I am beyond excited to join a small group from Harvest Church to SPREAD JOY through the Banjara peop Yes, India--I am smiling ear to ear just writing this!
Thank you for taking the time to visit my page, and caring to learn more about how the Lord has been rocking my world! I moved to Memphis, Tennessee in May of 2014 for an incredible job opportunity with Chi Omega Fraternity. Not only have I loved my job as a Regional Director, but I feel like I have fully embraced Memphis life. I proudly #choose901, and I'm excited to continue loving on this city.
As with any move, I immediately began searching for a strong church home. After bouncing around for about a year, one of my good friends introduced me to Harvest Church. The expository preaching and discipleship-focused mindset drew me in, and my decision was solidified once I began meeting the young men and women that make up the Young Adults Ministry. They have quickly become some of my very best friends, and I can honestly say for certain that God placed each of them in my life for a specific purpose. After much prayer, I chose to officially become a member of Harvest Church this past November! Since then, the Lord has opened door after door for me in terms of serving my church family. I get to hold babies once a month in the nursery, journey through the gospels with a small group of young women, and serve on the Leadership Team for the Young Adults Ministry. I am blessed to be a part of a multi-generational Discipleship Group, and have been poured into by older women in the church. Most excitedly, starting in the fall, I will be going through a nine-month program known as the Downline Institute offered by Downline Ministries. You can think of it as a seminary-like class that walks people through the Bible and explores various doctrines. Needless to say, I have truly found a church FAMILY here in Memphis, and I am so grateful. If God wasn't already rocking my world enough, I have been given the incredible opportunity to go on a mission trip to INDIA at the end of July! Four young women and four young men from the Young Adults Ministry will be journeying together to Hyderabad, India to work with the Banjara people group and local pastor that the Lord has led Harvest Church to partner with consistently. This is known as a "teaching trip," as our team will be assisting in a pastoral conference that will be occurring in the villages for over 70 indigenous pastors from the Banjara people group. The four men on our team will be imparting God’s Word to the pastors themselves, and then the four women on our team, including myself, will be leading the women and children. Not only will we have the opportunity to lead these women to better understand the gospel, but we will have the opportunity to teach regular subjects in the school, as well as the gospel, to the 400 children in the villages. We will also have the chance to gain experience evangelizing within the city, as well as take in the sights, sounds, and tastes of India. My degree from Mississippi State University is in Elementary Education, therefore this trip instantly tugged at my heart strings the second it was announced. It has been seven years since I have had the opportunity to go on a mission trip, and I had been talking to the Lord about my desire to travel again. After much prayer and encouragement from those around me, I felt the Lord calling me to apply for this trip. Needless to say, I was overjoyed when I found out that I was selected to be a part of the team and even more excited when I found out who else would be serving alongside me. I have no doubts that this will be one of the most incredible and admittedly challenging trips of our lives. Over the past few months, I have felt the Lord opening my eyes to the vastness of His love for me and the passions that He has instilled in my life. I whole-heartedly feel that my calling in life and personal mission is to SPREAD JOY wherever the Lord leads me, whether that is at home in Memphis, in my workplace, at Harvest, on a college campus, or to the ends of the Earth. This summer, I have the opportunity to spread the joy of the Lord to the people of India. Will you join my support team? Joyfully,
Becca Barry
01/08/2016
Our team is back on American soil! We explored the city, lived in the village, taught children and adults, experienced indigenous Banjara life, dressed in traditional Indian attire ( ), ate a lot of wonderful food, met the most amazing people, and shared endless laughs as a team. Most importantly, we encountered Jesus in ways that we never have before. My heart is SO full, and I know it will only grow as I continue to process this experience. I'm excited to enjoy our last few moments together as a team before boarding our final flight to Memphis. India, you (and this team) have a giant piece of my heart 💚
25/07/2016
INDIA, WE'RE HERE!
We spent the day exploring the city, and I'm already in awe of the incredible hospitality, helpfulness, and pep of Hyderabad. We're anxious to get to the village tomorrow and begin loving on the Banjara people, and we can't wait to see how the Lord will move in our hearts and theirs. And yes, my team is 🔥. We need your prayers as we begin teaching our lessons at the conference tomorrow!
Here we go!
23/07/2016
{{ NEW YORK >> ABU DHABI }}
About to board the 13.5 hour flight to meet my team in Abu Dhabi && I couldn't be more excited and thankful for everything that has led me to this place!!! Thank you for your continued prayers and support!!!
22/07/2016
TOMORROW!! The countdown is down to just hours until my team and I depart for India!! I can't believe it is here, but I am beside myself with excitement and anticipation of what the Lord will do.
So...let's MEET THE TEAM! (From left)
Joe Johnson went to school at Southern Miss and is a trained combat medic in the Army. Fun fact: he is the first person that invited me to Harvest Church!
Taylor West went to school at Ole Miss (though I don't hold it against her 😉) and is a staff member at Harvest. Fun fact: she has an adorable white lab puppy named Eli!
Robby Flack is from Kansas State (and has plenty of purple to prove it), and is the Young Adults Pastor at Harvest. He is leading this trip, and has actually lived in India for a year previously. Fun fact: he was voted "best smile" in high school, so we'll count on him to charm our way through India.
Leanna Baldner went to school at Mississippi State (HAILSTATE!) and currently works in the admissions office. Fun fact: though we didn't know each other personally in school, I unknowingly cheered her on during multiple MSU Women's Soccer games!
Clark Foy is from the University of Oklahoma and has also lived in India previously. Fun fact: he can play the drums like a pro and has a major aversion to water rings. So, give him coasters if you ever meet him.
Jason Biggs went to school at the University of Arkansas and currently works in the office building right across the street from Chi Omega's HQ! Fun fact: he can play almost any instrument, and worked in China before moving back to Memphis.
That's my crew! I can't wait to meet up with them tomorrow (well, technically Sunday!) in Abu Dhabi after departing from the United States separately.
Please pray for travel mercies as we all depart and tackle our 13.5 hour flights across the pond! LET'S DO THIS! 🎉✈️
09/07/2016
TWO WEEKS from now, I'll be on a plane beginning my journey to spread JOY in India!! As surreal as that sounds, it's true, and I'm working on final preparations for the lessons we'll be teaching the kids at the local school.
I'm so thankful for a church family that pushes me to use my God-given passions and skills to further the Lord's Kingdom!
Now, I want to hear from YOU! What are some of your favorite children's lessons? Do you remember any particularly impactful ones from when you were little!? Who knows, one your favorite activities/crafts/songs could make its way to India 😉
23/06/2016
The countdown is on!! Just ONE MONTH until I depart for India, and I'm celebrating the best way I know how....with 1,300 Sisters at Chi Omega Convention!
I'll be posting soon with updates about the lessons I'll be teaching, as well as introducing you to my team members. It's getting real, y'all!
01/06/2016
JUMPING FOR JOY on this first day of June because I just received the news that I am FULLY FUNDED for India!!!
In just 5 short weeks, God has provided more than enough for this dream to become a reality. I am absolutely blown away by the generosity shown by the Body of Christ during this journey. This is absolutely a team effort, and I am so grateful to have each of you on my squad. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!!
Continue to follow along on this page as I provide updates as we prepare to depart in just 53 days! I am so incredibly excited to get to SPREAD JOY in India. Glory to God!!
23/05/2016
Megan and I are twinning at work today in honor of just TWO MONTHS left until I leave for India!! ✌🏼️
The official dates of the trip are July 23-August 1. I'm so close to reaching my fundraising goal in its entirety, and I'm excited to see how the Lord will provide in these last two months!
(Disclaimer: our twinning was completely unintentional, but oh so fun 💁🏼)
13/05/2016
THIS is the face of someone (and her incredibly supportive best friend 😊) that just found out today that her first fundraising goal has been MET a whole week early!!
THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for the support that y'all have shown this far. I still have a little bit more to go, but I am overwhelmed at the Lord's provision. One step closer to spreading joy in India!
09/05/2016
WE appreciate YOUR support ( me + random stranger on Main Street who photobombed my picture ) !!
Thank you to everyone who has donated and prayed for me so far. I am trusting in the Lord to provide the $2,800 needed for my trip to India at the end of July, and there are 12 DAYS left until I have to have an initial $1,800 to pay for my flight. Thanks to the love and support of family, friends, and Harvest Church, I am half-way to my goal!
If you feel led to give financially, you can do so now through 1 of 2 options listed in the following link: http://eepurl.com/bZtB7z.
08/05/2016
On this Mother's Day, I'd love to take a second to talk about a huge reason that I am the woman I am today: this woman right here!
Not only did she manage to raise twins, but she did so with sacrificial love, grace, and counsel. Whether it was driving me to a friend's house or to the next sporting event, she supported every endeavor that I ever attempted. NOW, she is supporting me as I travel across the globe to India in a few short months. Only a mother rooted in faith could do that with a smile on her face and joy in her heart.
She has certainly spread joy all throughout my life. Will you help me spread joy in the lives of others this summer?
03/05/2016
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." --Proverbs 22:6
On this National Teacher Appreciation Day, I can't help but smile while thinking about the hundreds of children that our team will have the opportunity to reach in July.
The Lord instills passions and abilities in all of us for the purpose of glorifying Him. I am so thankful that He chose to give me a passion for teaching. Let's go spread some JOY in India!
01/08/2016
25/07/2016
23/07/2016
22/07/2016
09/07/2016
23/06/2016
01/06/2016
23/05/2016
13/05/2016
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