Growing Joyfully Into The Fullness Of Christ: An Interview With Rev. Cheryl Bear-Barnetson -- By: Hilary Davis

Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 24:4 (Autumn 2010)
Article: Growing Joyfully Into The Fullness Of Christ: An Interview With Rev. Cheryl Bear-Barnetson
Author: Hilary Davis


Growing Joyfully Into The Fullness Of Christ: An Interview With Rev. Cheryl Bear-Barnetson

Hilary Davis

Hilary Davis, originally from Massachusetts, earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. She worked on the Yakama Indian Reservation for two years, serving at-risk youth through the work of Mending Wings Ministries, one of the largest contextualized Native youth ministries in the United States. Hilary and her coworkers have used Cheryl’s songs “New Warriors” and “Yeshua” to worship Creator with youth during Mending Wings Bible studies and youth group. Hilary currently resides in Austin, Texas.

I had the pleasure of worshipping with the Bear-Barnetson family at the annual Wiconi International Family Camp and Pow Wow in Turner, Oregon, in 2008 and 2009, and found myself amazed at the beauty and freedom Cheryl and others expressed as women and as followers of the Jesus Way. Cheryl is Bear Clan, from Nadleh Whuten First Nation within the Carrier Nation of British Columbia. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pacific Life Bible College, Surrey, B.C.; an M.Div. from Regent College, Vancouver, B.C.; and a Doctor of Ministry from The Kings College and Seminary in Van Nuys, California. Cheryl and her husband, Randy, travel full time with their three teenage sons, Paul (17), Randall (15), and Justice (14), who also have their own band. I interviewed Cheryl in 2009.

Hilary Davis: What is your current ministry?

Cheryl Bear-Barnetson: We [my husband, three sons, and I] are traveling to every First Nations community in Canada retelling the Great Story of Jesus.

HD: What vision has God given you regarding the advancement of his kingdom among First Nations peoples?

CBB: Native people have heard the gospel for four hundred years. We need to retell this story in an indigenous way, in a good way. But Native people cannot be considered the mission field forever. In fact, First Nations people make the best missionaries. All over the world, people admire First Nations and will listen to anything we have to say. They expect us to be spiritual, and so we can walk into any setting and tell the Great Story.

HD: What a wonderful calling! Do you feel God’s calling to become a missionary beyond First Nations communities?

CBB: Absolutely, we have been to more than thirty countries and have been welcomed graciously. We are heading to England and Russia, where Native people are still viewed as having some mystique. We also can visit non-Native churches talking about Native ministry, helping those who are interested (to help them do it right) and raising the level of awareness toward First Nations ministry.

HD: Wha...

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