About Barry
Barry founded Reach Out Youth Solutions in 1976 in response to the overwhelming need for effective youth ministries in the local church. Through Reach Out, Barry has developed Jesus-Focused Youth Ministry and Parent Fuel to equip youth leaders, parents, and churches to multiply disciple-making with the younger generation. Now at East-West Barry continues to pursue his same passion for Jesus and a biblical strategy for reaching and discipling the younger generation.
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A native of Princeton, WV, Barry graduated from Davidson College in North Carolina with a degree in English. At Davidson, Barry played basketball on the 3rd-ranked team in the nation, competed in cross-country and track, later running in the Boston Marathon. He earned a Masters of Divinity from Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY, and a Doctor of Ministries from Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX.
Barry’s engagement in youth ministry includes founding the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Davidson College, leading a Young Life club, playing on the first Athletes in Action basketball team with Campus Crusade for Christ, and touring five Asian countries with the Venture for Victory basketball team. He served as a youth pastor, and then as the Director of Youth Evangelism for the Southern Baptist Convention. He helped found the National Network of Youth Ministries and Campus Alliance—80 youth ministries working together to reach every student in every school with a life-changing relationship with Jesus. Internationally, Barry began and actively participates in the Global Youth Coalition—partnering to reach and disciple the 2.3 billion unreached youth of the world.
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Author of over 30 books translated into more than 13 languages, they include Jesus-Focused Youth Ministry, Moving Toward Maturity Series, Building Leaders Series, and Jesus: No Equal and Parent Fuel.
After 28 years of marriage to Carol, raising four children, Carol’s death and his experience as a single parent, Barry married Lawanna Busby. By blending their families, Barry and Lawanna have five married children and are grandparents of 14 grandchildren. Barry and Lawanna are fully engaged as ministry partners.
Affirming Words from Around the World
Kurt Nelson - President East-West Ministries International
"Barry's friendship and encouragement have been an immeasurably great inspiration to me personally for over four decades of my life in Christ. God used Barry to mark my life at the crucial foundational stage of my first steps with Christ - and I have never gotten over that! His partnership with me at East-West is a constant blessing in my life..." Read More