So that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord (Ps. 102:18b).

As his words flowed from the open classroom door, his voice was thoughtful, with a quiet intensity. “After more than two decades,” Barry York said, “I thought that the congregation could benefit from another’s ministry.”

He was referring to leaving Sycamore (Kokomo, Ind.) RPC to begin ministry at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (RPTS).

The students in this Care and Administration of the Church class were in deep thought, concentrating on Professor York’s wise counsel concerning God’s call on the lives of pastors. York had offered much prayer and had sought many advisors before making his decision. After all, was there not great ministry taking place in Kokomo? Was there not still yet much to be accomplished? Why Pittsburgh and the seminary?

Discerning the call of the Lord in our lives is a wonderful yet sometimes frustrating endeavor. Barrels of ink have been spilled and thousands of trees rendered into paper for the purpose of exploring this very issue. For Barry, part of the answer to accept the call to RPTS came in the form of a psalm. He had specifically been praying over and studying Psalm 102, and as the Lord so frequently does, the psalm came to Barry in another way. During a visit to chapel at the seminary, Psalm 102C was selected. The opening line is, “Let this be written for the sake of those alive in future days, so people He has yet to make will to the Lord lift up their praise.” He sensed the Lord calling him to train and teach those generations yet to come.

The Lord has been preparing this faithful servant for this work for a lifetime. Born in Waynesville, N.C., Barry attended a Baptist church. He went forward during an altar call at the age of nine. The years that followed were ones of only outward obedience. Hidden on the inside was sin; he was a whitewashed tomb.

The York family moved to Coldwater, Mich., where the Lord arranged a key event in Barry’s life: meeting a delightful young lady, Miriam. God would cultivate and water this relationship over the years, strengthening the family for a future of ministry in the kingdom. Married in 1985, the Yorks have six children: Jamey, Lindsay, Trevor, Emory, Spencer, and Celia. They are also the proud grandparents of Alyce. They now reside in Beaver, Pa.

It was at the University of Michigan, as a mathematics major, and later, at Purdue University, that Barry began to be more regularly exposed to the gospel through a Bible study and the ministry of the Navigators. It was in these college days that God began to round off the sharp edges of His servant to better prepare Barry for ministry that would honor and glorify Christ.

As many of those in Christian ministry will note, the role of mentors is quite vital. The Lord provided numerous men to guide and direct this lanky, mathematically inclined young man. Ken G. Smith and Roy Blackwood (influential men in the lives of many), along with Renwick Wright, Wayne Spear, Bruce Stewart, and Clark Copeland, helped to mold and shape York for service in the kingdom. Ted Donnelly ministered to Barry during a particularly difficult time of life. Instrumental in his days at Purdue was Dave Long, pastor at the Lafayette RP Church. Twenty-eight years later, these two pastors continue to have a weekly conversation to discuss the things of God and their impact on daily living.

It is the importance of such mentoring that Barry strives to impart to the students at RPTS. His office is a cozily arranged configuration of comfy chairs just perfect for getting into the meat and potatoes of life. The Lord has done much to prepare Pastor York for the vital job of instructing the next generation of pastors and church servants.

The writer of Hebrews notes that obedience is sometimes painful (Heb. 5:8). Pastor York’s testimony is that the Lord has used all the experiences of his life, including the painful ones, for personal growth in grace.

His experience as a Master of Divinity student at RPTS several decades ago, combined with 22 years of fruitful ministry as the pastor of the Sycamore RP Church has provided foundational thoughts in how he would go about the work of training church leaders. York’s favorite class at RPTS was Greek, under the leadership of Dr. Renwick Wright. His least favorite class was Preaching, which may be surprising to many since, by the grace of God, York has excelled in this area of ministry and will teach this important duty and responsibility to many men.

“Preaching can be terrifying as you are representing God,” notes York. “When I first started preaching, I had a great fear of man. What would people say about my preaching, and what would they think of me?” He appropriately notes that the preacher should have a healthy fear of the Lord in the sincere and faithful bringing of His Word to the flock. Coming to realize this truth was quite freeing in the pulpit. Pastor York hopes to embed this mindset into his students.

In the pastorate, Barry quickly learned that he did not need to write an exegesis paper for every sermon. There was a steep learning curve concerning the practical use of time. Somehow, the pastor must prepare for a sermon or two every week, while counseling those in the flock, leading his own family, and finding time for personal devotions. Time management is another area that Barry will emphasize in his classes.

Barry finds great delight in reading and singing the Psalms. “It is here that we find insight into the inner thinking of our Lord,” says York. He also regularly refers to Jeremiah Burrow’s The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment as a vital source of direction and clarity in all things of life.

His spare time is consumed with family activities and fellowship. Walking with Miriam is a particular blessing. Barry enjoys reading biographies, devotionals, theological works, naval history, and humor. His physical height gives him some specific advantages on the basketball court.

One major change for the York family in their transition to Western Pennsylvania was leaving the Sycamore Covenant Academy at the Sycamore RP Church. Barry was headmaster and a teacher, and the York children attended classes there. In the academy and the church the family shared in the joys (and sometimes challenges) of congregational ministry. The York family was also quite involved in the ministry of hospitality, and, along with others in the church, actively engaged in ministry to the poor, something that Barry is eager to continue at RPTS.

What is it like to follow in the footsteps of such an influential “pastor and soldier for Christ” as retiring professor Dr. Dennis Prutow? It can be intimidating to pick up the work of someone who is respected by so many. “Dr. Prutow is a caring, loving, disciplined, hard-working pastor and professor,” reflects York. “I am so glad to be following him as this aspect of ministry at RPTS is in such great condition. He has been extremely helpful during this transition and has provided excellent resources.”

Perhaps the greatest surprise for Barry in his time at RPTS so far has been the open doors that the Lord has prepared globally for ministry. The seminary has students from around the country and around the world. As the seminary continues to develop a distance learning program, that opportunity will continue to expand, Lord willing. This prospect is exciting for Pastor York as he ponders how God will use the work of the faculty at RPTS in extending the kingdom of God.

Trusting God and walking by faith as he faces an unknown future, Pastor York looks forward to the exciting adventure that the Lord has laid before him. His favorite Scripture text is John 17:3: “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” This thought serves as the foundation of York’s ministry at RPTS, as he shepherds and trains the flock of those who seek to shepherd the flocks of the kingdom in their turn.

—Mark Sampson