A Home for Joe and Connie
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Life of Joe and Connie Barker
Joe was born in Texas, but grew up in New Jersey. Connie is a native of Iowa. They met in college at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. They were married on May 18, 1974. They spent the first 20 years of their marriage living in South Carolina, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska. They were very active in their churches, and Joe even did a church plant in Carroll, IA until a mission pastor could take over. Joe worked in business mostly managing K-Mart cafeterias and Delis and selling insurance. Connie was an elementary school teacher and then switched to early childhood education in preschools and child care centers.
In the mid 1980s God called Joe to begin pastoring a church in Nebraska City, NE while still working in business. He also started commuting from Omaha, NE to Kansas City, MO to attend Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He received his Associate Masters of Divinity degree in 1990. He was then a full time pastor in Hale, MO for 1 year until North Grand River Baptist Association called him to be their Director of Missions in Trenton, MO for 6 years. Unfortunately, his health was declining, and he had to resign. They moved back to Iowa to be near Connie’s parents during their final years. In 2004, Joe almost lost his right leg to diabetes and had to go onto disability.
In 2008, they moved to Springfield, MO to be near Joe’s mother at the end of her life. Joe did some supply preaching while they were in Springfield and Aurora. In 2013, Calvary Baptist Church in Marshalltown, IA called Joe to be their bi-vocational pastor. Even though it was nice being close to Connie’s cousins in Iowa, they wanted to be closer to Joe’s only sister and her kids in MO. So they moved back to MO in 2016 to be the bi-vocational pastor at Tiffin Baptist Church near El Dorado Springs.
In 2017 Joe’s health started to decline after a hospital stay and 2 surgeries on the veins in his legs. He has still not regained his strength. He often has to sit down to preach and isn’t able to attend the activities of the church members. Joe and Connie feel like it is time for them to retire from the pastorate. Unfortunately, their medical bills and the costs of moving multiple times have drained their finances. At this time there is an opportunity for them to finally own a home after so many years in service moving where God has called them to serve. A small home near their remaining family is an option and they need only a modest amount of money to cover the down payment. Thank you for considering to help them after their many years of service for the Lord.
Joe was born in Texas, but grew up in New Jersey. Connie is a native of Iowa. They met in college at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. They were married on May 18, 1974. They spent the first 20 years of their marriage living in South Carolina, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska. They were very active in their churches, and Joe even did a church plant in Carroll, IA until a mission pastor could take over. Joe worked in business mostly managing K-Mart cafeterias and Delis and selling insurance. Connie was an elementary school teacher and then switched to early childhood education in preschools and child care centers.
In the mid 1980s God called Joe to begin pastoring a church in Nebraska City, NE while still working in business. He also started commuting from Omaha, NE to Kansas City, MO to attend Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He received his Associate Masters of Divinity degree in 1990. He was then a full time pastor in Hale, MO for 1 year until North Grand River Baptist Association called him to be their Director of Missions in Trenton, MO for 6 years. Unfortunately, his health was declining, and he had to resign. They moved back to Iowa to be near Connie’s parents during their final years. In 2004, Joe almost lost his right leg to diabetes and had to go onto disability.
In 2008, they moved to Springfield, MO to be near Joe’s mother at the end of her life. Joe did some supply preaching while they were in Springfield and Aurora. In 2013, Calvary Baptist Church in Marshalltown, IA called Joe to be their bi-vocational pastor. Even though it was nice being close to Connie’s cousins in Iowa, they wanted to be closer to Joe’s only sister and her kids in MO. So they moved back to MO in 2016 to be the bi-vocational pastor at Tiffin Baptist Church near El Dorado Springs.
In 2017 Joe’s health started to decline after a hospital stay and 2 surgeries on the veins in his legs. He has still not regained his strength. He often has to sit down to preach and isn’t able to attend the activities of the church members. Joe and Connie feel like it is time for them to retire from the pastorate. Unfortunately, their medical bills and the costs of moving multiple times have drained their finances. At this time there is an opportunity for them to finally own a home after so many years in service moving where God has called them to serve. A small home near their remaining family is an option and they need only a modest amount of money to cover the down payment. Thank you for considering to help them after their many years of service for the Lord.
Organiser
Sarah Semple
Organiser
Springfield, MO
