By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League of North Carolina
STATESVILLE – When the Rev. Greg Barefoot steps out of the senior pastor slot at Stony Point Baptist Church later this month, he’ll step into a growing role at the Christian Action League of North Carolina.
Already a member of the Board of Directors at CAL, Barefoot will be speaking at churches, associational meetings and other gatherings to give Christians across the state a clear picture of the League’s goals and a glimpse of some of the legislative battles being waged by the state’s largest Christian public policy organization.
“A lot of people don’t know about the Christian Action League until a need comes up; and even then, they may not understand what the organization does,” said Barefoot. “One of my goals will be to try to get people more actively involved.”
Barefoot is a living testimony to active involvement in all aspects of life. Answering the call to preach shortly after accepting Christ as Savior in 1990, he has worked in a variety of areas from clown and puppet ministries to prison work, radio ministry and counseling and doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
He helps with his family’s restaurant, Brushy Mountain Steakhouse, in Taylorsville; and is working with his wife and others to open a boys’ home near Yadkinville for 8- to 18-year-olds facing behavioral or emotional challenges.
He is in the midst of completing his doctorate of ministries at Luther Rice Theological Seminary and is also taking a few classes at Mitchell Community College to finish up an associate’s degree. A graduate of Campbell University with a bachelor of arts in Christian Ministries and Religion, Barefoot has a master of Biblical Studies and a Master of Ministry Degree, both from Piedmont Baptist College and Seminary and has studied family and marriage counseling as well as community counseling. He has led church seminars and is currently writing a Bible study book on Colossians.
Barefoot will still teach Sunday school at Stony Point after stepping down as pastor.
Pastor at Stony Point since May of 2004, he is also chairman of the Council for Christian Life and Public Affairs for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and serves on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.
It was his service on the Ethics Commission that Barefoot said heightened his interest in legislative issues. He keeps an eye on the General Assembly Web site when lawmakers are in session and does his homework on local representatives, so he can approach them on controversial issues and challenge them to take a stand for what is right.
Barefoot looks forward to his growing role with The Christian Action League and the chance to work more closely with the Rev. Mark Creech, the CAL’s executive director.
“Mark’s heart for preserving Christianity and uplifting the Scriptures is impeccable. You know where his heart is, where his passion is,” Barefoot said. “There are a lot of people who see what is going on in the world but don’t know what to do to make it better. Mark does.”
Barefoot and his wife, Sherri, have been married 21 years and have two sons, Casey, a freshman at North Carolina State University; and Cody, who is almost 14.
A native of Johnston County, Greg Barefoot was headed toward a career as a respiratory therapist before he accepted Christ. Instead, through him, God has breathed life into a variety of ministries.
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Take Action: To learn more about why the Rev. Barefoot believes so strongly in the Christian Action League, call the CAL at (919) 787-0606 to schedule a date for him to speak to your church or organization.