BIOGRAPHY for
The Rev. Bruce A. Barstow
 
I was born in Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan and lived on Park Avenue until I was two. Having gotten polio, my parents fought off the NYC Public Health Department and kept me home. Dad worked for the Foreign Service and was sent to the Middle East. I joined my parents there after therapy at the Children’s Hospital in Baltimore. I lived in Baghdad, Dahran and Beirut before coming back to Baltimore with my mother when I was seven. Then at age eight, we returned to the Middle East and lived with Dad in Turkey. Finally, we settled in Southern California where I attended fourth grade through college.
 
Though baptized, neither of my parents took me to church since they weren’t church-goers. A friend asked me to VBS, which I loved, and then to Sunday school. My parents told me it was my choice, however, before I could attend, we moved. At a new school, we had released time. I could choose Roman Catholic, Methodist, another I don’t recall or Christian Science. I liked science and I wanted to be a Christian, so that’s where I went. It was great being warmly received and cared for – so I went to their Sunday services until my Sunday school teacher invited me to her house to pray over my leg and make it ‘normal’. I knew my disability was real, so I left. 
 
I went to several churches until I was asked to a Presbyterian. The Associate Pastor to Youth led me to Christ and it was there that my faith grew supported by the congregation. Several persons, including the Pastors, suggested I consider ministry, but I shied away from the idea. Going away to college, I had a dramatic experience of God’s love and formed a relationship independent of my Pastor and the congregation. College friends also suggested I consider the ministry. So I prayed, God, if you want me in the ministry, You need to convince me I can do it and provide the money for seminary. Almost three years later God came through – first by convincing me as a small group conference leader I can do ministry and then unexpectedly I received a grant to cover seminary. There was no doubt God was calling me – the Presbytery of San Fernando concurred.
 
I served two churches as a student assistant on Long Island while in seminary, then was Associate in New Jersey for five years, and a solo Pastor for fifteen years in two churches in upstate New York, and lastly Head of Staff outside Baltimore. 
 
I met Barbara on Long Island where we married. We have two adult children who have and still give us great joy. Kristen and Alan were both in the Peace Corps – Kristen in the Slovak Republic where she met her husband, a wonderful son-in-law. They live two miles from us and have just made us grandparents – and I baptized Samko on Pentecost. Alan served in Namibia and is now back on a grant researching an article for his Master’s thesis at the University of Wyoming. Last summer, Barbara and I took an amazing trip out to Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota and Iowa to see him settle in and do some touring. Ask me about the Badlands!
 
I am excited about serving the Pencader congregation, particularly by their willingness to risk, doing things differently and doing different things. With them, I hope to discover their niche and help them develop it, renewing their witness and service.
 
 
Special Called Meeting - July 17, 2007

 


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