Several decades ago, when I was in college, aspiring young preachers were being greatly influenced by dynamic, and sometimes thundering, evangelists. The powerfully and emotionally proclaimed 'Word' was viewed as 'anointed' and 'prophetic.'

When walking through a church foyer I once overheard two men discussing a television-evangelist's message from that morning's broadcast. One said to the other, "...I thought he was really anointed this morning!" His friend replied, "I thought he was just mad."

I've wondered why Barnabas has not been a favorite 'personality' from among the New Testament characters. I suspect it comes down to pastors and evangelists typically finding more compelling material from other Biblical characters.

What do we know about Barnabas?

• Well, it appears that he was fairly affluent...he was a land owner who evidently could afford to sell a large parcel of his holdings and financially aid many of the poor folks in the church.

• He was empathetic to a young traveling colleague when the Apostle Paul lost patience and wanted to send the young man back home.

• He was widely known for having a way of encouraging people.

I find Barnabas compelling, now that I'm much older and see the hysteria, gloom & doom, and anger that surrounds us in politics and religion these days.

Let's not consider the 'affluence' right now (although all of us, on a world scale, are very affluent). Let's not even consider 'empathy' right now (even though I believe it is one of the most Christ-like of character traits - "He looked at the crowds and was moved with compassion...").

Let's consider Barnabas, the 'encourager.' Is encouragement a 'gift?' Yes and no...it is a gift as we give it but it isn't a 'spiritually endowed gift.'

There isn't anything in scripture that indicates 'encouragement' as something uniquely spiritually derived such as a calling to be a 'prophet,' a 'pastor,' an 'evangelist,' or a 'teacher.'

I've known more people in secular society who were encouraging than I've known in some of the churches in which I've had experience, years gone by.

While I don't think that 'encouragement' is necessarily divinely inspired in the broader scheme of things, I do believe that 'encouragement' should be a predominantly compelling part of a Christian's demeanor.

We should each be known as an 'encourager.'

Decades ago I gave up any hopes and aspirations of ever being known as a compelling preacher...I just want to bring good news and glad tidings, cheer and hope, laughter amid tears, grace and love, redemption, forgiveness and newness in life.

I want to be known as a 'Barnabas.'