Well Glory! Wayne was born on July 27, 1943 in Roanoke, VA to Myrtle and Claude Barber. As Wayne grew up, his parents didn't have much but taught him the importance of God and family. After graduating from Mars Hill College, he attended Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY and Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, KY. During these years, Wayne came to know the Lord personally and understand the calling God had placed on his life. Later on, Wayne received honorary doctorates from North Florida Baptist Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, FL, and Covington Theological Seminary in Fort Oglethorpe, GA.
Wayne met and married the love of his life, Diana, in 1969. God blessed them with two children, Stephanie and Steven, in the early 1970's. Wayne and Diana continued to follow the Lord in ministry, serving Him in churches throughout the south in Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Wayne had the privilege of serving as the pastor of Woodland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN from 1981-1999 before God called him out west to take a pastorate in Albuquerque, NM at Hoffmantown Church. God brought things full circle when He called Wayne and Diana back to Woodland Park Baptist in 2011.
For fourteen years, Wayne served as co-teacher with Kay Arthur at Precept Ministries. During that time, he had the great honor of studying with Dr. Spiros Zodhiates and co-hosted the national radio and TV program, New Testament Light. He was president and founder of Living Grace Ministries. He co-authored the Following God Bible study series published by AMG Ministries and authored several books, the most recent one published by ATRI Publishing is entitled Living Daily In God's Grace (For Free Copy click link: Living Daily In God's Grace Free E Book).
Wayne loved the Tennessee Volunteers football team and was an avid hunter and fisherman. Most importantly, he loved Jesus. Wayne's life was transformed by the enabling grace of the risen Christ. His life message was, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). His love for the Lord was seen beautifully in his love for God's Word and people. One of his most well-known statements was, "I can't, God never said I could. He can, and He always said He would!" (Major Ian Thomas), and "Jesus be Jesus in me" (Reverend Roy Hession).
Wayne began experiencing health problems in 2016. In God's providence, while in Asheville, NC at the Billy Graham Training Center, Wayne was promoted to Glory for eternal life on August 29, 2016. Wayne believed with all his heart "to live is Christ" and is now experiencing the gain of GLORY.
ARTICLE FROM STEVEN BARBER ON DAD'S LEGACY:
https://billygraham.org/story/pastor-remembers-dads-legacy-ministry-not-christ/
ARTICLE FROM STEPHANIE BARBER CHRISTENSEN REMEMBERING DAD:
https://blogsbychristianwomen.com/hold-to-hope-doubts/
