Barnabas Community – 2016 Missions Annual Report

A Place of Plenty in Lincoln

2,200. That is how many families were served and impacted by the ministries of Barnabas Community in 2016. You may have heard Barnabas Community mentioned around Sheridan before and have wondered what exactly this ministry is all about.

While it continues to grow and change, Barnabas Community is predominantly a clothing distribution site, where individuals and families can shop for free basic essentials, like clothing and accessories, small household items, books and toys. Last year alone, Barnabas Community distributed on average 4,400 items from the store each month.

And while these numbers help you imagine the vast amount of people helped in Lincoln by Barnabas Community, it’s more than just the numbers of items distributed. For many of the guests, Barnabas is a place of hope, community and a safe place to talk and pray with somebody.

“There’s not a corner here that the Holy Spirit isn’t present,” says longtime volunteer, Jonella Eisentrager. “You see people’s hearts and rawness and you can soothe some of that by talking and relationships…you know God’s presence is here.”

At Barnabas Community, a primary value radiating throughout is “God provides abundantly.” From the donations we receive everyday, to the 100 pounds of vegetables donated from the Sheridan Vegetable Gardens, to those moments where a guest finds exactly what they were needing, God provides.

A volunteer since 2013, Erica Vannier, recounted her favorite memory at Barnabas Community that shows how God provided for a young girl and her grandmother.

“There was one afternoon in the late fall where a grandma pulled a pair of cute pink flannel pajama pants from the rack and handed them to her grade-school aged granddaughter. She said, ‘These will keep you warmer at night than the old shorts you’ve been wearing.’ The girl looked up at her grandma, gave the pajama pants a huge hug, and had such a look of joy on her face…in just an hour or so, one pair of pajama pants changed status from unneeded to treasured.”

And the hope is guests at Barnabas feel this as well; that they are a needed and treasured Child of God.

Volunteers Make it Possible

With how many are served by this ministry, it takes a solid group of dedicated volunteers to keep Barnabas Community operational and thriving. In 2016 alone, 6,000 volunteer hours were given to Barnabas and volunteers serve in many capacities. From helping the guests at the store check-out, to sorting all the items, to serving meals, one thing rings true: Barnabas volunteers make it all possible.

“Any of us tomorrow could be in situations where we don’t want to be and we hope someone would reach out a hand to us,” adds Jonella. “Service to me is a gift, a gift God has given me.”

Many volunteers at Barnabas also serve together as families and love the opportunity to learn and to serve God and their neighbors.

“When I have the opportunity to bring my daughter Bianca, she gets to have some life lessons that can’t always be taught at home or school,” said Erica. “She is learning that her hand-me-downs can be someone else’s treasure, not everyone has what she has, hard work pays off, [and] a smile and a kind ear is always appreciated.”

Not only do these volunteers give so much with their time and dedication, they often find they receive a lot in return as they spend time at Barnabas. “I love the diversity among our clients,” said Catherine Petersen, who began volunteering November of 2016. “It’s so interesting to talk to them and hear some of their stories.”

“The interaction with the clients who shop here and them sharing their hearts and me sharing my heart,” added Jonella. “It’s a gift given back.”

To learn more about Barnabas Community or to sign up to volunteer, visit sheridanlutheran.org/barnabas.