Pastor Rob Barber was born in 1957 and was raised in Meigs County. He was blessed to be raised in a Christian home. Like many teens, he temporarily turned his back on God, leading a life that really didn't set right with the biblical truth he had been taught and what he knew deep down in his heart.

  
In 1976, he married his high school sweetheart, Tammi Bahr, at a little country church called South Bethel. Although they didn't attend church at that time, God was dealing with their hearts. Two relatives in particular consistently invited them to church and said they were praying for them. One Wednesday night in September 1978, at that little country church, Rob and Tammi dedicated their lives to the LORD. Their lives and lifestyles changed from that point on.

Under the ministry of Duane Sydenstricker and his wife Elsie and spiritual mentors Darrell and Norma Hawthorne, the Barbers grew spiritually and

numerically. Daughter Jessica was born in June 1979 and daughter Beth was born in December 1981. While at South Bethel, they led the youth ministry until God called them in the spring of 1983 to Athens to work at Children Services as house parents. 

 
While living in Athens, Rob and Tammi were members of Living Word Christian Center and later, Restoration Christian Fellowship. They continued to grow under the leadership of Pastor Kevin Sylvester and Pastor Lonnie Coates as well as adding to their own family a son, Micah, who was born in October 1985.

In the spring of 1986 Rob and Tammi left Children Services and, with the help of Jim and Mary Huffman, started a new ministry "Sine-Cera" which was a Christian Group Home for troubled boys. Located on thirty-five acres of farmland on the outskirts of Athens, Sine Cera provided a Christian home, the love of Christ and the Barber family, who offered direction and hope to these troubled teens. The couple worked with the boys to teach them independent living skills which would be necessary for their survival once they left this nurturing environment.

Pastor Rob was called to pastor South Bethel New Testament Church in the fall of 1995. This was the same church Rob and Tammi were married in and where they gave their lives to Christ. Pastor Duane and Elsie were in failing health and were no longer able to tend to their flock. With the new pastor in place, the church grew both numerically and spiritually; and, in 2001, its name was changed to Bethel Worship Center. (Read more in Our Past…Our Heritage section of Our History page.)

Pastor Rob and his wife are now "empty-nesters" as well as the proud grandparents to two granddaughters and three grandsons. Daughter Jessica Dawson, her husband Doug and their three children reside near Dallas, Texas and attend Compass Christian Church. Daughter Beth Ringer, her husband Brady and their two sons live nearby in Athens County. Brady serves as an usher at Bethel and Beth helps in the nursery ministry. The Barber's son, Micah, lives in Athens and also attends Bethel.

Looking back, the Barbers recognize the hand of God in every chapter of their lives and they are thankful to be back in Meigs County leading a dynamic group of people in ministry and evangelism. They look forward to seeing people within the 50-mile area of the church, surrounding communities, state, nation and world being reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ from right here in Meigs County, Ohio!