About

MATTHEW BARNES

President

Chaplain Matthew Barnes is blessed to have an incredible Christian heritage. Growing up in a pastor’s family, he was taught the importance of ministering to others. Matthew’s father is the pastor of Hope Baptist Church in Sunman, Indiana, and Matthew is a missionary sent out of HBC.

Matthew was called to preach at the age of 19, and after seven years of biblical study and on-the-job-training, he was ordained January 11, 2003. He has had the opportunity to minister in many different venues over the years: from missions conferences to prayer breakfasts, weddings to funerals, and from rescue missions to the Indiana Statehouse.

Matthew worked for several years bi-vocationally with a desire to go into full-time ministry. In the fall of 2004, after listening to a sermon on praying for political leaders, God placed a burden on Matthew's heart to begin a ministry in the Indiana Statehouse. A short time later, he founded Public Servants' Prayer.

Since 2004, ministry in the Statehouse has expanded in more ways than could have been imagined. God has provided Matthew with incredible opportunities to lead Bible Studies, Chapel Services, Annual Statehouse Prayer Services, Prayer Breakfasts, and Pastors’ Statehouse Days. These events, combined with faithful interaction within the capitol community, have opened many doors for sharing the Good News and testimonies of God’s faithfulness.

In addition, Matthew travels to many churches throughout the United States with an extended vision. He desires to see them gain a passion for ministry to their individual elected leaders through prayer, encouragement, and the Word of God. twitter @mattrbarnes facebook.com/barnes.matthew

PAM RUSSELL

Women's Ministry Director

Pam was born and raised in rural England and came to live in the states by way of love and marriage. Her spiritual heritage is that of the Church of England, including primary and secondary schools, but her faith in Christ was completed in the US under the ministry of Jesse and Nettie Miller, missionaries to the US Military. Pam and her husband served in the military chapel wherever they were stationed, ministering to military singles and spouses.

Since those days Pam has served as a chaplain in ministry to incarcerated women, leading to the founding of a Biblical substance abuse counseling ministry that has a national and international reach.

In 2010 the Lord called Pam to serve as Women’s Chaplain at the Indiana Statehouse, joining Matt Barnes, who founded the ministry there. God has granted favor and opened many doors, enabling Pam to share the Good News, lead Bible Studies, counsel leaders and their staff, establish Women’s Statehouse Day, pray in the legislature, and grow relationships of trust with women state leaders. Pam has also traveled to other countries to train and speak on the work of ministry to public servants. Pam also delights to speak to churches and women’s groups here in the US about ministry in the political arena.

Pam’s desire is counter-culture, exhorting believers to care deeply about their elected leaders, regardless of party or ideology, and minister to them biblically by prayer and encouragement, building bridges that will open doors for the Gospel. Pam is a published author, and has three children and eleven grandchildren.