We are happy to share the news that Pastor Barry St. Clair has accepted the call to be the new pastor for the Portage District here in Wisconsin!
Barry was born in central Michigan to Ellowyn and Dwight St. Clair, currently of Arpin, WI. Barry and his three younger siblings experienced life at Fletcher, NC and Inez, KY during his adolescent years. The family returned to his parent’s current homestead in Arpin in 1979.
Barry graduated from 10th grade at Bethel Jr. Academy; Wisconsin Academy – class of 1985; Southwestern Adventist University – class of 2014; and Andrews University with a Masters in Pastoral Ministry – class of 2017. Most recently, he has completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND.
Barry’s wife, Barbara, is the youngest of three sisters. Although born in New Orleans, LA, they grew up in Milwaukee, WI. Barbara’s eldest sibling died in January 2024. Her middle sister Estelle Dunomes resides in Brown Deer, WI and is a member of the Sharon Seventh-day Adventist Church, Lake Region Conference, in Milwaukee, WI. Barbara is a graduate of Central Texas College and has been employed as a Nursing Assistant and Medical Aide in long-term care facilities, and assisted living centers. She also spent time raising and educating their children through home school.
Barry and Barbara met at Fort Lee, VA at the Shiloh Seventh-day Adventist Church in Petersburg, VA and were married on December 18, 1987. They have five children: Angela (Dave) of Marshfield, WI; Marie (Patrick) of Baltimore, MD; David (Charlotte) of Chili, WI; Kianna, who currently resides in a group home in Fargo and is seeking to transition to Wisconsin in the near future; and their son Glen, who died in January of 2000.
Barry served in the U.S. Army as a dental assistant from 1987-1992. Following that time they purchased a family farm in Arpin, WI and lived there from 1994 – 2004. During this time they were active in the Marshfield, Bethel, and Neillsville Adventist Fellowships. Barry was employed in various lines of work off the farm, and owned a tractor-trailer business twice during that time. His wide range of experience includes woodworking, storage and warehousing, grocery, and convenience stores. Barry has driven nearly two million miles over-the-road both as an owner operator, and a company driver.
Barry began sensing the calling to ministry in 1998 and two years later, Barry and Barbara began serving the Neillsville Company in Wisconsin. They continued in this role until 2004 when they relocated from the farm to Center Point, WV to serve as Academy staff for the 2004-2005 school year. Following that year they accepted a call to McClusky and Turtle Lake, ND as Lay Pastor. Barry also served for one year with Christian Record Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired as a representative for South Dakota, and most of North Dakota. During that time Beulah Adventist Fellowship was added to Barry’s church life. He also began working with a local farmer all the while continuing as a volunteer with Christian Record Services, and driving over-the-road until summer 2007. Barry then returned to the U.S. Army and served from August 2007 – August 2015, initially as a fuel supply specialist, and later in photojournalism and public affairs.
In June of 2015, Barry transitioned to pastoral ministry with the Carolina Conference serving a group, a company, and two churches near Reilly, NC. The following year he accepted a call to return to the Minot district of the Dakota Conference beginning in November 2016. While in that district Barry supported a radio ministry and restarted the elementary school during his tenure there.
In 2019, just before COVID, the family transferred to Fargo, ND to support a company of believers. It was here that Barry was ordained by the Dakota Conference, of the Mid-America Union Conference in July of 2019. Following his ordination he served in several positions within the Dakota Conference including Prayer Ministries Director for six years.
In their transition to Wisconsin, Barry and Barbara are coming from the Prairie District – a collection of six small churches across the landscape of North and South Dakota. They look forward to the ministry God will perform in the Portage District in the Wisconsin Conference. In his free time Barry enjoys horses and gardening. Barbara enjoys spending time at lakes and hiking.
Barry has been a lifelong member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Barbara became a baptized member in the mid 1970’s. They have continued to grow with God at each step of the journey and look forward to the day of Christ’s appearing. Remaining faithful to the mission, ministry and vision of the body of Christ is their central focus.
We are grateful to God for His leading in Barry and Barbara’s lives and we welcome them back to Wisconsin! They will begin their ministry here the first of July, 2024.
Laurella Case, Communication Coordinator
with Barry St. Clair, new Portage District Pastor