Emergency Chaplains Report

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Hometown Hero--Andy Barringer

For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News. This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
Colossians 1:4-6 NLT

When Andy Barringer was a child he had visions of being a hero. He could see himself rushing into a burning building to save a helpless child. He probably pictured himself bringing that child out of a smoke filled house while giving rescue breaths. He collapses to the ground, barely able to breathe himself, with the child in his arms.

Suddenly—the child begins to cough. An oxygen mask is placed on the young boy as he is loaded into a waiting ambulance. Andy returns to his duties—life saved—now we need to put out that fire.

For 29 years, Andy risked his life to help others. He joined Parkwood Fire Department as a teenager. He later became a full-time firefighter. At the time of his death he was an Assistant Chief—still serving at the same department where he started.

From the first time that Andy put on the turnout gear, his life was on the line. Every firefighter knows that. However, a firefighter not only puts his life at risk to save others, he dedicates his life to the service of others. On call, 24 hours at a time, waiting for someone to call out for help.

On Sunday, March 1st, Andy was the one who called out for help. While serving as a chaperon on a ski trip for a group that included his son, he began to experience chest pains. When the paramedics arrived, Andy walked to the ambulance and climbed in under his own power.

No one would have ever expected that on the way to the hospital Andy would go into cardiac arrest. The medics did everything they could do. So did the doctors and nurses at the hospital. It seems tragic that a man who had dedicated his life to helping others could find no help on his day of trouble. There were lots of people that tried to help—but to no avail.

As I talked with Andy’s wife, Amanda, I struggled for the words to say that might bring comfort to her and to Colton. As we talked, her words were the ones bringing comfort to me.

Amanda told me that the last few years of Andy’s life had been his best. He had come to understand John 10:10 and what Jesus meant about giving him a full life—abundant life.

She told me that Andy did cry out for help many years ago. He cried out to Jesus and Jesus heard him. Jesus helped him. Jesus saved him from his sin and during the past few years Andy grew in his faith. By leaps and bounds—especially after the family moved to Rolesville.

Moving caused Andy and Amanda to seek out a new church where they met Pastor David Sims, and they all ended up together at Richland Creek Community Church.

The Lord used Pastor David and the church family at “The Creek” to build into Andy’s life and things changed for the Barringer family—to better than ever before. That is not to say that Andy, Amanda and Colton did not face difficult circumstances over the past few years. Just like any other family they have had their share of hard times.

The big change was this—when looking back over the hard times they faced over the past few years, Amanda sees them as sweet times—because Andy had allowed Jesus to change his life and put things in proper perspective. Don’t miss the point—Jesus changed Andy’s life. Drastically.

Andy was changed and so was his family. Andy was the spiritual leader of his home and Jesus was at the center of everything they did. Together, they came to find out what a life of true “JOY” is all about.

Everybody is looking for joy in this dark and difficult world that we live in. If Andy could speak to you right now, he would want you to know that he found there is only one true source of joy—Jesus Christ. As Andy led his family to understand the proper perspective of life, he understood the word joy and that you can find joy by following the letters—J-O-Y.

J=Jesus: Simply put Jesus first in your life—in everything that you do—give Him first place and honor Him above all else. This comes by understanding the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

O=Others: Honor and serve others. Put the needs of other people before your own needs. Love people and serve them in a way that brings glory to God.

Y=You: That leaves you—last. Honor Jesus first and honor all others before yourself. Most people try to work this model upside down. Doesn’t work that way. I think Andy would want you to know that.

Many of you who are reading this knew Andy Barringer. Some of you are still grieving over his death. Life will never be the same again for some of you because of the void that Andy’s death leaves.

One thing I believe that my brother Andy would want you to remember about him is this—His life was changed forever by his relationship with Jesus Christ. He would want you to know that Jesus can bring you the same joy, peace and hope that he lived with here on earth.

Andy would also want you to know that you should not weep for him. Because of his faith in Jesus Christ, his hope has now become sight. The Savior that he trusted in faith here on earth is now his Savior by sight—forever—in heaven.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you Ralph for the kind words about my "baby brother". I know Andy's profound love of Christ impacted lives all around this area...including myself. He became, and still is, an inspiration to us all. I miss him terribly, but I know that one day soon I will see him again!

God Bless you for the work you are doing for those of us who serve the public. It is greatly appreciated.

Capt. Tony Barringer
Durham Fire Department

Anonymous said...

Ralph, thank you for writing about Andy. If you didn't know Andy, he was the kindest person. He always had a smile on his face and would always be your advocate. I miss him dearly as he was my "brother" and I know that I too will see him again someday. Until then, I know he is smiling down on all of us and watching safely over us. Thank you.
Sheilah Lowans
Parkwood Volunteer Fire Department
Auxiliary

Unknown said...

Ralph, Your thoughtful words are well appreciated by those of us who knew Andy, and we will all miss him deeply. But, knowing that he is with our Lord and savior provides us much needed comfort during our grief. Andy was the very first person I met at Parkwood VFD when I came to NC in September 1991 for job interviews. As I pulled up to the firehouse he met me on the ramp and we stood talking about my need to continue serving as a volunteer in the fire service. He, showed me around, talked about the department and you could tell that PVFD was a unique place of pride and service to the community. Andy even gave me names to call for renting a house in the area. I left that day and went on to visit other area volunteer fire departments and no others gave me that sense of "family". To me, Andy was PVFD so now 18 yrs later and 34 yrs in the fire service I along with the entire Parkwood "family" reflect on our many "Andy stories". I believe we'll all see Andy again and he'll show us around and welcome us home, maybe even challenge us to a round of golf. Until then, I believe Andy would want us to take care of ourselves and each other and welcome new members to our PVFD family just as he did for many of us.
Ralph, Thank you for your work and God Bless.

Randy W. McCray RN, CEN, FF/EMT-P
Parkwood VFD Board of Directors.

Chaplain Holland said...

What an awesome tribute to our Brother Andy!

Rev. Mark Holland, PhD, EMT/P
Fire/EMS Chaplain
Parkwood Fire/Rescue/EMS

ckbarringer said...

What an amazing tribute to a truly special person. Tony and Andy have always been people that have inspired me. Andy will be missed.
Keith Barringer (cousin)

Michael Crowley said...

It’s been over a year since my friend Andy left us. As Christians we live our lives anticipating the reality of eternal life with God. Andy has achieved that which we are yet to accomplish.

Andy is the guy in the picture on the home page to this company (Spread the Simple Truth.com). Andy was my friend, but he was much more than that to so many people. Andy was a child of God. I can best describe Andy’s spiritual position as one who not only had faith in God, but one who knew God. Andy was a loving and devoted husband. I can only imagine the pain that his wonderful and Godly wife must still endure as she navigates through life without him. Andy was the father to an amazing young man. I know from years of knowing Andy how much he loved and admired his son. He was so many other things as well: a brother, a son, a leader, a great golfer, a source of inspiration, and the foundation that so many of us leaned on over the years. He had a smile. Sometimes just silly and happy, other times a little mischievous. To those of us who knew him the pictures bring back a flood of memories, all of them punctuated by his smile.

Andy left one morning to take his son skiing. It was early, and he bid his wife goodbye with a promise to talk once he reached the mountain. A call to his wife from the mountain ended with the familiar “I love you” as the two proceeded to hit the slopes. Sometime during the morning, at the top of the mountain, Andy noticed he was in trouble. He selflessly escorted his son to the base of the mountain to spare him the trauma of dealing with a medical emergency on the slopes. Andy walked himself to the ambulance with the same care and confidence he had walked countless patients to one. He said “I love you” to his son.

We drove all night in an ice storm to get to the mountain. We arrived at four in the morning where his son was being watched by friends. We drove the rest of the night to get home. The Fire Department brought Andy home to us the next day. The following few days were a blur of activity as the family prepared to say their final goodbyes. The line to see him was hours long for old friends, family members, and the countless people whose life Andy touched in some way.

It’s been over a year. The tears still come when I think of him, visit him, or see the empty chair at church where he played in the orchestra every Sunday. Andy led me to Christ. He patiently showed me what a life with God looked like by showing me his own life with God. He was there for my surrender to God, my Baptism, and the many questions and confused moments. “…our lives are a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” Soon, very soon, we’ll see Andy again.