Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
Luke 5:4-6
On Sunday, August 22, I announced to my church that God has called me into full-time evangelism. It has been an honor to serve as the pastor of Woodridge Baptist Church in Illinois these past 13 years. I have agreed to continue here until March to provide stability for the church as we seek God for the next man.
I have known that God has given me the gift of the evangelist since God called me to preach. Yet, God directed me to accept the position of pastor at Woodridge, for which I am so thankful.
When I began, the church was small and hurting after a difficult season, but God was faithful to bless and strengthen us year by year. Now, by God’s grace, the church is financially sound (debt free!), on a good footing spiritually and actively reaching the community with the gospel. Souls have been saved and added to the church, and Christians are maturing spiritually. To God be the glory!
In 2019 God began stirring me with a burden for the churches of America—churches like Woodridge. Churches need to be strengthened, believers need to be set free from bondage to sin, pastors need to be encouraged, and lost souls desperately need the Gospel. It’s harvest time! God has granted great peace to my wife Chelsey and me that now is the time to launch out by faith.
I would greatly appreciate your prayers for my family and for Woodridge. For the next few months I have agreed to oversee the church during this time of transition, and prepare for full-time evangelism. Pray that God would quickly bring the right man here to Woodridge.
Over the next few months I can take the occasional meeting as God leads, but I am looking to schedule 2022 right away.
I look forward to preaching revival and evangelistic meetings as God leads. I also have a burden for seminars and conferences on important themes, such as:
- “Heavenly Homes” (marriage and family seminar I have conducted here at Woodridge over the years)
- “Hope for the Addicted” (for those struggling with besetting sin, and those who minister to the addicted)
- “Discerning Godly Music” (practical sessions designed to establish biblical principles that the average Christian can readily understand and apply)
- “Law, License and Liberty” (a biblical harmony of grace and law in the Christian life, pointing out extremes & pitfalls and finding biblical balance in Christ through the Spirit-filled life)
- “Financial Freedom” (biblical principles of faith-based giving and money management)
- Children’s Worker and Teacher Training
- Soul-winning training
Click here to contact us!
Please don’t hesitate to call me if you have any questions about our ministry or if you are interested in scheduling a meeting or to just meet for coffee and chat.
We look forward to ministering in churches as a family. We sing, my wife plays piano and violin, and I play the trombone. My wife and children are looking forward to offering exciting children’s meetings. We’ve found this to be a real key to seeing families attend all week long.
Our prayer is that God would make us effective ministers for His glory.
In His service,
Matthew Barber
“[Christ] we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also labour, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.”
Colossians 1:28-29