Born in the city of Chicago as a small boy Pastor Barren had a passion for music. He was always around the musicians and the directors of the church choir. No one really understood what was happening but, in his mind, he was getting ready for the next matter in his life. At the age of 12 he was voted in as the new choir director of his grandmother’s church. Good News Community Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Katie Moon. He held that position for years. He was faithful in all he was given to do. Going all over testifying about the goodness of God. Throughout this period of his life he birthed a ministry and gave it the name Reason Ministries Inc. which started October 7, 2006 and we debuted November 25, 2006 and God has blessed ever since. Gary answered the call to ministry in 2007 and was licensed and ordained by Bishop Timothy Pleasant of Anointed Vessel church.
In February 2011, Pastor Gary W. Barren founded his church New Vision Non-Denominational Church. A native of the Chicago IL, Pastor Barren has served diligently in ministry since his childhood. God used his experiences and His teaching to anoint him to develop disciples and helped empowered and equipped to fulfill God's divine-ordained purpose in their life in faith. Pastor Barren believes in the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, and with God's anointing he ministers to people to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit's power through redemption, restoration, revelation and demonstration. His ministry is based on the scriptures "God has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus" (2Tim 1:9); and if we believe in Christ, we shall perform greater works than He (John 14:12). Pastor Barren is committed to winning souls for Christ and uses preaching to provide God's divine Word to address matters important to salvation and human existence and for practical application. His focus is always on the glory of God! Pastor Barren is married to Lady Nina Barren with 5 children Paris, NaTosha, Andrew, Kyle and Na’Vayah
Pastor Barren is also a gifted educator, conference speaker and well-rounded musician. When he was called to preach, Pastor Barren was serving as an Assistant Pastor to New Covenant Church under the leadership of Pastor Mitchell Scott. When he responded to the Lord's calling on his life and was licensed to preach, Pastor Barren not only preached the Gospel but used his prior experience to demonstrate and teach servant leadership to church pastors, lay-persons and members in order to help the church be a real live body ministry as well as develop spiritual leaders who carry out the Great Commission of God and Savior Jesus Christ.
His anointing and experience have gifted him with an ability to help the young, new Christians and those seasoned in Christ to prepare for, adapt to and experience transformation spiritually, economically, professionally, and socially in accordance to the Lord. One of his favorite scriptures is "be ye not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Pastor Barren holds a associates’s degree in Music Production from Los Angeles Film in Hollywood California. His life is surrounded by the verse 1Cor 2:9
Lady Nina Barren, born in Joliet, Illinois, later relocated to Chicago with her mother and brother. As a child, her mother instilled in her children a strong commitment to church attendance, which would later shape her ministry.
Upon arriving in Chicago, they attended New Mount Pilgrim under the leadership of the late Pastor McCoy. However, after Pastor McCoy’s passing, her mother felt a need for change, and they began attending Original Greater Rock MB Church. During her time at this church, Nina joined the choir and eventually became its director. She also worked with the youth department for four years, witnessing the growth of ministry in her life.
In 2008, Nina joined a singing group called Reason Ministries Inc., where she encountered true worship. The group was renowned for its worship and praise, and Minister Gary Barren led them. It was during this time that ministry truly began to consume Nina’s life. They traveled extensively, singing and praising God.
In February 2011, Minister Barren founded New Vision Non-Denominational Church, and Nina was a founding member. He believed in everyone working together, and that’s exactly what they did. They put in the effort and dedication.
In 2011, Nina felt the call to preach, but she had been sensing it since 2009. She recognized that there was something special about her life. In 2012, she was licensed to preach the gospel of Jesus at New Vision Non-Denominational Church under the leadership of Bishop Gary Barren.
Nina is the mother of four children: NaTosha, Andrew, Kyle, and Na’Vayah. One of her greatest joys is being the wife of the Apostle Gary Barren.
Despite facing numerous challenges, Nina’s unwavering faith in serving God sustains her. Her journey is simple: she fell, she got back up, she learned from her mistakes, and now she is pursuing everything she was told she could never achieve.
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I’m Marilyn, a recovered drug addict, a mother who sometimes didn’t realize the blessing I had in being that. I was a daughter who always relied on and found strength in my relationship with my mom, and a sister who wasn’t always sisterly. I introduced myself in this manner three times a week in Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
For over 26 years, I was addicted to crack cocaine and made poor decisions, including neglecting my family.
On April 9, 2007, after being sick and tired of being controlled by my desire to get and stay high, I checked myself into the rehabilitation center at New Leaf Long-Term Women’s Treatment Center in Peoria, Illinois. After completing 91 days of treatment, I vowed never to use drugs again. I made this vow to myself, my family, and to God, and I was determined to keep it this time. With the help of my family and through the mercies of God, I’ve been clean for over 17 years.
Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to NA, becoming an advocate for clean and sober living. To achieve this, I began working in a service role at the treatment center, where I encouraged the women there to pursue and find a better life. I’m also involved in the Hospital and Institutional (H&I) board and share my story at various NA conventions. I still attend weekly meetings at the Scotts County Jail.
Today, I remain actively involved in NA by attending the same treatment center I graduated from and have even been blessed to start our own NA meetings (SAVE YOUR LIFE GROUP). This group allows me to help others by sharing my living testimony, emphasizing that change is a decision, and if you decide to make it, it will save your life, just as it did for me when I graduated from treatment. I am also a license Missionary, Ordained Evangelist, and a host of other things at the church I serve New Derrick’s Temple COGIC.
Drugs altered my soul, so I brought my soul to the ALTAR!!!!!!!