Two men—one once feared, one full of faith—now shaped the future of the global Church.
Barnabas and Saul became partners in mission. They preached, planted, and prayed across the Gentile world. But even in partnership, Barnabas’s humility shone. Though the narrative later centers on Paul, it was Barnabas who had brought him into ministry, encouraged him when others turned away, and mentored him into leadership.
And when Paul lost patience with a young disciple named John Mark—Barnabas stepped in again. Paul was done; Barnabas wasn’t. He saw something worth saving. He took Mark and sailed for Cyprus. Years later, even Paul would admit, “Mark is useful to me for ministry.” (2 Tim. 4:11)
That’s the quiet legacy of encouragement—it doesn’t always make headlines, but it shapes the story.
Barnabas reminds us that leadership is not only about vision or authority—it’s about believing in people before they believe in themselves. It’s seeing what God is doing in someone long before anyone else notices.
Maybe that’s your call—to be a Barnabas in your generation. To build bridges instead of walls. To bring outsiders in. To celebrate grace instead of guarding gates.
Encouragement may seem simple, but in God’s hands, it builds the Church.
Dr. Kevin A. Hall
The Way | Christian Leadership & Theology Series
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