Seeker: When God Changes You Overnight
“If you had a list of a thousand things that I would do with my life, being a minister was not even on the list.”
After finding God at Church Of Christ, joining the ministry was the last thing he wanted. Everyone kept suggesting it. He kept saying no. “There’s absolutely no way.”
Then came the overnight change. He went to sleep with zero desire for ministry. He woke up wanting to be a minister. “Literally going to sleep, not thinking about anything, waking up the next morning. I want to be a minister. What?” God changed his heart overnight.
Years later, his son Dontae would not only join the Church Of Christ, but follow him into the ministry, something Brother Barry never planned.
This is what happens when God rewrites your plans.
If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, make sure to press pause and go back to part one.
Episode Timestamps
00:00 Cold Open: “It Wasn’t Even on the List”
01:46 Daily Bible Studies: Soaking Up the Doctrines After Baptism
02:16 The Volunteer Preacher Program He Didn’t Want
03:07 “I Had No Desire to Join the Ministry”
05:41 The Overnight Calling: “I Want to Be a Minister”
07:43 How Do You Know It’s Really a Calling?
10:19 That Same Feeling From Day One: It Never Changed
12:17 “That’s My Wealth in My Life”
15:11 The Impact of Changed Lives: Why It Makes the Sacrifices Worth It
20:54 Bringing Up Dante: Exposed to Church from Age 4
22:04 Five Years in the Philippines: When Barry Left for Ministry Training
24:00 “Can I Come Out?”: When Dante Asked to Move In
25:19 Giving Him the Gist: The History of the World in 90 Minutes
26:29 Teaching Independence: “You Can’t Stay With Us”
29:51 The Lesson: Parents Have Great Influence on Children
33:06 The Formula: Work Hard, Pray Hard, Lead a Holy Life
36:18 “My Secret Weapon”: Personal Prayer to God
42:20 Over 30 Years in Ministry: How Has It Changed Your Life?
44:22 “I Don’t Have Any Desire for Anything Here on Earth”
46:42 Brother Rene Never Gave Up: A Thank You Message
49:44 Looking Back: The Two Groups of People
53:44 Why It’s More Important Now Than Ever to Draw Close to God
57:49 Advice to Those Born and Raised in the Church
1:04:33 One Thing You Wish Everyone Understood
1:07:28 Brother Dontae’s Video Message: “Thank You, Dad, For Everything”
1:09:47 Brother Barry’s Response: “I’m Proud of My Son”
Sitting across from him today, watching him tear up over that video from his son, I realized Brother Barry’s story was not just about a seeker finally finding his answer.
It’s about what happens when you let God change you. Because the changes we make don’t just affect us. They ripple out to everyone watching. Our kids. Our families. People we don’t even know are paying attention.
And maybe that’s what we can all learn from Brother Barry’s story. We don’t get to see the full picture of what God is doing. We just have to trust that wherever He guides us, even when it makes zero sense, even when it’s to a place that wasn’t on our list of a thousand things, He’s writing a story bigger than we can imagine.
If Brother Barry’s story moved you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And remember, your change doesn’t just uplift you. It uplifts everyone watching.
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Thanks for listening, and may your change uplift you.
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