Collection 510 Oral History Interviews with Erik S. Barnett

Collection

Identifier: CN 510

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Oral history interviews with Erik Stanley Barnett (1910-2006) in which he describes his childhood in Kenya as the son of missionary parents; his own work in that country as pastor, church planter, educator and administrator with Africa Inland Mission (AIM); the internal developments of AIM and of the Africa Inland Church in Kenya during the twentieth century. Other topics discussed include: his parents’ missionary service in Kenya among the Maasai people; changes in AIM missionary training over the years; memories of the Mau Mau Emergency; and the advantages of growing up on the mission field for future missionary service. The time period covered by the interviews is 1915 to 1995.

Erik Barnett was interviewed by Paul Ericksen on January 23 and 24, 1995 at the AIM Retirement Center in Claremont, Florida.

Dates

Created: 1995

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.

Biographical Information

Full Name: Erik Stanley Barnett

Birth: December 3, 1910 in Kenya to missionary parents

Death: January 22, 2006 in Minneola, Florida

Family:

Parents: Albert Edmond Barnett and Elma Elizabeth Nischer Barnett

Siblings: Carl, Arthur Malcolm (twin), Paul Austin, Ruth Dorothy Collins, William John

Marital Status: Married to Emily Sterrett on December 22, 1933

Children: Charles Edward (born 1935), Paul N. (Born 1937), Stanley and John (born June 13, 1940), Elizabeth Susan (born October 18, 1944), Carolyn Emily (born April 30, 1948)

Conversion: At age of 5, after conversation with his mother; made a public profession of faith at age 11 at Rift Valley Academy in Kenya during a revival meeting

Education:

Rift Valley Academy in Kenya

Westervelt Missionary Home in Arkansas, USA

?-1931 - Columbia Bible College, graduated with a two-year diploma

1931-1933 - State University of South Carolina, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree

Career:

1934-ca.1949 - Served with his wife as missionary with Africa Inland Mission among the Kipsigi people in Litein, Kenya; the Tugen people in the Eldama Ravine, Kenya. Was primairly a church and school planter, preacher, pastor.

1940-1946 - Furlough spent in Wheaton, Illinois, teaching at Wheaton Academy. The furlough was prolonged because of World War II.

949-1971 - Field director of AIM's Kenya Field Education secretary for the mission in Kenya (concurrent with being field director)

1972-ca. 1975 - Pastor in three churches among the Marakwet people in Liter, Kenya

ca. 1975 - Retired to the United States

1980-1987 - Called back to teach at Pwani Bible Institute, Mombasa, Kenya

ca. 1987 - Permanent retirement to the United States at AIM Media Retirement Center in Claremont, Florida

Other significant information: 1910-1924 Grew up in Kenya

Extent

4.00 Audio Tapes

365 Minutes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Accruals and Additions

The materials in this collection were given to the Billy Graham Center Archives by Erik Barnett in January 1995.

Accession: 95-18

June 18, 2011

Bob Shuster