Introduction
I think my testimony of faith is already on my bio page...I need to cut that to here. Give a super short one there and the full one here.
Family Mission Statement
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Christian Mission Statement
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Financial Mission Statement
I, Royce Barber, am a spiritual family-committed servant of a higher power; I am extraordinarily sound in mind, body, and soul; who brings joy and hope to the world through prodigious acts of motivational inspiration, teaching, financial philanthropy, laughter, and empathetic caring.
Life Motto
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Testimony of Faith in Jesus (Needs Plenty of Editing)
I hope my testimony will inspire a seed a faith in those who need it, and be a spiritual refresher for those who are ready to accelerate their passion for Christ.
I do not remember much of my upbringing, so I'll talk about the most vivid parts that I do recall. As a child I was unsocial and very quiet. I got beaten up often, my nose broken, and attacked by kids after school numerous times. I didn't know what to do, and had no one who would listen. My parents simply said, "fight back". Well that would have gotten me killed. I didn't have many Christian role models in my life, and they didn't seem to know I was there. I didn't talk, cry, or even move much. I was scared, very scared of the world and the people in it. Kids were as cruel as wild animals attacking their prey. I was greatly depressed and suffering. The school counselor advised professional counseling, but my parents wanted to protect me from 'quacks' and refused. On a trip to my grandmothers, I was baptized, but didn't know what it meant. I couldn't pay attention, focus, or even think a single thought without being terrified. This is how I was up until middle school, where various friends told me about their Church's youth groups, Boy Scouts of America, Bible Study, etc. These activities were greatly appealing, because they matched up with how my grandmothers lived: Active, honest, and healthy. My grandmothers were Christian, but I didn't know them all that well, until I spent two summers with my Grandma Barber. She taught me what it was to be brave, outgoing, and have fun with life. She put me to hard work around the house, and it was actually enjoyable because she communicated with me. She treated me like a fellow human, and taught me more than anything I ever got out of school.
My Grandma LaBonte helped too, by supporting my family with quick witted quotes from Scripture. Out of the blue my mother got me a King James Bible, and I heavily studied it. The old English didn't make much sense at the time, but I could feel the Lord putting me on a spiritual path. Not an easy path, but a healthy one. So when I heard about Church Youth Group, I went, and I also joined Cub Scouts immediately. My mother, brother, little sister, and I attended service at that Church from time to time. The Selah Methodist Church. I went where God told me to go, without question or hesitation! Later in life I did the same by accepting a job in California.
I feel that the Lord opened my eyes when I had heard about Boy Scouts of America. I don't know how other Scout den's work, but mine read Scripture and prayed. Resources like BoyScouts are available for nearly anyone, yet so few people take full advantage of the open doors in their lives. I was starting to connect with kind people, who didn't want to harm me. This was my time to live. It took me until high school to really start talking, and even now I'm shy, but every day the Lord brings me closer to him, preparing me for heaven and allowing me to speak about my faith. I'm going to continue working on my testimony, and I hope that you all develop a good testimony to educate others about the Glory of Christ, who died for all our sins on the cross, and was resurrected on the third day.
I live for the Lord, to be a good role model. If someone is interested in my life, I tell them about God. I'm never pushy, no matter how impatient I want to be. It's not about me, and these pressures I feel are not mine to bear. The Lord shields me, and I meditate in prayer. I visualize the desire I have to be faithful. Scripture uses imagery, and it should be visualized.
Three years ago I moved away from my family in Yakima Washington, and moved to Fresno California to accept a job with a Christian employer. In moving to California, I got away from a lot of frustration and mixed messages, and found many Christian peers in Fresno. I've joined an excellent Bible Study here, where I have learned the methods in which to study scripture. I currently attend NorthSide Christian Church of Clovis California, and once a year travel back to Washington to try to confront my fears. The Lord will get me there, into a safe place. As for the depression, the Lord has shown me medication and treatments to deal with the mental pains. I'm healthy, and hopefully becoming wise, that I may be a truly faithful, spiritually mature Christian man. I would like to leave you with something I have repeated many times in my life; this is the Boy Scout Oath: "On my honor, I will do my best. To do my duty to GOD and my Country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."
God Bless America. Well that is my testimony, it's not too elegant but it's very special to me.
Royce Barber
