wfn.org | Distinguished Evangelist Named

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3275 notes).

Note 3274 by UMNS on Nov. 6, 1996 at 15:52 Eastern (2938 characters).

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CONTACT: Linda Green                             560(10-71B){3274}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470              Nov. 6, 1996

Denver pastor is 1996 distinguished
United Methodist evangelist
     
                 by United Methodist News Service

     The Rev. James E. Barnes, a pastor in Denver, Colo., has been
selected as the 1996 Distinguished Evangelist of the United
Methodist Church.
     The award was announced during the annual banquet of the
Foundation for Evangelism, Nov. 2 at Lake Junaluska, N.C.
     Barnes, 63, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, the
oldest church in the "Mile High City," was selected from
nominations received from across the denomination. He is the 47th
person to be enshrined in United Methodism's Hall of Fame for
Evangelism. 
     The Foundation, an affiliate of the churchwide Board of
Discipleship, established the Distinguished Evangelist Award and
the Hall of Fame in 1989, the foundation's 40th anniversary. 
     Its mission is "to promote, encourage and provide resources
for responsible evangelism, enabling The United Methodist Church
to bring persons into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
and His disciples."
     The 1996 Distinguished Evangelist award recognizes Barnes'
role in Christian evangelism, said retired Bishop Earl G. Hunt,
foundation president emeritus. "James Barnes is a tremendous
preacher and leader."
     Hunt said, Barnes' style of preaching may be the key to his
success in evangelism. He has a "down to earth" and "almost
folksy" approach to preaching, but reflects a sound theological
and biblical background and a "careful" grasp of scholarship as it
relates to current events. 
     In the 17 years Barnes has been pastor of Trinity, the church
has received more than 3,000 new members and grown from less than
1,000 members in 1980 to approximately 2,700 in 1996.
     In 1987, Barnes was the recipient of the Harry Denman Award
for Leadership and Church Development. For 11 consecutive years,
Trinity church has shown an increase in worship and Sunday School
attendance, held a confirmation class, and paid its apportionments
and wider mission commitments in full. 
     "Receiving this award for my ministry overwhelms and humbles
me," Barnes said. "What a great list of names to be part of in the
United Methodist Church."
     Earlier this year, Barnes received Iliff School of Theology's
"Excellence in Ministry Award." At that time Trinity Church joined
the theological school in establishing the "James E. Barnes
Excellence in Ministry Endowed Scholarship Fund" that will provide
for Iliff student internships at Trinity church.
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