A Welsh community has been left shaken by the tragic death of seven-year-old Samuel Barker. Yet this small community has also been shaken by the incredible faith of his family, who continue to speak of God as they grapple with the immeasurable pain of losing their son.
Samuel was killed by the school bus which had just delivered him to his home in Monmouth. Rushing to the scene of the accident, his mother, Cat Barker, knew he was not alive the moment she got there.
She told a local paper: ‘I was there in seconds. I picked him up off the road and put him on my lap. I knew he was dead straight away and there was no suffering. I praised God for his life and that I knew exactly where he was now, and that it had been so quick. I kissed his head – his very tousled hair.’
His mother and two others prayed over him for 45 minutes before the ambulance arrived. The police who attended the scene said they had never seen a response like it before. But this immediate testimony of faith was just the start of her witness to the people who knew Samuel.
Filled with the Spirit
Instead of anger towards the bus driver, who was arrested, Samuel’s mother said: ‘He is in our prayers and I feel desperately sad on his behalf. One of my hopes is that through this awful event he will come to Christ.’
The day after Samuel died, she went to the school and explained to his class that Samuel was in heaven. After praying with them, she came outside into the playground. Greeted by what was described as a scene of devastation, Mrs Barker went and comforted other parents in their grief.
She told en: ‘God has been on me. There has been something stirring inside me. God is so good. The day after Samuel died, my niece was given the greatest gift, as she gave her life to Jesus. My real hope is that people see that this Jesus can’t be cotton wool and feathers. He is substantial and sustaining. He must be. I’m not strong. This is God’s work in me.’
‘I’m seeing people having their world view smashed by this. Other Christians are being bold, because of what’s happened – it is so wonderful. People are speaking the name of Jesus and it’s so precious to hear others shining for Christ because of this.’
Shaken
Three different people, on three different days, gave one of each of three consecutive verses from Isaiah 61 to Samuel’s parents. The verses spoke to them of revival. So, three nights of revival prayer were organised by the Barkers and Monmouth Baptist Church, where they are members. A month later, groups are still meeting to pray for the community on a daily basis.
And the prayers have been answered. The Sunday School grew to four times its size, people have been asking to come to church, Bible study groups and special services have been started.
Samuel’s testimony
‘A year ago, the truths of God had settled in Samuel’s heart,’ Cat said. ‘God has good plans for all of us, including Samuel. I trust that Samuel was meant to die when he did. His days were numbered by God; he wasn’t robbed. I don’t need to feel sad that Samuel will never achieve something, or be a certain age. The thing he was most excited about in this life was going to heaven.
‘God has a good purpose for every believer’s life, no matter how short. I used to pray that Samuel would become a great man of God, and I see that in his death God is using him in ways he might never have in his life, bringing many people to consider Christianity and, God willing, come to faith as they see how faith in Jesus stands up not just to life’s hardships, but death itself.
Mourning with hope
‘Every time I start to feel sad or go into the cloud of grief, I remind myself that Samuel is happier than any of us are here. God has wiped every tear from his eye, and he will be forever happy. As a parent, you’re never happier than your saddest child. Samuel will never be my saddest child. I will see him again. I’m still here because God has a job for me to do, and I want to run the race, but I do so in light of eternity.
‘The first day after Samuel’s death, I was completely filled with the Holy Spirit, and my response to family who descended upon us and wanted to share our grief was: “Now you have to believe. I know I will see him again. What about you? I want you to be there with us.”
‘My hope, however, doesn’t mean I am unable to grieve. Someone told me that I should allow myself to cry as much as I can every day. I don’t want to block the tears, or suppress the sadness. It is clear in so many passages of Scripture that God is with us in our grieving.’
Revival
About 800 people gathered in services to remember Samuel. Dressing in ‘rainbow’, which was his favourite colour, the community heard about God’s sovereignty over everything, including this indescribable loss, and were challenged by Samuel’s faith expressed in Samuel’s Psalm*.
Cat ended: ‘As we gather to pray for revival in Monmouth, we ask our fellow believers to do likewise, and pray for us here, because God’s Holy Spirit is upon this town and we can see and feel things happening here in Monmouth. Let’s not limit God by what we think is possible and achievable. Let’s pray for revival in communities across the world.’
‘Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen’ (Eph. 3:20-21).’
*Samuel wrote the following aged six:
‘I love Jesus and God because they look after me and [are] nice to me. They love me very much and they make me better and they are the best adults in the whole wide world. And I love them very much. They are so nice to me. So I will always believe in them. They like me so much. They are so so so so so kind to me and I trust them. They give me strength. He loves me all the time I praise the Lord. I can trust in them. They are the best. I am so excited to go to heaven. I will never hurt myself. I will never never get a stitch. And he died on the cross for me. He saved my life.’
