He received his primary and secondary education in the Lower Florence District of South Carolina. He continued his education with studies at Morris College School of Religion and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from the Carolina Bible Institute. He has done biblical studies under the Sumter Baptist Association Christian Education Institute. He has also received his state certification in Biblical studies from the South Carolina Congress of Christian Education.
Pastor Barnes has been in the ministry since 1977. He preached his initial sermon in February of that year, at Olive Grove Baptist Church of Coward, SC where he is a member and served as deacon until his elevation to ministry and to pastorship. He has served as under Shepherd for the following: Bethlehem Baptist of Lake City, SC; Mt. Rona Baptist of Society Hill, SC; and currently, the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church of Sumter, SC where he has been the senior pastor since December 1986, where through the aid of the Holy Spirit, he has established and introduced many new concepts, ministries and programs. In September 2015, prior to his father’s passing, he was given the charge to carry on the legacy of his father’s ministry, Faith Missionary Baptist Church, of Florence, SC, where he also currently serves as senior pastor.
He serves on the executive board of the Sumter Baptist M&E Association and is the former president of the Sumter Baptist Congress of Christian Education. He also serves as a Chaplain for Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital.
He has been married to the Co-Pastor Evangelene G. Barnes since December 27, 1970, and they reside in Sumter, SC. They have two sons, one daughter, one son-in-law, and three grandsons.
Pastor Barnes is a Spirit-filled man. He truly believes, “The Holy Ghost is real.
