Reviews of Interim Ministry of Jerrie and Gail Barber from Pacific, Missouri

What was helpful:
Your calm, cool, collective attitude
Your wife’s support. She’s my favorite
Your dedication
Continue to use story lessons in real life examples from your experiences

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
Your first class you taught at your home taught me a lot. I still don’t agree with splitting up into two groups and not having age separation. It caused tension for me, due to lack of experience for some age groups.
— Jimmy Smith

Thank you for your talent and time. You and Mrs. Barber are the best thing that Pacific has seen in my 36 years here. I really like you Mr. Barber. I love you Mrs. Barber

What was helpful:
Lessons were appropriate to everyday living
Appreciated Power Point that went along with lessons
Enjoyed the live illustrations

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
— Jerri Kuehn

What was helpful:
I have greatly enjoyed the Wednesday morning class. I wish I would have started attending this class earlier. Ms. Gail — you are wonderful. You have been a great example to all, but the ladies have a special love for you! You are a fantastic preacher’s wife. It means so much to me that you made an extra effort with Emma.

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
With a small congregation such as Pacific, I would like to see the Wednesday night class in a circle. It is great to see others’ faces. Seems to make it easier for people to make comments. I would have enjoyed seeing an article or a comment corner by you in the bulletin.
— Laura Marler

What was helpful:
EVERYTHING! Jerrie and Gail came to us at a completely desperate time for our congregation. It was a time that if the wrong person would have come, it would have been the end of us. His knowledge, leadership, guidance, support, and love were exactly what we needed to be blessed with and exactly what has helped us flourish over the past 22 months along with Bod’s blessing.

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
Please consider blessing us more and more by continued visits and many, many prayers.
— Jessie Karl

What was helpful:
Having examples during sermons and handing out different papers to be more engaging.

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
— Emma Marler

What was helpful:
I enjoyed the leadership classes as a few couples and visiting. The book, The Way of the Shepherd was excellent.
My mustard seed:
Aim high, you’re gonna hit low.
You may wobble from side to side but stay on the right road and you will make it home.
Adding Gail’s book for the congregation. It was a very emotional book well worth the read.

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
Try not to be so lovable. It’s hard to say goodbye. Just kidding. You and Gail brought love back to our congregation. Thank you.
— Name withheld by request

What was helpful:
What helped me most was in every lesson to find something tiny but important. (my mustard seed) and it was Powerful.

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
— Colby Ring

What was helpful:
1) You helped bring our church family back together after hardships
2) When given the decision between tradition and the Bible, you always choose the Bible with lots of context and evidence.

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
— Lily Copeland

What was helpful:
I really enjoyed your lessons and how inspiring they were to everyone. I really enjoyed how kind both of you were. I loved your sermons and I didn’t really pay much attention when you came. I really enjoyed listening.

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
I was really hoping to take the sign language class but I wasn’t able to go the the first class. I am really thankful for you coming.
— Logan Podner

What was helpful:
Everything, very descriptive, good teaching, great job

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
— Name withheld by request

What was helpful:
Jerrie & Gail truly try to live and teach as Jesus did. They are about people and look for the good in everyone. They are humble and listen. They are encouraging and urge us on to action and good works. They taught us about responsibility and LOVE. Your life will be better for having them in it. They want what is best for us.

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
The only improvement I can think of is you staying longer/forever.
— Anna Hurst

What was helpful:
Everything!!I love your kind, humble way of teaching the truth!!

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
I loved it, just the way you did it!! I admire how you want to keep learning!! Always reading & recommending a book!!
— Name withheld by request

What was helpful:
1) Everything
2) Letting people know by your lessons and using the Bible to teach us that we won’t be perfect and that’s okay. Just always strive to be your best.
3) MUSTARD SEEDS!!! Very important!
4) Being a wobbly driver is okay…just always remember where your destination is and to stay on your path.

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
Please consider staying.
You guys both do such a great job. Nothing needs to be changed.
— Sara Beth Ring

What was helpful:
Your lessons

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
— Name withheld by request

What was helpful:
Your Wednesday class helped me a lot

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
We can all improve, just keep up what you are doing.
— Bill Burkett

What was helpful:
Jerrie & Gail,
I believe the most helpful thing that you provided to this congregation was perspective. I think you provided a good attitude and perspective to help this congregation reset their mindset after their split. Having moved to the St. Louis area recently, it was rather odd and very concerning to see how the different churches interact with each other (or don’t). I truly believe that both of you have helped to lay the foundation to help this church reevaluate itself to be able to grow. On a personal note, I thoroughly enjoyed sharing a common heritage & experience in Nashville.

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
I have one improvement to suggest. Consider trying to include more discussion and involvement in the classes you teach. Many of your classes feel like another sermon. Not necessarily a bad thing, but can inhibit participation & engagement.
— Cody Stubblefield

What was helpful:
Your abundant knowledge of the Bible. The approach in which you teach offers hope for God’s grace and mercy.
Your teachings were easy to follow & relatable.
You inspired others to be more Christ like.
Jerrie,
I truly cannot thank you enough for your knowledge. Your teachings on grace & mercy were so uplifting and encouraging to this grieving mom’s heart. Thank you for all your wisdom and guidance that you share with others
In Christian Love,
Joanie Copeland
Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:

What was helpful:
I wasn’t brought up in Church of Christ. I joined in 2010 and since Jerry and Gail have been here I’ve learned so very much about the church itself and feel so much clearer in my understanding.

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
— Name withheld by request

What was helpful:
You have a teaching style that addresses many seemingly difficult topics. You ask a lot of questions which provokes much thought. Following this, you had a way to discuss these topics in a simple, truthful manner. You have helped me in the way that I read & ponder on scriptures, & think about what it looks like for me in my life.

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
— Possibly in addition to the men’s leadership class, you could incorporate something to teach men how to go about putting a sermon, class devotional, etc…together. I think this could be useful for men to be able to fill the pulpit if need be, especially considering our situation here@ Pacific.
— Lane Smith

What was helpful:
Jerrie & Gail Barber was like a breath of fresh air. Ver positive, upbeat, humble, well balanced in his teaching and preaching. Very wise! Enjoyed the small group Shepherds Orientation very informative. Enjoyed Gail’s book Fleecy Clouds! Even though we extended their stay 4 months I wish we could have extended it more.

Please consider adding, deleting, or improving:
Smaller the church, the more you feel to be involved in the different committees. Have to be careful not to over-extend yourself.
— Tracy Ring

Observations

• The Pacific church was thoughtful, encouraging, and cooperative in every way.
• Gail had just broken her shoulder before we moved. They built a porch with a ramp so she wouldn’t have to climb steps. They moved the washer-dryer hook-ups from the basement to the main floor to eliminate the need for going up and down stairs from the basement.
• They worked hard on the projects to transition well.
• There was an interest in the lessons and classes, from the young people to the older saints. We had Wednesday morning Bible class, the same lesson as Wednesday night class. Several attended both classes. Often, when I mentioned a book that I had found helpful, a short time later, someone would tell me about reading the book.
• We enjoyed our time with them.
• We plan to take a six-month interim between the interims. Gail’s book, Fleecy Clouds, is having a significant impact on hundreds of readers. Gail is available for ladies’ days, ladies’ Bible classes, and visits to children’s homes.
• Here are links to two opportunities where she spoke:
• Stories of Amazing Grace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbLzMuA6lgg&t=108s
• Ladies Day at Childhaven Children’s Home in Cullman, Alabama, where Gail grew up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jaroRpdvlw
• We plan to be available for the next interim in March 2024.