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Barbara and her husband Alan have been with the FMC since 1994 when appointed to the First FMC of Gardiner, ME. After pastoring in Gardiner for six years, they served as missionaries on a one-year VISA assignment in Nigeria. Upon their return, they accepted a pastoral position in Gloversville, NY. In June of 2005, Barbara was ordained an Elder in the FMC.
Although never having formal instruction for art or writing, God has guided Barbara in it. From 1977-1986 Hunter Ministries Publishing Co. of Kingwood, TX published her eight Bible storybooks which she also illustrated. Although these books are out of print she still uses them when ministering to children within their church. Barbara often writes new stories when she can't find "just the right story" for a lesson. Several of her articles have been in Evangel; others were printed on bulletins prior to the bulletin devotionals ending a few years ago.
While living in Maine, Barbara drew a sketch of the Yellow Meeting House where the Gardiner FMC was founded. A copy of this sketch is displayed in the Marston Memorial Historical Center alongside an oil lamp from the Meeting House. She also enjoys working with pastels and oil paints.
Barbara and her husband have one son and three grandchildren.
Psalm 45:1 is Barbara’s life verse. "My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.” She goes on to say: “Whether the ‘pen’ is in my mouth for reciting God's greatness, or in my hand for writing, sketching or painting, the honor is for Jesus Christ, the King.”
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Storybooks
written and illustrated by Barbara Witter
Storybooks not pictured:
The Bear in the Garden
Noah's Dove
The Fallen Sparrow
Duncan, the Donkey's Colt
Art
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| Yellow Meeting House |
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| Double Drum 'n at Ikot Ntuk |
Poetry
Who Dwells Within?
by Barbara Witter
“Let me in!” the spirit cried,
As he knocked on his former abode.
“Let me return to my dwelling place,
Where I’ve toiled and knitted and sowed.”
“Oh no!” replied the aged one,
With hair of silver gray.
“You must be gone, for I have asked
Another to come and stay.”
The spirit shrieked and cried once more,
“But I’ve lived here for many a year;
This is my rightful dwelling place,
Where I’ve nourished my family of fear!”
The gray-haired one, she spoke again,
“I have no place for you;
The only thing you had for me
Was death in a darkened tomb.”
“The Spirit Who now resides within
Has love and life and peace;
Such wisdom I’ve never known before,
Such cleansing of strife and grief!”
“Away with you! Be gone I say!
You must depart from me!”
As she spoke she shook her fist,
And stomped her foot heavily.
The sullen spirit covered his eyes
From the light on the old one’s face;
He cursed his fate as he backed away,
“I hate that look of grace!”
The elderly one, she breathed a sigh
As she spoke to her Tenant within,
“Thank You, Lord, for abiding in me,
And delivering me from sin.”
“I came so close to missing You.”
Wept the one with the silver hair.
And as she knelt beside her bed …
... eternity met her there.
“The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus Christ) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
the end
About the poem:
This was published in the June 22, 2003 Evangel. During the Gulf War in 1991, we were still living in our hometown of Chambersburg, PA. Prints of this poem were on display in our local church. Some newcomers to the church decided to send care packages to the troops. During a conversation with one of the ladies she told me they were inserting the poem along with the other items. She went on to tell me how anointed the poem was and that some of the troops responded saying it led them to the Lord. She then asked me if I ever read it. She was surprised when I told her I wrote it. I should say the Holy Spirit dictated it to me. One morning as I sat in my “prayer closet”, I felt as if God was dictating to me. Within minutes this poem was written. After showing it to our pastor, he used it in the following Sunday’s message. Because of the positive response from his message, I decided to have it printed as a bookmark.
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