FRANKLIN — In a moving testimony of faith and resilience, Jay Barbier, Harvest Field Leader with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, recently joined the Tennessee Golden Hour Podcast and shared his powerful journey through cancer diagnosis and treatment, revealing how his faith not only sustained him but deepened through the trial.
Barbier, who led youth evangelism initiatives including YEC (Youth Evangelism Conference) and Conclave, was diagnosed with cancer in September 2021 after a routine physical revealed three substantial tumors that doctors believe had been growing for 10-15 years.
“When I sat down with the doctor and they said, ‘Hey, man, you have cancer, and it’s really bad,’ it was a bomb for my wife and me,” Barbier recalled during the interview . “We went to our car and we wept. We were not expecting to hear something like that at our age.”
What initially seemed to be stage three cancer was later reclassified as stage four, a devastating revelation that Barbier faced with remarkable spiritual fortitude. “When the doctor says you have stage four, he says hope is off the table,” Barbier explained. “But when I get to lean in on Jesus, I have hope in Him.”
Throughout his battle with cancer, which included radiation, chemotherapy, and multiple surgeries including the removal of half his right lung, Barbier continued his ministry work with TBMB. “Tennessee Baptist said, ‘Look, do what you can when you can.’ That was a huge saving grace for me,” he shared. “I was able to continue with YEC, helping plan Conclave and summer camps. That helped me stay in constant prayer about what God was doing.”
Barbier credits his wife Natalie, a special education teacher who stepped away from her career to care for him, as a crucial source of spiritual strength. “She reminded me of I Timothy chapter two, that we bring everything before our God through supplication,” he said. “She was like, ‘Jay, would you just be brutally honest with me and with others?’ I believe I’m alive today because we didn’t hide this.”
This openness about his struggle created unexpected ministry opportunities. “I’ve watched that God has used something as devastating as cancer to draw my father to salvation, my mom and family members to salvation. I’ve been able to use it to witness to doctors, nurses, other cancer patients,” Barbier shared.
One particularly meaningful moment came when Barbier, near the end of his chemotherapy, witnessed his daughter’s salvation and later baptized her. “Man, you’re talking about joy,” he reflected. “I’ve been able to baptize my son, baptize my daughter, and those are some great moments through this.”
The community’s response to Barbier’s cancer battle demonstrates the power of Christian fellowship. Friends, family members, and church communities provided financial support, prepared meals, and offered constant prayer. “We never missed a payment,” Barbier said, acknowledging the organizations that helped pay his mortgage and medical bills during the most challenging periods.
When asked what helps most during such trials, Barbier emphasized, “No. 1 is pray. What we found to be a pure joy is people that just come and say, ‘I love you.’ ”
He advised against offering unsolicited advice or solutions, instead encouraging simple presence and practical support.
Though currently without detectable tumors, Barbier noted that he remains on a journey of monitoring and recovery that will continue for years. “It’ll probably be a lifelong journey,” he acknowledged, “but what I do know is Jesus has numbered my days.”
The experience has given Barbier and his family a new perspective on making the most of each day. “Now that I’ve walked through cancer, my wife and I have made the commitment to try to say yes to every trip we can,” he explained. “Tomorrow’s not promised. We make the most of every day.”
Throughout his testimony, Barbier returns to Philippians 1:21 as his guiding Scripture: “To live is Christ, to die is gain.”
“If I’m alive today, I’m going to make much of Jesus,” he stated. “I don’t want anybody to remember me or my name, not even my journey, but man, remember King Jesus.”
Although Jay’s role is changing, he remains a valuable team member and expert on all things student ministry.
The full interview with Barbier can be heard on the Tennessee Golden Hour podcast, available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. B&R — For more stories like this, tune into The Tennessee Golden Hour Podcast. Every two weeks, we share powerful narratives of faith, mission, and transformation. You can find us on YouTube and all major podcast platforms, including iTunes and Spotify. Don’t miss out on these remarkable journeys — subscribe today!