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     Jesus is alive!  Through God’s redeeming love, the Lord Jesus draws us together in the victory of his resurrection from the dead.  In 2006, through leading by the Holy Spirit, we answered the call to form a new parish.   We made new promises to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ delivered to us by his apostles through many generations of faithful bishops and teachers. Our founding members were Alex Pinter, Lea Pinter, Shelley Atnip, Nancy Anderson, David Ubbens, and Patty Ubbens.

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      The LORD provided a place for worship at Fort Caroline Presbyterian Church in North Arlington.  With the Rev’d John Eason as our first Rector, we gathered to worship on September 3, 2006.  We count September 6 as our official birthday.  

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      The Right Rev’d Joseph Wasonga, Diocese of Maseno West, Kenya provided us with episcopal coverage and care.  After the Gulf Atlantic Diocese, Anglican Church in North America was formed in August 2009, we transferred under the care of its first bishop, the Right Rev’d Neil Lebhar.

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      Father Eason served as Rector through Easter of 2013.  Now he is actively involved as our Rector Emeritus.  Father John supports a wide variety of St. Barnabas ministries, gives pastoral care in nursing homes, and assists with the Biker Church that meets on the St. Barnabas campus.

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      In 2009, one of our members, the Rev’d Bruce M. Ford, was called to serve as our Assistant Rector.  Father Ford was also ministering as a chaplain at Mayo Clinic.  On Easter Sunday 2013, Father Eason retired.  Father Ford began ministry as our second Rector that day.  Bishop Lebhar formally instituted him as Rector in September 2013. 

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      Father Ford served during the move from Fort Caroline Presbyterian to our current location on St. Johns Bluff Road.  This move involved re-planting our church.   During this period, Father Ford placed a great deal of emphasis on creative approaches to outreach and re-setting our missional outlook.

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      In September 2013, the Rev’d Dr. Gary Pollitt joined to serve alongside Father Ford and the parish as a Ministry Consultant.  Father Pollitt is a retired Navy chaplain.  At the time he was deeply involved in ministries sponsored by our Anglican Jurisdiction for the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy.  In October 2014, he became our Associate Rector. 

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      Father Ford retired from our parish leadership on June 30, 2015 and continued in service at Mayo Clinic as well as a sister parish nearby.  Father Pollitt worked closely with our Vestry throughout the year following.  Eventually he was called to become our third Rector on June 1, 2016.  During a Tenth Anniversary celebration for our parish, Bishop Lebhar formally instituted him as Rector on September 17, 2016.

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      During the summer of 2015, Ensign Ryan Davis, a Navy Chaplain Candidate officer, joined us for training and ministry.  The Right Rev’d Derek L. S. Jones, ACNA Bishop for the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy, ordained him as a Transitional Deacon on April 28, 2016 and then as a Priest on December 10, 2016.  He is currently discerning call to appointment as a reserve or active duty military chaplain.  Father Davis served one year as our Curate and now serves as our Assistant Rector. 

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      At the fourth question of the Baptismal Covenant the Priest asks a question based on Acts 2:42 in the New Testament. “Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?”  The candidates, sponsors, and witnesses who are renewing their covenant answer, “I will with God’s help.”  We in St. Barnabas Anglican parish thank the LORD for calling us to life in Jesus Christ on this foundation that he established. 

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      To God alone the honor and glory!

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