Heroes of the Faith this week goes right back to the New Testament to explore the life of Barnabas.
His name means Son of Encouragement. He was an apostle but in the Book of Acts, Allan has picked up on how Barnabas provided encouragement to Paul. Paul or Saul as he was known earlier was part of the death and persecution of Christians. On his conversion he took a new direction to follow Jesus. However many of the church leaders were wary and unwilling to accept Paul. It took Barnabas to take Paul out of his self-imposed isolation and take him to his leaders and assure them that Paul was truly a Christian and one they should use in the extension of the Church.