The overall goal of the Barnabas Program is to enhance and develop the community between lower and upper school students thus increasing unity among the body of Christ at our school. The course is called Barnabas which translated means “son of encouragement.” The program provides a platform for students who are sophomores, juniors, and seniors to learn about service by teaching and mentoring students in the lower school.

The Barnabas program began in 2008 through the vision of a former Prince Avenue student, Miss Anne Barron, who felt called to encourage the Prince upper school community to operate as Christ’s hands and feet while ministering to the socialization, spiritual, and academic needs of the lower school students.

“Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him saying, ‘Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please, let your word be like the world of one of them and speak encouragement.’”

I Kings 22:13

Some of the objectives of the high school students participating in this elective course include:

• Develop a plan to effectively minister to their lower school student’s needs both academically, spiritually, and socially
• Understand basic tutorial techniques used with young learners
• Engage in one-on-one communication with young learners to help their socialization skills
• Identify various learning styles and differences in young learners
• Establish and maintain long-standing relationships with lower school students