Who are we?
Our Vision
"Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest" (John 4:35). The Word of God tells us to look and see the world around us. Rural America is experiencing immense change. Some towns are growing rapidly; some towns are dying; and others have not changed in 100 years. As America has entered a vast season of fewer and fewer pastors, rural America has felt this shortage the most. Many churches are finding themselves without a local leader. Many churches are feeling the radical shift of denominational leadership away from established doctrine and become isolated. In many circumstances, whole churches wither and die leaving a rural town without a Christian presence. From the Rust-Belt to the Rockies and from the Appalachians to the Great Plains, small towns are feeling abandoned. Even in the midst of the drought of pastors, the fields are still ripe. The Barnabas Society has seen this and hopes, with the Holy Spirits power, to minister to the rural world.
Our Mission
“I look upon all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation."
- John Wesley
Our mission is to be the sons of encouragement. While the Christian world seems to be very full of "Pauls", great teachers and preachers, the world seems to lack "Barnabas", great pastors and encouragers. Our hope is to equip and encourage while driving out apathy through prayer and the working of the Holy Spirit.
Our Partnerships
The Barnabas Conference and Network is not a denomination. We function as a partnership with orthodox protestant churches within many denominations and dioceses to encourage established rural churches, as well as planting new churches.
Our Culture
The Barnabas Conference and Network is unapologetically biblical, sacramental, orthodox, and Wesleyan. We are a grass roots network that is composed of local churches all over the nation. We are highly missional as we try to reach the vast area of North America with the gospel.
Leadership
Jeff Stone
District Lead of Eastern Colorado
Jeff is an ordained ministry in the Anglican Church of North America. Jeff was born and raised in rural northern California. He is an avid 49ers, Giants (Baseball), and Manchester City (Soccer) fan. Jeff and his wife, Becca, have been married for 22 years and have four children: Kyla, Kaelyn, Keller, and Korbin. He has a M.A. in Counseling from Colorado Christian University and Masters of Divinity from Denver Seminary. He has served in multiple roles in ministry including youth pastor, senior pastor, and church planter. Jeff is also a licensed professional counselor in the state of Colorado.
Originally from west Texas, Rich Nelson oversees the Eastern Circuit. Rich has studied at Criswell University and Trinity Anglican Seminary. He is a proud grandpa and husband. He is a scholar of the Bible and loves to study.
Mitchell Cochran
District Lead of Western Colorado
Originally from West Texas, Mitchell Cochran serves as the Circuit Rider of the Northwest Colorado Circuit, and heads up our Clergy Care. Mitchell has his MA in biblical counseling from Calvary University and is also working on a ThD (Doctorate of Theology) in theological anthropology. Additionally, he is a Board Certified Christian Counselor (BCCC) and a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE).
Josh Nelson
Director of the Barnabas Conference
Josh Nelson is ordained in the Anglican Church of North America and currently pastors an Anglican Church in Eastern Colorado. He has a background in church planting and has been involved in multiple church plants over the last 10 years. Josh is a Colorado native and has a heart for rural America.
Rich Nelson
Eastern Colorado Circuit
