Meet Chaplain Stephen R. Barnhart

We recently connected with Chaplain Stephen R. Barnhart and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Chaplain Stephen R., thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

From my father… He was from an extremely poor family without aid from anyone to advance. Being very artistic, even winning the State Art Fair in Kansas while in Jr. High school, he had a talent for building, painting art, carving, making furniture, and other activities. He was assigned as a special painter in WWII and, at his suggestion, did custom work on the island of Alcatraz guard towers. As far as winning the State Art Fair, he was never able to travel to Topeka, as he knew no one with transportation resources.

Hearing his story, how poor he was, and the success and recognition he received made me realize early in life he was doing something right. Only having a ninth-grade education, he became a professional witness for the city of Kansas City, Kansas, and never lost a case to any of the fancy lawyers. In fact, a judge once asked, “Where did they find that old man?”

He showed me the way to be successful in anything I wanted to do was to become the best, work hard, not talk about people, do what you say, go the extra mile, and just keep at it.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Stephen R. Barnhart brings to his clients and customers a wide range of experience in business, education, security consulting, and management. Steve has over 45 years of experience in the electronic security industry and has attended countless training programs, seminars, and factory-sponsored training events. He holds an A.A. Degree from Kansas City Kansas Community College, A Diploma in Electronics Technology (1800 hours) from Kansas State Vo-Tech, Paralegal Courses at JOCO Community College and Rockhurst, as well as several other courses and programs from other reputable schools, such as Harvard. Steve also has a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing, an MBA in Business and International Relations, and a Ph.D. in Education, all from CHEA-recognized and accredited institutions in the USA. To enhance his career in law enforcement and security, Steve also attended the Kansas City, Kansas Reserve Police Academy, the Wyandotte County Reserve Sheriff’s Academy, and the Fire Training School of Phillips Petroleum and Texas A&M University.

Steve has received numerous citations and awards from around the world, including an award for consultancy to the KOSOVO Peacekeeping Mission, a letter of thanks from the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia for his contributions to security and international relations, an appointment as a security consultant to the Royal Family of Bahrain, the Medal of Merit from President George W. Bush, personal letters of thanks from other Presidents, Governors, Congressmen, Senators, and Members of Parliament, Government, Military, and other notable personalities.

Steve’s career includes many titles and responsibilities, such as; Reserve Police Officer, Sheriff’s Deputy, Fire Marshal, Fire Inspector, Fireman, State & City Licensed Private Detective, Bonded Locksmith, Certified Alarm Technician, Certified Electronics Technician, Certified Countermeasures Technician, Certified Executive Protection Agent, a Microsoft Registered Partner, and a 32nd Degree Mason, and has done much for charity through the Shriner’s Organization. Steve was also on the International Champion Harley Davidson Motorcycle Team and a member of the Provost Unit of www.araratshrine.com, where President Truman also served as a member. Steve currently serves as the Technical Surveillance Advisor for a major law enforcement agency in the State of Missouri, and a security consultant to the United States Department of the NAVY. Steve also served as the Educational Chairman for the Kansas City Chapter of the ASIS—American Society for Industrial Security. Most recently, in 2019, Steve was appointed as a Security Advisor to the Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara in Ghana by the King.

Steve is a former member of The Presidential Business Commission, was voted “Businessman of the Year,” as seen in the Wall Street Journal, and the former Director of the International Association of Personal Protection Agents (IAPPA) which has been approved for Education advancement opportunities with the Department of the NAVY, an Educational Consultant for Mondiapol Police Department and an Honorary Member of the Associazione Nazionale CARABINIERI in Italy, and works with many other organizations on a local and international level.

Steve’s IBEC, International Business and Educational Consultant’s organization, has been approved as a certifying agency to recommend and award the Presidential Service Award and has personally been awarded several other high honors on his involvement within the law enforcement, military, investigative, and various related organizations, including the Kentucky Colonel, Nebraska Admiral, is a Gold Commander / Diamond Leader in the Disabled American Veterans, (DAV) and has recently received the Patriotic Citizen’s Award from the VFW, Veterans of Foreign wars and a supporting member of the USO, and in March 2011, received the highest honor for a Master Mason, the Grand Masters Award.

Steve has also held numerous positions within the political arena; including that of Presidential election Campaign Trustee, Presidential Business Commission, representative to the States of Kansas and Missouri, and even a sponsor for the Vice-Presidential visit to Kansas City, where he met Vice President Dick Cheney and others. On a more recent basis, Steve attended a seminar hosted by Claire McCaskill, where he met the President of the Export / Import Bank of the United States, Fred Hochberg, and attended a VIP meeting with the Chairperson of the House Committee on Small Business, Congressman Sam Graves.

Steve has also been a member of the Kansas City Kansas Police Department, The Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, a partner with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, and a certified fireman with Phillips Petroleum, a Team Member with the FBI-InfraGard Cyber Security Team, A Fire Marshal ad currently an Inspector and Chaplain for the Inter City Fire Protection District.

Most recently, the Government of ZAMBIA, as the Global Goodwill Ambassador on Education for the Country, appointed Prof Barnhart. He is the Global President of ICOF as well as the Chaplain General. ICOF Africa is not related to ICOF USA, where he is now involved and holds several positions.

Steve has several books, many letters of reference, pictures, awards, and various appointments available in his office, available for perusal by any interested parties.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Growing up with more than one disability, it was extremely difficult to learn and stay awake in school, all while being sick much of the time. I knew I had to make something out of myself, and it was up to me to make it happen.

I wanted to learn about everything, but was hindered by sickness. Also, having ADHD, it was hard to pay attention. My desire to learn kept me going. It would have been so easy to make straight A’s in school if only I could stay awake and feel halfway decent. I made mostly B’s, passively.

Today, most people with only average intelligence can write their ticket; they just need to be able to prioritize and start their game plan. So easy!!

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am now Chaplain General with a large Ministry group called “International Circle of Faith,” founded in 1932 in Kentucky. I also serve as Bishop for Life Church and President of Life College and Seminary, which has many well-known graduates. Joel Osteen, his wife, and his father are all graduates.

Our international ministries with ICOF were founded in 1932. Below, I have provided information on our international ministries.

Our www.aahea.org continues to be a leader in providing private. non-governmental institutional validation, accreditation, and membership services internationally. As the oldest educational organization in the USA, we continue to support higher education, specifically in the private sector. We date back to 1870 with official 501-C3 status since 1969.

ICOF STATEMENT on RECOGNIZED AFFILIATES
International Circle of Faith (ICOF)
Established 1932
Jesus in the heart of every man, woman, and child

Authentic affiliates vs non-affiliated, non-sanctioned
Since our founding in 1932 by Bishop Ray & Pastor Ruth Cornell, with the assistance of Bishop George & Pastor Lois Wade and others, we have been blessed to take the good news of the Gospel around the world. This growing body of believers has a legitimate presence and authentic participants and affiliates in nearly every nation under heaven.
Unfortunately, there are also many operating without any approval from the legitimate International Circle of Faith (ICOF) www.icof.net, www.icofchaplains.org. To protect our name from these pirates and to protect the public that we serve, we find it necessary to make an official, public statement.
Our official name is International Circle of Faith™ (ICOF), without deviation. Any other name or similar name is not authorized or recognized by us. Those using ICOF, with different words, modified logos, and operating without our imprimatur or approval are simply illegitimate. Some of these entities have operated for many years under the guise of being the legitimate International Circle of Faith™. In fact, one of our officers traveled to a nation in Africa, only to realize that the major ICOF there, claiming affiliation since 1932, has never been authorized or had any type of approval from the founding ICOF. It has also been determined that in some instances, our TRADEMARKED LOGOS or something with a slight deviation have been used for years without our permission. Our legal letters and notices have been ignored, and the purported violations continue to this day.
Only those leaders who hold genuine credentials with the International Circle of Faith™ (ICOF) are recognized by us. If you question whether or not you have been targeted by these interlopers, please contact us. Additionally, we have started a new verification process that includes registered and certified ICOF members. A list can be found here: https://www.aahea.org/index.php/membership/members-list at our AAHEA affiliate website. If you are a bona-fide affiliate and you wish to be recognized as such, this is an excellent way to promote yourself and the true International Circle of Faith™ (ICOF). Inquiries will be handled on a case-by-case basis for past recognized affiliates.
HISTORY OF International Circle of Faith™
Over 100 years later, the International Circle of Faith™ is pleased to trace our roots directly to this original group of men and women in the Apostolic Faith movement.
In the early 1900s, God began to manifest his power and presence in a manner that some thought was only relevant in the time of the New Testament Church. Speaking in tongues or Glossolalia became widespread among adherents of a plethora of similar groups, but most notably the Apostolic Faith movement of Charles Fox Parham (known as the father of the modern Pentecostal movement. Soon, this movement would impact most of the major denominations of the world in what would be one of a series of waves. This first wave (as it would become known) is historically described as the Pentecostal movement.
When ministers from the various denominations began to experience their own person ‘Pentecost (baptism of the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in other tongues). The denominations which they were often turned hostile to them. These men who had found themselves persona non grata began to group together under the banner of their mutual experience. From these initial organizers came a plethora of ministerial associations. The first of these was the Apostolic Faith group organized by Charles F. Parham and championed by such men as Bishop William Seymour, Bishop G. T. Haywood, Bishop G. B. Rowe, and many others. The International Circle of Faith™ was founded in 1932 by disciples of these aforementioned men and remains part of the historic Apostolic Faith Movement. Our leadership traces its roots directly to our founders. Our President and Presiding Bishop, Bernie L. Wade Sr., PhD, is the grandson of one of our founders, Bishop George Arthur Wade.

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With Vice President Cheney, Official White House Photo approved. With Donald Trump, a personal photo. All others approved.

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