Our Purpose

1. TO ENCOURAGE with finances. Barnabas sold land and took the money to the church for the church’s use. BARNABAS ASSOCIATION receives funds from churches and individuals to further the work of IBCAR in Mexico.

2. TO ENCOURAGE new believers. Barnabas brought Paul, the new believer, to the Apostles and convinced them that God had changed Paul from a persecutor of the believers to a believer himself. The work of BARNABAS ASSOCIATION is to fulfill to the utmost God’s command to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you...” The work of BARNABAS ASSOCIATION is dedicated, primarily, to evangelism and church planting endeavors of IBCAR in Mexico.

3. TO ENCOURAGE churches. Barnabas and Paul, along with other disciples, were chosen by the Apostles to encourage the new church in Antioch. “...they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter..., and they rejoiced because of its encouragement.” (Acts. 15:30, 31)

4. TO ENCOURAGE missionaries. After Barnabas had introduced Paul, the new believer, and after he had helped him with missionary activities, he was willing to become second to Paul, now the great missionary. BARNABAS ASSOCIATION seeks to encourage, in every way, the men of God of IBCAR in Mexico.

5. TO ENCOURAGE people of disadvantage for whatever reason. Barnabas wanted to take Mark with him and Paul on their next missionary trip, but Paul felt that Mark had failed by deserting them earlier. Barnabas separated from Paul and went with Mark to Cyprus. Mark did respond to Barnabas’ encouragement, and he later became a co-worker of the Apostle Paul and wrote the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament. Many of the people of Mexico, both believers and unbelievers, are disadvantaged for many reasons. BARNABAS ASSOCIATION seeks to encourage them with spiritual and material support, primarily through IBCAR, so they can follow the example of Mark and become productive participants in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

ADDITION TO THE PURPOSE OF BARNABAS ASSOCIATION BEGINNING MAY, 2001:

The ministry of this association will be enhanced by greater participation of medical teams whose purpose is to combine evangelism and provision of dental, medical, and eye care to underprivileged people.