The following is designed to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about The Barnabas Group…
What is The Barnabas Group?
The Barnabas Group (TBG) was founded with the goal of allowing graduates of The Master’s Program (TMP) to use their collective talents, as God would lead, in helping advance His Kingdom. In short, it’s a ministry whose members have a passion to serve other ministries and their diverse outreach. As it has evolved, TBG has opened its membership to other business and community leaders who share its vision and who may not have been through The Masters Program. The Barnabas Group is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization.
What is the mission statement of The Barnabas Group?
Our mission statement is: Connecting leaders, changing lives. We are committed to see the time, talent, touch and treasure of marketplace leaders helping ministries transform lives worldwide.
What are the goals of The Barnabas Group?
Besides our primary goal of using our talents and treasures actively in God’s Kingdom, we also look forward to continued fellowship and growth in new and old friendships. Examples include group dinners hosted by TBG and missions trips or spiritual retreats for couples. In addition, Bob Shank and other top speakers will keep members challenged and on relevant issues. Members are introduced to various ministries and other opportunities where they can consider how God might use them.
Does The Barnabas Group do anything other than the four quarterly meetings?
We will host several fellowship-based dinners for TBG members and their spouses. TBG also plans to host a luncheon with speakers addressing current events of great interest to members and their guests. There will be no charge for these events, but attendees are encouraged to bring donations that will benefit TBG ministries. Opportunities for short-term mission trips will be made available to TBG members. The calendar may also include golf outings.
We will invite members to serve on a “SWOT Team” that comes together two to three times each year for a couple of hours to brainstorm an issue or problem with a ministry. We will occasionally conduct a seminar for local ministries on subjects that will bless, encourage and educate them. For example, a TBG member recently conducted a seminar on “How to Give a 30-Second Elevator Speech.”
Ministries are brought to the TBG Steering Committee and may be recommended to come under The Barnabas Group’s 501(c)(3) for a one-year period as an Incubator Ministry while they apply for their own non-profit status.
These are just a few of the many activities The Barnabas Group is involved in during the year!
Who directs The Barnabas Group?
TBG is guided by a board made up of at least eight members. This number may increase as needed. View the current Board here.
What is the time commitment?
The Barnabas Group meets quarterly for a Continental Breakfast and Fellowship. We will have several ministries present during the day with opportunities for TBG members to come alongside them and help with their time, talents and touch (network). We will have breakout “brainstorming” sessions to help the ministries with a specific questions or issues. A guest speaker will challenge us on subjects relevant to our lives. We will also have one dinner meeting per year and three morning meetings followed by lunch.
What is the financial commitment?
Active membership in The Barnabas Group involves the following basic commitments/benefits:
· 2 people per each membership - Regular attendance at the quarterly meetings of The Barnabas Group if possible for you and your spouse/guest. Occasional opportunities for additional connection/involvement are also available throughout the year.
· Annual membership pledge of $1,500 ($1,250 is tax deductible).
· Because of a close partnership with the Foundation for Christian Stewardship (FCS) Barnabas members are strongly recommended to take advantage of the option of opening up a self-directed Giving Fund with as little as a $1,000 start up balance. This tool allows members to steward their financial resources in some incredibly efficient ways by making contributions to non-profits, local churches & ministries of their choice! *(While TBG membership dues can be paid through FCS, Giving Fund information IS NOT accessible to any TBG leaders at any time)
To join, go to https://barnabasgroup.webconnex.com/LA-Membership
Dear Prospective Barnabas LA Member,
Barnabas is all about connecting marketplace leaders to ministry opportunities! We strongly believe that our movement provides one of the best contexts around for maximizing Kingdom impact. Our desire is to impact the lives of thousands of people both around the corner and around the world as we together leverage our individual Kingdom resources (Time, Talent, Treasure and Touch)! Sound like something you might be interested in being a part of? We’d love for you to consider joining us!
Joining Barnabas is like joining a “Christian United Way”. The end result is that you and hundreds of ministries will be blessed! We interview and profile 70-100 ministries each year. Each of them will tell you the preparation alone that they had to do to engage with us was a huge help to them! Once they are interviewed and vetted, they are all offered opportunities to participate in the various seminars we sponsor for ministries. Over 35 ministries each year will either present to or have a table at Barnabas Group events.
In addition, our SWOT Team will be a strong support to many others when we come along them in even more in-depth ways. The SWOT process is actually one of the most popular opportunities that we offer ministries and we plan to open this up to even more ministries in 2011!
Let me ask you a question - WHAT CAN YOU BUY THESE DAYS FOR $125?
As I talk with many people about joining The Barnabas Group, I often hear that money is tight now with the downturn in the economy and people need to be good stewards of the resources God has given them. We couldn’t agree with you more! That is why The Barnabas Group makes sense! Your $1500 annual membership (that’s only $125/month! $1250 of which is tax-deductible!) to The Barnabas Group doesn’t just pay for you and your spouse/guest to come to four meetings and have some great food! Our prayer is that God uses this growing group of Kingdom minded leaders in some strategic and powerful ways! Where else can you get involved in an effort such as this in terms of exposure, opportunity and collaboration possibilities – especially for such a relatively minimal investment?
What we are offering here is a chance to be a part of something truly unique! I know you will agree with me that $125 per month is great stewardship when it provides opportunity for you to stand with and bless so many ministries – even though you are probably already committed to a few key ones already! The Barnabas Group provides you with a context for incredible opportunities to use your time, talent, treasure and touch (networks of relationships) in even more strategic and maximizing ways. Come to our gatherings, get involved, spread the word about these important works and be challenged/informed by our various guest speakers!
Pressing On~
Brad Fieldhouse
Managing Partner – The Barnabas Group Los Angeles
What about pastors who want to join TBG?
Pastors can join TBG as Associate members for a reduced donation to cover event costs. Full TBG members may decide to pay their pastor’s Associate dues and fees. The benefit to the pastors is to see ministries they might never discover and possibly take them back to their churches, to receive interesting teaching, and to introduce their church and its members to TBG. Pastors also meet and fellowship with business people from outside their churches and have a time to “get away”. The benefit to TBG is to gain fellowship and to give the ministries that present a greater audience of members who can further their ministry.
Membership has its privileges. Ours is the privilege to serve.
The Barnabas Group was founded to honor God and expand his Kingdom. Members contribute to and experience Kingdom impact!
As a Barnabas Group Member you can expect to receive ongoing exposure to prescreened ministries, opportunities to deploy your talents and resources to maximize your ministry effectiveness. You’ll also find ongoing encouragement through fellowship with like-minded peers and their spouses.
How to join or donate to The Barnabas Group Los Angeles
To join or donate to TBG LA, go to