St. Barnabas Orthodox Church has been called by the grace of God to join the whole Church of Jesus Christ to “go…and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (St. Matthew 28:19,20, Orthodox Study Bible).

Because we have been named after St. Barnabas and are directly associated with Antioch, we believe that we should, in our time and place, follow the examples given for us in the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Tradition of the Church. Therefore, we commit ourselves individually and corporately to develop the character of St. Barnabas who “was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (Acts 11:24). We also seek to live lives that are worthy of the name “Christian” since it was at Antioch that that name was first given (Acts 11:26).

To accomplish this purpose in this Church, we believe that the following will be the means by which we, as God's co-workers, will achieve our mission: As the Church in Antioch actively sought those both inside and outside of Judaism, we commit ourselves to actively seek those both inside and outside of our identity as Orthodox Christians (Acts 11:19-21):

1. We commit ourselves to actively seek to grow numerically as the Church in Antioch grew (Acts 11:21,24,26).

2. We commit ourselves to faithfully assemble for and actively participate in the services of the Church (Acts 11:26);

3. We commit ourselves to the faithful teaching and learning of the Holy Tradition of the Apostles and the Church (Acts 11:26);

4. We commit ourselves to becoming disciples of Jesus Christ and aid in training all who desire to follow Christ to become His disciples (Acts 11:26);

5. We commit ourselves to the faithful and sacrificial support of those in need (Acts 11:27-30);

6. We commit ourselves to the evangelization and growth of the Church in and beyond our immediate parish by prayer, fasting, and financial support (Acts 13:1).

We commit ourselves to this, the mission of St. Barnabas Orthodox Church, by the grace of God, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.