Question 1

What is The Barnabas Group?

Accepted Answer

A network of marketplace leaders: executives, founders, firm partners, deploying their professional expertise to solve real operating challenges inside ministries. Not a church. Not a donor circle. A working partnership between the marketplace and the mission field.

Question 2

What happens at a gathering?

Accepted Answer

A ministry presents a real challenge it's facing, not a fundraising pitch. Partners hear the problem, ask questions, and explore where their skills fit. The format is structured: presentation, meal, conversation, and prayer. Gatherings run two to three hours, quarterly.

Question 3

What does partnership cost?

Accepted Answer

$1,500 per year. Covers your company and up to five team members. That includes gatherings, ministry matching, and ongoing support. The financial commitment is real, but the bigger investment is your time and expertise, the thing a ministry can't afford to hire.

Question 4

How do I become a partner?

Accepted Answer

Start with a conversation. Fifteen minutes with someone who's already in the room. From there: attend a gathering as a guest, see the model firsthand, and decide whether it fits. There's no pressure and no pitch.

Question 5

Can I attend a gathering before committing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every prospective partner is encouraged to join us for a meeting. Come, see the format, meet the people, hear a ministry present. That experience answers more questions than any page on this site.

Question 6

How do I get involved in a committee?

Accepted Answer

Committees are how partners shape the work: selecting ministries, planning gatherings, guiding strategy. To join one, you start by becoming a partner. From there, schedule a call and tell us where you want to contribute. We match committee roles the same way we match ministry work: to your strengths.

Question 7

Is The Barnabas Group a church or denomination?

Accepted Answer

No. The Barnabas Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates independently of any church or denomination. Partners come from a wide range of faith traditions. What they share is a conviction that their professional skills belong somewhere beyond the office.

Question 8

How is IE Barnabas connected to the national organization?

Accepted Answer

The Barnabas Group - Inland Empire is the Inland Empire chapter of The Barnabas Group, a national network with chapters in major metro areas across the country. Each chapter operates locally, its own gatherings, its own ministries, its own partners, while sharing the national mission and model.

Question 9

How are ministries selected to present?

Accepted Answer

Ministries are nominated by partners or apply directly. A committee of partners vets every candidate for operational maturity, mission alignment, and a specific challenge that marketplace expertise can close. If selected, you present your real operating need to the room, not a fundraising pitch.

Question 10

My ministry needs help. How do I get connected?

Accepted Answer

Start by reaching out. Tell us what your ministry does, the challenge you are facing, and what kind of expertise would make the difference. If there is a fit, we match you with a marketplace partner whose career built exactly what you need.

The questions we hear most — and the honest answers.

Questions worth answering up front.

What does partnership cost?

The fastest way to know is a conversation.