Recently, I was asked what it felt like to be replacing a legend. My initial response was “Let me get back to you on that.” Yes, you read that right - Jimmy Barry is retiring. It had been thought about, prayed about, and discussed for a long, long time, and finally the time seemed right, and when you read this, the transition will have already taken place.
Replacing a legend though - it simply cannot be done. For example, consider Hank Aaron. There have been plenty of power hitters batting fourth for the Atlanta Braves over the years, but no one will ever replace Hammering Hank - ever. I may be standing where Jimmy stood, but I am not Jimmy Barry. I didn’t start with nothing more than a desire to help people in dire poverty in a slum in Kampala, Uganda which ultimately became the movement of God that it is today. Jimmy Barry did that. A decade and some more years later I came alongside. In that time, I went from not knowing anything about JB, to learning his preferences for sweet tea. Strawberry is the key, by the way. I’ve bounced around in vehicles with him for thousands upon thousands of miles on some of the worst roads in the world. I’ve walked with him in a desert looking for a shade tree by a dry riverbed while considering what dehydration death feels like, and he made us laugh while sharing stories about his favorite milkshakes. I’ve listened to him teach four stage discipleship over and over again. I’ve watched him share the message that changed his life hundreds upon hundreds of times. Let’s not even talk about the times I’ve seen the five finger Gospel, and his latest training we call “The Tree.” I’ve written down so many Jimmyisms, that a small book could be compiled. (Note to self: Compile a Jimmyisms Book.).
Over the last four years I have learned that Jimmy Barry is an honest, Godly, simple, and quite funny man; he’s true to God, and his convictions. He is true to Pam and his daughters, and he is true to those in Uganda/Kenya/DR Congo/South Sudan that he loves so much. He is probably one of the greatest men that I have ever met, and I have never respected anyone more. I truly love that man, and I want to be just like him, because He has lived just like Jesus. He is the embodiment of 2 Timothy 2:2: And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
So replacing a legend, it can’t be done, but I’ll do my best. And in order to that very thing, I’m going to start out by doing exactly what he instructed me not to do. Jimmy and Pam Barry will be preaching at a church that he loves so much on December 5 in the morning service at 10:00am. In fact, this was Jimmy’s first church to pastor so many years ago. It is Mount Zion Baptist Church, located at 101 Mt. Zion Church Rd, Alexandria, Alabama 36250. Their phone number is 256-820-3931. Another important thing is they are hosting a reception to honor Jimmy and Pam from 2pm until 4pm that afternoon. Come by and share some stories and hugs to two very faithful servants of God.