-15) empowering them to lead Holy lives. (1 Peter 1:13-16)
F. Each person is appointed once to die then to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Those who have trusted Christ for salvation will receive eternal life in Heaven and those who have rejected salvation will receive eternal death in Hell. (John 3:16 &18; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:11-14)
G. Our Lord Jesus Christ exhorts us to unity among believers. (John 17).
Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct
The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Barnabas Ministries’ faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Executive Director – along with the Executive Board of Directors – is Barnabas Ministries’ final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
Barnabas Ministries Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Gen 2:18-25.) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4.) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10.)
We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Barnabas Ministries as part of the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Barnabas staff, volunteers, and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Barnabas Ministries in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. (Matt 5:16; Phil 2:14-16; 1 Thess 5:22.)
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11.)
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen 1:26-27.) Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
We believe that God created us with distinct sexual identities (Genesis 1:27). As such, within all Barnabas facilities and programs, the identified biological birth gender will be respected. This includes use of any and all restroom, locker room, sleeping, and dressing facilities at all Barnabas Ministries locations. It also includes which of the Barnabas Ministries’ gender-specific programs individuals will be invited to participate in.
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31.) Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the beliefs of Barnabas Ministries.
Barnabas Ministries Facilities and Properties
Barnabas Ministries’ facilities and properties were provided through God’s benevolence and by the sacrificial generosity of its donors. Barnabas desires that its facilities and properties be used for the fellowship, equipping, and discipling of the Body of Christ and to bring God glory, as well as day-to-day operations of the Ministry. Facility and property use will not be permitted to persons or groups holding, advancing, or advocating beliefs or practices that conflict with the ministry’s faith or moral teachings. Nor may any of Barnabas’ facilities or properties be used for activities that contradict, or are deemed inconsistent with, the ministry’s faith or moral teachings. The Executive Director, or their official designee, is the final decision-maker concerning use of ministry facilities and properties.
This restricted facility and property use policy is necessary for two important reasons. First, Barnabas Ministries may not in good conscience materially cooperate in activities or beliefs that are contrary to its faith. Allowing its facilities or properties to be used for purposes that contradict the ministry’s beliefs would be material cooperation with that activity, and would be a grave violation of the ministry’s faith and religious practice. (2 Cor 6:14; 1 Thess 5:22.)
Second, it is very important that Barnabas Ministries present a consistent message to the community, and that the ministry staff and volunteers conscientiously maintain that message as part of their witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Allowing facilities or properties to be used by groups or persons who express beliefs or engage in practices contrary to the ministry’s faith would have a severe, negative impact on the message that Barnabas strives to promote. It could also cause confusion and scandal to Barnabas Ministries and the community because they may reasonably perceive that by allowing use of our facilities and properties, the ministry agrees with the beliefs or practices of the persons or groups using its facilities or properties.
Therefore, in no event shall persons or groups who hold, advance, or advocate beliefs, or advance, advocate, or engage in practices that contradict the ministry’s faith use any Barnabas Ministries facility or property. Nor may Barnabas facilities or properties be used in any way that contradicts the ministry’s faith. This policy applies to all Barnabas Ministries’ facilities and properties, because the ministry sees all of its property as holy and set apart to honor God. (Col 3:17)
This facility use policy covers any and all properties under the Barnabas Ministries’ corporate umbrella.
Barnabas Ministries statement on Life
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Ps 139, Jeremiah 1:5)
Barnabas Ministries, it’s Executive Director, and Board of Directors, reserve the right to amend this document at any time, by majority vote of current Board members.
July 1, 2015
