"I had lived in this huge and massive mansion. My whole life I had lived in one of the closets, and then somebody forgot to lock the door, and I got out and found this huge house I didn't even know about." Oh my word! That was such a powerful statement.
When I try to explain to my mom why I want to become orthodox she feels hurt because she thinks I have a problem with her church. I don't but according to her that means I should stay.
@@joachim847 no I havent if your looking for a good church I would recomend you look into it though. In hindsight the true reason I wanted to switch was I was in a paticulary turbulent time in my life I wanted a foundation that didnt move.
Fr. Barnabas is SO good for this... I'm not yet an official convert, or catechumen, but my best friend who is almost through catechism and preparing for chrismation recommended Fr. Barnabas to me, since he and I are both old rednecks from backwoods evangelical protestant backgrounds. Fr. Barnabas is not just a great teacher, he's especially good for hardheaded Southerners like myself.
Growing up my parents were not religious. However I was. My father's family are staunch Baptist. My mother's family is Lutheran. At some point or another I either myself or my parents went through the motions of integrating religion to my life. My maternal grandmother baptized me as a baby, to the distain if my Baptist father, and then that was it until I was told enough to take myself to church. When I began to attend a Methodist Church on my own, I wanted to be confirmed. I was confirmed in my maternal grandmother's Congregational Church. My father's family then insisted I be baptized as a Baptist. I continued my education and went to this church or that church. And then I meant Paul, who is Greek and consequently, Orthodox. We are getting married next year and before then, I want to convert to Orthodoxy. The father at the church suggested I look at these videos in preparation. Im so sad that most of them have been removed but this lecture is amazing. I'm so looking forward to this journey as I become Orthodox, and so excited to utilize any resources I can to understand this religion.
Boot Camp is awesome! Your funny, interesting, and easy to listen to. And your explanations are easy to follow. The best intro I've found to Orthodoxy.
Thank you, Fr. As an Episcopal priest who came out of Southern Baptist denomination, your testimony really spoke to me. The Orthodox Church has been wooing me for some time. I came upon this video by the providence of the Holy Spirit. Bless you
Please see Archbishop Lazar's excellent talks from our fathers "Theology made Simple" and our own under "Judith Irene Matta" which expand into more of Living Orthodoxy in the world
I can understand that. I was a cradle Episcopalian, and my family has been Episcopalian since they changed from being Puritan after the Mayflower. I left it ten years ago, when it became too blasphemous for me to endure. There is fairness and and trying to be fair to what everyone in the rainbow coalition wants, and female bishops praying to Our Mother who art in Heaven ( which was the death knell for me), and then there is wha t the Bible says. I had to decide first Did I believe the Bible was really the Word of God, or a book of fables and suggested guidelines? Then I had to decide my level of accountability. Believing the Bible was true, I could No longer be Episcopalian.
I am 65 years and have been in “church” almost all my life. I’ve studied in seminary, studied and read scripture intently, I believe Christ, share the Gospel, I work with broken young men who are in placement in a boys home for going on 18 years now. For the past almost 4 years I have longed for more. I began again to study church history back to beginning and reading the Apostolic fathers. I’ve always believed in the literal blood and body ... long story short, here I am. I have jumped out of the pond and into the ocean. To Him Who is able to do far above all we think or imagine, to Him be all glory, all honor and all power forever and ever. Amen! I ha e learned so much through these videos. I am in catechism now looking forward to chrismatian !
"Glory be to God for All Things." Orthodoxy is simply a lifestyle based on the teachings of Christ and the Holy Fathers of the Church with the family as the basic unit within the body of Christ. It's really quite simple and in being simple it becomes profound. Chrysostom
You are clueless. It's all about money and power. The Leadership 100 owns the Bishops and the Archdiocese of America. I get a kick out of you clueless converts.
This is awesome! You listed everyone my dad played on the car radio as I grew up! Focus on the Family, In Touch, etc. I am Orthodox, and that's who I am, but I know that even those days growing up listening to that stuff God was reaching out to me and guiding me to his Church.
Thank you Ft. Barnabas for this great series, it was a pleasure to listen to your introduction on our Faith in English with holy enthusiasm and warmth. Greeting from Romania, with love in Christ.
A great story, really spot on. Orthodoxy attracted me 1. Because i could see protestant thinking & experience had some major holes in it & far too many varieties where each thought they were 'right'. So i went back through history to see what i would find & found the Orthodox church (too many novel doctrinal changes in roman catholicism after the 1054 schism) 2. I travelled a lot in Greece and the Orthodox folk i met just had a different spirit about them that attracted me. 3. I found the mindset of the early eastern fathers and their view of scripture far more authentic. Rejection by old friends & family sadly shows that many Christians remain very closed minded (mistaking their thoughts for those of the Holy Spirit). I'm sure equating Orthodoxy with roman catholicism stops their minds dead in its tracks (before they can really consider anything they hear). How very human.
Father, The grace of God lead you on your incredible journey to Orthodoxy as your story is so very inspiring. There were four books that really solidified my own personal transition to the Eastern Orthodox church. The first one was The way of the Pilgram. The second was The Philokalia, the third was Wounded by love, and finally the fourth was St. Paisios the Athonite.
I understand how you feel. My family were staunch Protestant, descended from Mayflower Puritans. I learned about the Reformation as a child of ten, and through the years learned and researched all of the changes the Roman Catholic church made to doctrine, like infallibility of the Pope, which wasn't even established until 1870. But the mainstream Protestant church bothered me because there seemed no real faith, no belief in miracles or saints. It seemed mostly an intellectual and social religion based on behaviour. So I looked into Evangelical Christians. I liked their faith, and their belief in a personal relationship with God, but other things didn't match my understanding of the Bible, specifically the speaking in tongues, nonsense languages they put so much stock in. Orthodoxy was never mention ed anywhere. I never came across anything in all my years mentioning that the Orthodox churches were around in the beginning, and then when Rome decided it was an authority, the Orthodox church kept going. I have been trying to " seek the ancient paths", and it seems to me that this is the closest. I was always led to believe that the Eastern Orthodox and Russian Orthodox, etc. Were just ethnic Protestant denominations, and if you weren't of that nationality, there was no point in joining; in essence, they were like a large cult. This was my understanding, and it upsets me that I was never informed that they were the original church minus Rome. I wish I had known this years ago, and I wish my Orthodox friends( I had many when I was young), had ever told me this. Instead they said things like, my family has always been Orthodox, or Everyone in my country is Orthodox, neither of which is an incentive for an outsider to look into it. I always assumed any outsider not from that country would be excluded, ie. NonGreeks couldn't attend a Greek Orthodox church. I wish Orthodox people were more open about what their faith really is, and stress it's origins rather than just its ethnic demographic.
*Pomaže Bog (Помаже Бог)! Impressively comprised in full truth and great detail...yet beautifully conveyed in a humble and personable fashion... I have just described Father Barnabas’s (Orthodoxy 101) Talk....and interestingly enough (with these same words), I have also just described The Orthodox Faith!* *As someone who is Serbian Orthodox, I am truly honored to be joined in The True Glory (Pravoslava) by Father Barnabas...as well as grateful to have his guidance! HVALA!*
Fantastic! I feel "mature" that through you, Our Lord Jesus Christ has given me knowledge and understanding. My you continue to be blessed Fr. Barnabas.
Thank you, Father Barnabas, for having positive things to say about Pentecostal Christians! Thanks for your loving kindness and humility. They can and will be reached by humble men like yourself!
My uncle was COG. He pastored churches in the Atlanta area, and really wanted me to follow in his footsteps. I was a disappointment to my Pentecostal friends. But so glad the Church was here for my salvation.
@@FaithEncouragedTV Glory to God! I was raised as a oneness Pentecostal, 4th generation, then went to COG, so my family already thought I was apostate. Now my Pentecostal friends scattered, although they do not know what Orthodoxy is, they are certain I have departed from the faith as well. But I concur, thank God for the Church! Im humbled and so grateful. I have been enjoying this ministry and sharing similar backgrounds.
I just found your Boot Camp video and thoroughly enjoyed it. As a member of the Orthodox Church of America, I am wondering why you did not mention us as part of your list of branches of the Orthodox Church around the world. I look forward to viewing you other videos. Glory to God for all things.
Thank you for posting this. I feel exactly the same way. I am at the discovery stage. I'm going to St. Mary's in Falls Church, VA for the first time tomorrow.
I converted to the Catholic church after occasionally attending a Baptist church in college, then house church that was vague and kind of pointless. I didn't often read my Bible and didn't connect with people just sitting around in someone's home saying "what did you read in the Bible this week?" I feel like I'm still learning about my Catholic faith. But I also find Fr. Powell very interesting.
As a Charasmatic Catholic, become evangelical, become Buddhist--it is a joy to find Orthodoxy and the connection with the early story of knowing Jesus. Thank you for this series.
Thank you father this is great, I work in northern Canada in the oil sands and I can’t make it to my parish’s catechumen lectures. My priest from St. Herman of Alaska in Edmonton gave me your videos. I am a convert from a Mennonite/Baptist church.
I look forward to viewing all of your video's. Do you have any PDF's as well? I would like to weed out some of the myths that I see some of my Greek family and friends practice.
Awesome I am going to watch this whole series. Same book got me curious about the Orthodox Church. Wow, just look up katholikos.....I've got to set some time aside.
Hello father !!! I LIKED so much your video and i would like to visit this wonderful Camp but unfortunately i live in Greece,Thessaloniki!!! παρεπιπτόντος πιστέυω οτι έχετε κάνει εξερετική δουλειά με την κατασκήνωση!!! και θα ήθελα να σας συνχαρώ αυτοπρωσόπως αλλα δυστιχώς μένω μακρια !! ελπίζω να συνεχίσεται το έργο σας με την βοήθεια του θεού !!!
Thanks for the video. I am currently exploring orthodoxy from a Roman Catholic background. After attending my first service (great vesper and the Divine Liturgy) the next day. I find it to be very interesting. I thought it was beautiful, but at the same time I was thinking about the Catholic Church. After initial impressions, I feel like I feel more at home with the Catholic Church. I felt more emotional connected to God with Catholicism. But let's see if this changes as I attend more orthodox services.
I find listening to Fr Barnabas to be instructive and I relate to him because I have many things in my background that are the same. My father was an Assemblies of God pastor for 30 years. He worked for Pat Robertson and he got Jim and Tammy Baker started in television. They started the PTL Club. We know the outcome of that adventure. I grew up around big names in the Pentecostal world as a young boy. I went to a Pentecostal Bible College, but I found my self becoming more and more dissatisfied with the whole Pentecostal experience and culture. In my early twenties I left the Pentecostal world to my fathers dismay and went into the Wesleyan Methodist Church for 5 years. I then converted to the Reformed Church and attended a Presbyterian Church for over twenty years. The Presbyterian Church I attended was connected to Westminster Seminary in Escondido California so I was around a lot of big names in the Reformed community. I had always assumed that Eastern Orthodoxy was the same as Roman Catholicism. About three years ago I read a book on Orthodoxy and I kept reading other books. It was then that I began to realize that I was dealing with something very different. Even though I enjoy discovering Orthodoxy, I quite often find myself in a state of confusion and conflict. I was heavily indoctrinated in Reformed Theology. I have attended several Orthodox Churches and have met some very interesting people. But Orthodoxy is very different from everything I have learned all my life. It is a difficult thing to resolve for me. I am frustrated because it is hard to find answers. The Eastern Orthodox Church does a lousy job of communicating to the West. It's like going to another planet where you are surrounded by aliens who speak another language. I get the Ancestral Sin vs the doctrine of Original Sin. I found the Ancestral Sin to be much more accurate and in line with Romans chapter 5. It makes much more sense to me that Adam brought death into creation and that this curse of death makes me weak in my flesh and subject to my mortal passions. The idea of imputed guilt from Adam in Protestantism always seems illogical to me. I found that when telling this to people in the context of evangelism they would always react to the illogicality of the idea of imputed guilt. "I'm not guilty for someone else's sin" was the common response. So I agree with Orthodoxy at this point. The more difficult areas of theology are in the area of justification and sanctification. I'm still not clear on what exactly justification is in Orthodoxy. What does the wrath of God mean in scripture? When the Bible says "being justified we have peaces with God" does that mean that we were under wrath and condemnation before we are justified? Is there not some kind of judicial meaning here? In Protestantism Justification is a Judicial declaration of being righteous in God's sight even though I'm a sinner in world though and deed. So in Protestant creeds, sin is any want of conformity or transgression of the Law of God. But in Orthodoxy sin is a misuse of your energies. There does not seem to be any judicial or legal meaning to violating God's standards or His holy law. I find it all very confusing and sometimes just want to pull my hair out. I will concede that if you read the early church fathers they do not express their Christianity in the way that Protestants in the west express their Calvinism. There are so many questions and so few ways to find all the answers. If you go out into the world of debate you only seem to find Protestant vs Roman Catholic debates which is funny as they are both Augustinian and adhere to the satisfaction view of the Atonement. Their differences are over smaller trivialities. I like Fr Barnabas because he is a good communicator. He has the passion of a Pentecostal and I like that. He loves God and he has a passion to communicate truth to people. I hope that he continues to make videos and that he will continue to deal with many subjects. For me I feel very alienated at this point in my life. My Protestant friends have pulled away from me because I am doubting many of my beliefs. If you learn something the wrong way it is ten times harder to learn it the right way. I feel very isolated and confused. I hope I can work thought this at some point. It's a long hard journey. I am attending an Orthodox Church presently but the people seem to lack a real zeal for their faith. I don't say that in an overcritical way simply because I saw a lot of people in Protestant churches that were not so zealous either. "Frozen Chosen" is not exclusive to any group. We all need the Holy Spirit to fill us every day. The flesh is weak. Randy
First time here...I like you.🙂 you seem authentic. I shall listen some more. I have only known orthodox church from living in russia...to much spooky and impersonal stuff for me back then. But you make it understandable and personal...thank you sir.
My only regret is that I found this late at night, after directing a vigil and having to direct liturgy in the morning. These are awesome! As a former Protestant, I LOVE it! Totally gonna steal some of your metaphors and recommend this video to my friends! Thanks, Fr. Barnabas!!
I'm Protestant, I'm A Conservative Non-Denominational. I Stand W u Orthodox Believers In The Belief Of Christ And Him Crucified, Risen, And Awaiting His Return. In Fact, I Studied Jude today, And Seeing Christ As The Center Made me C Orthodox And Protestants, If we Believe In The Death, Burial, And Resurrection Of Christ, we're Part Of The Same Family. Jesus Said, "Who Is My mother And Brothers? Those Who Do The Will Of My Father." The Will Of The Father Is Receiving Eternal Life. Keep Preaching It.
Wow!!! Father Barnabas... you are amazing!!! My story parallels yours - except from the opposite side of the bookends. My family were all brought up Orthodox (Ukrainians actually are the largest group of faithful) in what is erroneously known as the 'Russian' Orthodox Church. My mother 'converted' to charismatic Pentecostal Christianity when I was a kid - and the family all followed her. As I grew older, and felt that 'emptiness' you were talking about - I rediscovered my ancestral Orthodox faith. Most of my family have basically rejected me too, for that reason.
Great presentation and Thank you! It looks like you forgot to mention some of the oldest Orthodox Church of India, Ethiopia, and Eritrea at the beginning of the 48th minute of your session?
Travelling, travelling, travelling, Roman Catholic, Evangelical, Pentacostal, Evangelical again, learning, learning, learning so much, especially the Scriptures. At prayer one day... inside my head, I was singing, "oh worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness etc...." Where did that come from? Orthodoxy called. HOME!
His earthly father said, “You were going to big.” but the Lord said in order for you to become great in the Kingdom of God you must become the least. Praise be to God for revealing Orthodoxy to you father Powell!
I'm from Irving, Texas, home of J. Don George and Calvary Temple. My grandfather was an Assembly of God preacher in the 1930's and 1940's. I was raised in the Presbyterian Church. I know what you mean about the Christianity of emotions and Christianity of the mind.
Good video! Love your metaphors...Did you mention OCA (were they under ROCOR)? Also Macedonian Church is not resolved yet (to my understanding is considered schismatic from Serbian Orth. Church and still is not recognized ).
My family are/were Lutherans, from Luther's country, for generations. My brothers cannot understand why I would sing praises to the Theotokos. That's too roman for them. I tried to explain that she was such an unique woman, that no other woman could be or would be like her; they acknowledge that but that was as far as I got. The Coptic Church has this beautiful video on RU-vid praising, Mary, it is so gorgeous and so beautiful it makes me cry every time I hear it. She is my mother, she is our mother, she prays and intercedes for us. She is the Theotokos. Most Holy Theotokos save us, intercede with your Son for our salvation.
Incredible. Great. Job. Someone comment on here about Macedonia and FYROM....I have to say....I am MACEDONIAN...and yes, Father, of course YOU are right, it is the Orthodox Macedonian Church...it is Macedonia. I cant wait to watch the rest of your videos in this Orthodox 101 bootcamp series but its 2am here and, bedtime. Father, bringing our Orthodox faith to the general public through this medium of youtube is simply amazing and pray more and more people discover the "fullness" and also convert. Thank you, may God continue to pour his blessing upon you.
At 19:01 is when you came upon my scene - in my life - helped turn it upside down. Your kids and my kids were in the same school and were good friends. You invited me to go see the Russian Orthodox display at the Galleria and I thought I had walked into heaven. The only exposure I had before that was a tape of the "Divine Liturgy" given to me by a Calvinist that was questioning his belief system. I listen to it with headphones and wept.
3:41 I grew up pentecostal and I KNEW the way you spoke sounded familiar. A lot of pentacostal preachers have similar cadences, so I kinda picked up on it. Love the videos, btw. edit: you're also from the south, so that adds another layer.
45 plus mark you made the statement that the laity won out over the bishops on issues. I haven´t heard this before. Can you mention some issues where and when these issues occured? Thanks.
I believe that you are absolutely right. After hearing your testimony on this video at first I thought that you were a cracked pot, forgive me brother, but upon further reflection I believe we share something in common. I have been on a journey without a map and the Lord drawing me since I was a child. I would love to share the rest of my story but not here.
This is great, I was born in Croatia but am Serbian Orthodox. My family and i migrated to Australia and I grew up learning both languages as well as each other. Are you on another chanel? How do I find out more?
Oh RU-vid folks--plz never take these down. I am on the verge of converting. I have a similar background to Fr. Barnabus and also grew up in Ga. but live in the Seattle area now. I was raised S Babdist (haha) then journeyed through a bunch of churches as an organist/pianist. I was standard Catholic for 11 years and then for the last couple of years started going to a sedevacantist traditional chapel which had a lot of rigid rules. I am so weary. I have a question---what is the relationship between the Oriental Orthodox and the Church of the East and why are they separated out.
Evangelical church with charismatic distinctives, i.e., Vineyard, neocharismatics, etc. ;) Truly appreciate this talk as I discern the faith. Current journey: Wesleyan --> charismatic/Third Wave, with an appreciation for Reformed and Catholic churches. Truly appreciate the grace with which you're handling the topic (to be honest, I got burned by some statements in Thirsting for God).
I really liked your first video. Please pray for me, I am out of work, which has become a real problem for me. I trust in God who will help me through trying period. Please give me any spiritual help you can. What do you suggest? Robt-CA
I'm exploring orthodoxy and being raised mostly Lutheran with a bit of Greek Orthodox faith at 6-7. I became evangelical Christian at 24 then later Calvary Chapel and I went through a YWAM Discipleship training school. I started to turn agnostic and rejected Christianity but my friend and his wife/children had become Orthodox from a Baptist background. I've gone to the Greek Orthodox church in Tucson and the Serbian monastery near Safford with them but our small Podunk Arizona town has nothing Orthodox, mostly Mormon, Protestant, and Roman Catholic and the nearest Orthodox church is over an hour away. I have issues with Roman Catholism. I saw the word Rum on Orthodox churches in Istanbul/Constantinople when I lived there. Our late mother is Greek from Korinthos.
Hello Father Powell, in case you didn't get my email, enjoying you're Orthodoxy. 101 series. My question is how does the Church reconcile it's position on divorce with the Lord Jesus Christ's teachings on it? Thanks in advance!
Wow 🔥 This will be an interesting journey. Starting this year with fasting and prayer. I cannot stay in what is called the American Charismatic Movement which I have been a part since my teenage years. It has become horribly defiled and corrupt. Filled with the Holy Ghost with major experiences with God and prophetic giftings. We shall see were the Paraclete has for me. On top of this I am a woman. Jesus Take the wheel.