There’s a vision that guides Leadership Foundations.
It comes from the prophet Zechariah, a picture of a city restored. Elders sitting peacefully amongst one another, children playing freely in the open squares: a city marked less by the gaps of inequity and depravity, and one that becomes a playground. Cities do not become places of peace by accident. Safe, secure communities that endure across generations are shaped intentionally by their leaders. And those leaders, formed over time, are guided by love, compassion, and a steadfast resolve to do what is right.
That’s why we launched The Barnabas Project.
Named after Barnabas, the early church leader who recognized potential in others and walked alongside emerging voices, The Barnabas Project is a 9-month Fellowship designed to help young adults (ages 18-24) deepen their faith while actively serving their cities.
Each month, Barnabas Fellows:
- Engage a formation curriculum exploring theology, vocation, and spiritual growth
- Meet in local cohorts for reflection and discussion
- Receive one-on-one mentoring
- Serve in meaningful, hands-on community work
- Connect with peers in other cities to broaden their perspective and cultivate community
This is theology in practice — faith and service woven together.
And Now, It’s Growing
This year, we’re celebrating the expansion of The Barnabas Project!
What began with six Affiliates and 60 Fellows in 2025 will expand to include five additional cities in the coming year, bringing us to a total of 110 additional Fellows in 2026, who are actively serving and learning across the network.
We’re thrilled to welcome:
- The Root Cellar in Portland and Lewiston, Maine
- Dallas Leadership Foundation in Dallas, Texas
- New Vision in Philippi, West Virginia
- Northeast Ohio Leadership Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio
- Grit City Collaborative in Tacoma, Washington
Over the next five years, 17 Affiliates will participate in equipping 510 young leaders who will go on to serve in city councils, schools, businesses, ministries, nonprofits, and neighborhoods.
They will not only be equipped as professionals, but they’ll also become pillars in their communities, leading with faith and humility — leaders who understand that spiritual and social renewal go hand-in-hand.
It is inevitable the streets of our cities will be shaped by someone of influence. And now, through the Barnabas Project, we are investing in a generation who will use that influence for good, who will see service as more than extracurricular activity. Service will become an integral part of everyday life and a core expression of the Christian faith.
Would you join us in coming alongside the next cohort of Barnabas Fellows in prayer and support, and for the cities they are helping to renew?
Thank you for standing with us.
Thank you for believing that hope, when nurtured, can transform cities.
