OUR HISTORY

On March 15, 2002, the first organizational meeting of the new North Tarrant County Mission was held at Alliance United Methodist Church in Park Glen. Twenty-five people attended that first meeting led by The Reverend Louis Tobola.

Two months later, on May 22nd, our first Eucharist was celebrated by Fr. Tobola in the home of a parishioner. Throughout the months of June and July of that year, the congregation met every other week for Bible Study, a pot luck supper and fellowship. Our first Sunday Eucharist was celebrated on August 25, 2002, at Lone Star Elementary School in Keller, TX.

Our mission was named by Bishop Iker on June 11, the feast day for St. Barnabas. The name Barnabas means “Son of Encouragement." 

The first reference in the New Testament to Barnabas introduces him as one whose missionary efforts would cause him to be called, like the Twelve, an apostle. 

Barnabas responded early to the missionary life of the church by selling a field and turning the proceeds over to the apostles. (Acts 4:36-37) It was Barnabas who introduced Paul to the apostles. It was this introduction that led to Paul's inclusion in the life of the apostolic church. Barnabas' life was marked by generosity, hospitality and missionary zeal.

St. Barnabas’ life has been an inspiration to our mission church. From the very beginning of our life as a congregation, a concerted effort has been made to imitate his life as it relates to generosity, hospitality and missionary zeal. The first offering collected by St. Barnabas the Apostle was given to the people of Northern Malawi, who were suffering the effects of a devastating famine. We continue in that tradition today.

On August 24, 2008, Fr. Louis Tobola, Bishop Jack Iker and Canon Charles Hough celebrated the first Mass in our new home.

Today, St. Barnabas is a family of believers who study, worship and fellowship as disciples of Jesus Christ. We welcome you to join our community!