About - Stephen Barkley

Teacher ~ Author ~ Practical Theologian

I’ve always felt called to teach. I left high school for Eastern Pentecostal Bible College (now MCS), focused on a BTh in education, only to discover that the program was aimed at producing Sunday School teachers. I quickly switched my focus to youth ministry, but continued my pursuit of education at Tyndale Seminary a few years later. I entered Tyndale intent on exploring various Christian traditions, only to leave with an MDiv in education and a strengthened commitment to pentecostalism.

I spent the 2000s and 2010s serving in Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada churches as a young adult pastor, worship pastor, associate pastor, interim pastor, and lead pastor. In all of those positions, teaching has been the defining mark of my ministry.

In this latest season of life, I’ve completed a doctoral degree in practical theology from McMaster Divinity College. The research associated with that degree is presented in my first book, Pentecostal Prophets. In 2022 I returned to my alma mater as a part of their full time teaching faculty. Full circle.

Published Works

Eat Before You Speak

“Eat Before You Speak.” Testimony, vol. 105, no. 3, 2024, pp. 25–27.

Full Article

Review of Introduction to Spirituality

Review of Introduction to Spirituality: Cultivating a Lifestyle of Faithfulness. Pneuma vol. 46, no. 1, 2024, pp. 101–103.

Review of Churches, Cultures & Leadership

Review of Churches, Cultures and Leadership: A Practical Theology of Congregations and Ethnicities, 2nd ed., Taylor and Francis Online, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/1756073X.2024.2332832.

Prophetic Discernment in an Uncertain World

“Prophetic Discernment in an Uncertain World.” Testimony, vol. 104, no. 4, 2023, pp. 26–29.

Full Article

Pentecostal Prophets

Barkley, Stephen D. Pentecostal Prophets. Wipf and Stock, 2023.

God's Quest

“God’s Quest: A Relentless Rescue Mission.” Testimony, vol. 102, no. 1, 2021, pp. 21–23.

Full Article

Toronto Blessing

“Toronto Blessing (Catch the Fire).” Brill’s Encyclopedia of Global Pentecostalism, edited by Michael Wilkinson, Brill, 2021, pp. 634–36.

“Toronto Blessing (Catch the Fire).” Brill’s Encyclopedia of Global Pentecostalism Online, edited by Michael Wilkinson, Conny Au, Jörg Haustein, Todd M. Johnson, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2589-3807_EGPO_COM_040615.

Review of Regeneration

Review of Regeneration: A Complete History of Healing in the Christian Church, 3 vols. Pneuma, vol. 39, no. 4, 2017, pp. 537–39.

Sunday Morning Prophets

“Sunday Morning Prophets.” Enrich: The Leadership Magazine of the PAOC, Spring 2017, pp. 9–12.

Full Article

Paddling Pointers

“Paddling Pointers.” Outdoor Canada, Nov. 2007, p. 22.

Get Real

“Get Real: How Sincerity Fosters Deeper Friendship with God.” Pray! Magazine, Jan/Feb 2007, pp. 14–17.

Stay Sharp

“Stay Sharp.” Outdoor Canada, Winter 2007, p. 26.

Dress Code

“Dress Code.” Outdoor Canada, March 2006, p. 22.

God in the Wild

“God in the Wild.” Modern Discipleship Magazine for Men, June/July 2004, www.moderndisciplemag.com/August04/everyman.php.

Subversive Christianity

“Subversive Christianity.” Modern Discipleship Magazine for Men, Nov. 2004, www.moderndisciplemag.com/November04/subversive.php.

Portable Presence

“Portable Presence.” Enrich: The Leadership Magazine of the PAOC, Summer 2004, pp. 22–24.

A Biblical Look at the Anointing

“A Biblical Look at the Anointing.” Enrich: The Leadership Magazine of the PAOC, Fall 2003, pp. 25–28.

Under Creation's Frosty Canopy

“Under Creation’s Frosty Canopy.” Testimony, vol. 84, no. 6, 2003, pp. 16–17.

The Congregationalists

Larsen, Timothy and Stephen Barkley. “The Congregationalists.” Victorian Web, 30 Oct. 2000, www.victorianweb.org/religion/larsen5.html.

Full Article