Remembering Dr. Roger Barrier’s Faith-Filled Legacy

Dear Crosswalk Readers,

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dr. Roger Barrier. Roger went to be with the Lord on Friday, February 16th, 2024. He was a faithful servant of Christ with a lifetime worth of ministry and mentorship. His legacy lives on through his faith-filled sermons and articles, as well as the incredible impact he had on all those lucky enough to know him or hear his teachings.

A Life of Service for the Kingdom

Dr. Barrier graciously mentored and taught thousands of pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders worldwide, in addition to being a prolific author and sought-after conference speaker. For 38 years, he faithfully served as the senior teaching pastor at Casas Church in Tucson, Arizona.

Dr. Barrier held degrees from Baylor University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Golden Gate Seminary in Greek, religion, theology, and pastoral care. He used his immense expertise daily to guide and mentor others in their spiritual walks. He had a global impact with his book Listening to the Voice of God, which is available in both Thai and Portuguese. His newest book, written with his daughter Brianna Barrier Wetherbee, is Look Like Jesus: A Guide to Spiritual Growth.

He and his wife, Dr. Julie Barrier, founded Preach It, Teach It, a pastoral teaching site that provides countless resources, including articles, sermons, podcasts, sermon starters, Bible studies, and devotionals. 

Here at Crosswalk.com, Dr. Barrier faithfully contributed to the “Ask Roger” column up until the time he passed, where he put forth nearly fifty years of pastorate experience into answering questions about biblical truth, doctrine, and practice, also giving advice on church leadership issues. He meticulously researched and provided a biblical answer to even the toughest questions, including audience favorites like Is it True for Christians That 'Once Saved, Always Saved'?, What Does the Bible Say about Cremation?, Gog and Magog: Who Are They and What Do They Have to Do with the Last Days?, and Can the Dead Hear Us in Heaven When We Talk to Them?. With each question, he wrote back with deep understanding, love, and conviction. You can see his multitude of archived Q&A articles here or at https://preachitteachit.org/category/ask_roger/.

His family will honor Dr. Barrier’s legacy by continuing the ministry of Ask Roger and preachitteachit.org for years to come as they share more than two thousand still-unpublished sermons and Ask Roger articles.

Rejoicing in His Legacy and Our Hope as Christians

Though we mourn for the loss of Dr. Roger Barrier here on earth, we can rejoice in his joining with Christ in Heaven and celebrate the amazing legacy of faith that he left.

Jesus says in John 14:1-3:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

As Christians, we live with immense hope as we know that the Lord has a place prepared for us in Heaven, and Dr. Barrier knew this well. 

There is so much to learn from his example of service and faith that we can all live out in our own lives. Let us carry on the faithful legacy that Roger Barrier left and go forth with renewed eagerness to study the Word, spread the gospel, mentor disciples, and share Christ’s love with the world as he did!

Photo Credit: Facebook; Used with Permission