The EA National Board of Directors are pleased to announce that the Rev. Jim Barnes, senior pastor at Bethesda Evangelical Church in St. Louis, Missouri, has been named the new National Minister of the Evangelical Association.

Rev. Barnes, who is currently on the EA Board of Directors, will officially begin his duties on October 15, serving half-time as National Minister and half-time as Senior Pastor of Bethesda (an EA member church). 

Although this is a change to the current configuration of the National Minister position, both the Board and Pastor Jim believe there are some unique advantages to the arrangement which will give the National Minister the opportunity to maintain a strong relationship with a local EA church.  "I believe in the importance of seeing the 'net' work when it comes to the EA," states Rev. Barnes.  "What makes our association strong is our unwavering confidence in the effectiveness of local churches and ministers.  As one who continues to serve as a local church pastor, I know that we have extremely gifted talented lay people and clergy serving in EA churches and ministries.  I see the job of the National Minister as one of helping people throughout our association connect with each other as together we do the work of ministry to which we have been called by the Lord."  

Rev. Barnes is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary where he received his Master of Divinity degree.  He was ordained in 1988 and served St. Luke's Christian Community Church (formerly UCC) in the Chicago area before becoming pastor of Bethesda Evangelical Church (formerly UCC) eighteen years ago.  He and his wife, Patti, have three children, Matt, Mollie and Aaron.

Pastor Jim will be attending the EA Regional Gathering in North Carolina on October 17 followed by some time with Board Secretary, Rev. Rich Dubbs at the interim National Ministries Office in Lebanon, PA on Oct. 19 & 20 to prepare shifting the National Minister's Office from Pennsylvania to St. Louis.  Then Rev. Barnes will attend a regional gathering of EA pastors in central Pennsylvania on  Oct. 20.

You may send notes of congratulations to: Rev. Jim Barnes, 10873 Ridge Forest Dr., St. Louis, MO 63123.

To learn more about Jim's current ministry with Bethesda Evangelical Church, check out their church website at www.achurch4you.com.

Replacing Rev. Barnes on the EA Board of Directors will be Rev. Darrell Weber, pastor of Zion Church in Millstadt, Illinois.  Also elected to the Board at their meeting in Louisville was Rev. Lin Smalec, pastor of Salem Church in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.