Pastor Aubrey, the first born to Bishop Henry and Sheila Barnwell, accepted Christ at the age of six years old.  Aubrey fondly remembers the year spent in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia while his father served in the U.S. Air Force overseas.  His upbringing and early education took place mostly in California and Arizona.  Pastor Aubrey Barnwell earned an Associate Degree from Glendale Community College in Arizona.  He also earned a Bachelor Degree and a Master’s Degree, both degrees were obtained in Business Administration from North Park University and Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois.  Pastor Aubrey also attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Growing up Pastor Aubrey served in many leadership roles in the churches he attended including musician and vocalist in several choirs. Pastor Aubrey attests that he was especially blessed to marry his wife, Sister Linda over sixteen years ago.  It is by God’s grace that they continue in wedded bliss.  God has entrusted into their hands the care of His child, Aaron Michael born March 16, 1998.       

          Along his journey Pastor Aubrey has been blessed to be led by three anointed pastors.  His father, Bishop Henry Barnwell (First New Life M.B.C. of Phoenix); Pastor Stephen J. Thurston (New Covenant M.B.C. of Chicago, IL) and Overseer Bill H. Brown  (Christ Unity Evangelistic Church of Chicago, IL) where he served as Pastor of Christian Education until his reassignment by God back to Phoenix, AZ - ”The Valley of the Sun.”  When asked he say’s each of them continue to be powerful influences in his life and ministry.  Pastor Aubrey Barnwell states that in spite of many short falls, God called him to preach his word and he delivered his first sermon in November, 1999. He was later ordained in 2001.  Pastor Aubrey was installed as Co-Pastor of First New Life Missionary Baptist Church in May, 2004 to work alongside his father, Bishop Henry L. Barnwell.  After the elevation of Bishop Barnwell to Pastor Emeritus in May, 2005, Pastor Aubrey became Senior Pastor of First New Life. 

          First New Life’s affiliations include our connection with Transformation Ministries TM, a para-church ministry that supports the growth and development of healthy church ministries.  Pastor Aubrey is a Board member of Transformation ministries as well a President of the Black Caucus for TM. 

Pastor Aubrey’s vision is to fulfill First New Life’s destiny to become as Jesus proclaimed a “House of Prayer for all Nations”.  He strongly advocates that each member the Body of Christ is necessary and that we must all be continually engaged in our God-given purpose being “fitly joined together” and being witnesses of Christ to the world.  Because of the strength of God’s grace, First New Life is growing and experiencing the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit!