Barry Chant
Encyclopedia
Barry Chant is the author of Heart of Fire: The story of Australian Pentecostalism (the first history of Australian pentecostalism
) and a co-founder and founding Principal of Tabor College Australia. He was founding editor of Australia's New Day magazine, the first national magazine addressing Australian pentecostals
, charismatics
and evangelicals
. He is currently Senior pastor, Wesley International Congregation
, Sydney
He married Vanessa in 1960 and has three children (Rebekah, Michael and Luke) and 12 grandchildren.
in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, with honours in English literature. He started out his career in 1960 as a secondary school teacher at Murray Bridge High School in South Australia, where he taught until 1963.
Barry was ordained as a minister of the Christian Revival Crusade (now CRC Churches International
) in 1962. He became pastor of the Port Adelaide CRC assembly from 1964–1975, and associate pastor of Adelaide Crusade Centre from 1975-1978.
Appointed Dean of the Crusade Bible College in 1964, Barry continued this role through to 1977, when he became Principal of the college. In 1979, he led the re-development of the college into Tabor College, a multidenominational charismatic tertiary institution. He was president of the College until 2003. He also founded Tabor College Sydney in 1992, being its principal until 2002.
Barry was founding editor of Australia's New Day magazine in 1980. It was the first national magazine addressing Australian pentecostals
, charismatics
and evangelicals
. He remained president of the magazine until it ceased operations in 1997. He was also a Sunday night talkback radio host on 5DN in Adelaide, South Australia from 1983–1986, and chairman of the United Charismatic Conventions in South Australia from 1980-1991.
In 2000, he received a PhD
in history from Macquarie University
, his thesis
The spirit of Pentecost.
Since 2003, Barry has been the senior pastor of the International Congregation at Wesley Mission
, Sydney
, Australia
.
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
) and a co-founder and founding Principal of Tabor College Australia. He was founding editor of Australia's New Day magazine, the first national magazine addressing Australian pentecostals
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
, charismatics
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
and evangelicals
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
. He is currently Senior pastor, Wesley International Congregation
Wesley Mission
Wesley Mission is a name used by several Uniting Church congregations which are a part the Uniting Missions Network of UnitingCare Australia. Wesley Missions grew out of the inner city missions of the pre-union Methodist Church of Australasia...
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
He married Vanessa in 1960 and has three children (Rebekah, Michael and Luke) and 12 grandchildren.
Career summary
Barry graduated from the University of AdelaideUniversity of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, with honours in English literature. He started out his career in 1960 as a secondary school teacher at Murray Bridge High School in South Australia, where he taught until 1963.
Barry was ordained as a minister of the Christian Revival Crusade (now CRC Churches International
CRC Churches International
CRC Churches International is a Pentecostal Protestant Christian denomination based in Australia.-External links:*...
) in 1962. He became pastor of the Port Adelaide CRC assembly from 1964–1975, and associate pastor of Adelaide Crusade Centre from 1975-1978.
Appointed Dean of the Crusade Bible College in 1964, Barry continued this role through to 1977, when he became Principal of the college. In 1979, he led the re-development of the college into Tabor College, a multidenominational charismatic tertiary institution. He was president of the College until 2003. He also founded Tabor College Sydney in 1992, being its principal until 2002.
Barry was founding editor of Australia's New Day magazine in 1980. It was the first national magazine addressing Australian pentecostals
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
, charismatics
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
and evangelicals
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
. He remained president of the magazine until it ceased operations in 1997. He was also a Sunday night talkback radio host on 5DN in Adelaide, South Australia from 1983–1986, and chairman of the United Charismatic Conventions in South Australia from 1980-1991.
In 2000, he received a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in history from Macquarie University
Macquarie University
Macquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
, his thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
The spirit of Pentecost.
Since 2003, Barry has been the senior pastor of the International Congregation at Wesley Mission
Wesley Mission
Wesley Mission is a name used by several Uniting Church congregations which are a part the Uniting Missions Network of UnitingCare Australia. Wesley Missions grew out of the inner city missions of the pre-union Methodist Church of Australasia...
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Other roles
- Editor, PCBC Journal (1997–2003)
- President, Association of Pentecostal and Charismatic Bible Colleges of Australasia (1994–2002)
- Chairman, Association of Pentecostal and Charismatic Bible Colleges of Australasia (1990–1993)
- Secretary, Australian Pentecostal Ministers Fellowship Steering Committee (1988–1991)
- Member, Advisory Committee International Charismatic Consultation on World Evangelism (1987–1997)
- Member, Austral-Asian Christian Church (1983–2003)
- Member, Heads of Churches Committee, Adelaide, S.A. (1979–1985)
- Member, Australian Pentecostal Ministers Fellowship Steering Committee (1978–2004)
- National Vice-Chairman, Christian Revival Crusade Inc, Australia (1977–1980)
- Member, Rotary Club of Adelaide West (1976–1985)
- State Chairman, Christian Revival Crusade Inc, South Australia (1974–1985)
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts degree, with honours in English literature (University of AdelaideUniversity of AdelaideThe University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
, 1960) - Diploma of Education (University of AdelaideUniversity of AdelaideThe University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
, 1963) - Bachelor of Divinity degree (Melbourne College of DivinityMelbourne College of DivinityThe Melbourne College of Divinity is a theological education organisation located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.The MCD is an ecumenical consortium of a number of theological colleges from a number of denominations...
, 1968) - Doctor of Ministry degree (Luther Rice Seminary, 1985)
- Doctor of Philosophy degree (Macquarie UniversityMacquarie UniversityMacquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
, 2000); thesis topic - The origins and development of the Pentecostal movement in Australia, 1870-1939.
Published books
- About Angels and You (Open Book, 2002)
- Walking with a Limp: a Charismatic Approach to Suffering (Open Book, 2002)
- Praying in the Spirit (Sovereign World, 2002)
- Spindles and the Crocodile (CD) (Turnaround Music, 2001)
- Spindles and the Crocodile (Tabor, 1999)
- The Scion Factor: The Kosmon Report Part 2 (Albatross, 1996)
- The Doom of Drakon: The Kosmon Report Part 1 (Albatross, 1996)
- Breaking the Power of the Past (Tabor, 1995)
- Spiritual Gifts: A Reappraisal - a Biblical and Practical Handbook (Tabor, 1993)
- Spindles and the Sleepy Lizard (Tabor, 1989)
- The Return (with Winkie Pratney) (Sovereign World, 1988)
- Creative Living: how to live the kind of life you've always wanted to live (Tabor, 1987)
- Your Guide to God's Power (Sovereign World, 1987)
- Jack-in-the-box [Musical] (Tabor, 1987)
- Straight Talk About Marriage (Tabor, 1983)
- Spindles and the Children (Tabor, 1983)
- Spindles and the Lamb [Musical] (Genesis Music, 1982)
- Spindles and the Orphan (Tabor, 1980)
- Spindles and the Wombat (Tabor, 1978)
- Straight Talk About Sex (Whitaker, 1977)
- Spindles and the Eagles (Tabor, 1976)
- Spindles of the Dusty Range (Tabor, 1975)
- Heart of Fire: The story of Australian Pentecostalism (Tabor, 1973) ISBN 0-9598050-0-1
- The Secret is Out (Crusade, 1971)
- Fact or Fantasy (Crusade, 1970)
- About angels and you
- Biblical Typology (Vision Foundations for Ministry) with Gill Waddle, 1996
- Connecting with the church, the community and the world in the 21st century
- Firm in the faith: Ten basic Bible study modules for new Christians
- How To Live The Kind Of Life You've Always Wanted To Live
- How To Study
- Spindles and the Giant Eagle Rescue (An Australian outback adventure)
- The Australian Career Of John Alexander DowieJohn Alexander DowieJohn Alexander Dowie was a Scottish evangelist and faith healer who ministered in Australia and the United States. He founded the city of Zion, Illinois, and the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church...
, 1992? - The Church (Vision Foundations for Ministry) with Ken Chant, 1988
- The Miracle Of Calvary
- The spirit of Pentecost (manuscript): origins and development of the Pentecostal movement in Australia, 1870-1939, PhD Thesis, 1999
- Upon Dry Ground