A native of Harrison, Dr. James D. Bryant is the author of Barnabas Briefs: Encouragement Along the Road. He has been in the ministry for fifty-seven years, beginning upon his discharge from the U. S. Navy. Following his college and seminary degree work, he pastored seven different churches in three states and one foreign country. In retirement Bryant serves as a bi-vocational pastor of his first church, Gaither Baptist.
His ministry includes service as a foreign missionary to Bangladesh and Thailand, as stateside missionary to two area groups of Southern Baptist churches in Popular Bluff, Missouri and Paducah, Kentucky, and as missionary in residence on staff at the Missouri Baptist State Convention.
Bryant has also been an adjunct professor of Bible, Philosophy and Missions for five colleges/universities and one seminary, including North Arkansas Community College. With his wife, Virginia, for thirty plus years they have been active in a dramatic ministry called Living Portraits, portraying in costume such historic characters as George and Martha Washington, song writers John Newton and Fanny Crosby, humorist and wife, Mark and Olivia Twain, in addition to many other historical persons of note.
Writing throughout his years in ministry, Dr. Bryant relates that it has been his intent to publish for some time, however, it was only with the onset of the pandemic that time seemed imperative to do so. His varied experiences and subsequent encounters with those who encouraged him in his own life pursuits finally brought him to the decision to put his life heritage from others into his own legacy for those who would follow. A devotional tool, it is a developed combination of scripture challenge, some of his poetic applications and his insights.
Bryant said, “The book’s title, Barnabas Briefs, is taken from the helpful partner in ministry to Paul the Apostle. In fact the meaning of the name Barnabas is the encourager. It was his introduction of the recently converted Saul of Tarsus to the early church leaders that opened the door to Saul becoming Paul, the early foreign missionary. The Book of Acts, chapter 11, verses 19-31 recounts their beginnings together.”
Bryant describes the book as an exercise in discovering encouragement in one’s life pilgrimage. In his dedication pages he pictures, identifies and gives life histories of six of his own Barnabas encouragers. It is his hope that the book will be a companion on the road of life’s encounters for many, and that it further will serve as a challenge for all to remember their own encouragers. Finally, that it might result in each one becoming an encourager for others as well.
Barnabas Briefs may presently be ordered from Amazon, Barnes and Noble in book form or Kindle.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here