Rev. Eddie R. Lofton

Barbara Lofton

In June 1973 while pastoring a church in Chicago, Eddie Lofton had the opportunity to read ”Tortured for His Faith” by Rev. Haralan Popov, a moving testimony of this Pastor’s 13 years of imprisonment in Bulgaria for His faith. This book so moved Eddie that he wrote to Rev. Popov asking how he could help. Rev. Popov had already planned to be in the Chicago area during the next week and upon his arrival called and asked Eddie and his wife Barbara to meet with him. This was the beginning of a long and fruitful working relationship.  Eddie Lofton is available to come to your church or group to share with you the opportunities for service. We do ask that an offering be received for the outreach of this ministry. The goal of this ministry, as from the beginning, continues to be the building up of the saints for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ while we remain here on this earth. Help to provide support for a translator of gospel materials for the Kazak people, gather funds for the support of Romanian orphanages, and help raise support for additional worker in the children’s ministry in the Philippines. Continue to speak in behalf of the SUFFERING CHURCH throughout the world, never forgetting those who suffering for the spread of the gospel. This is Eddie Lofton’s thirty first year of ministry as an ordained minister of the gospel, He says, God is faith to provide new ministry opportunities everyday, we only pray God will send additional laborers to help in the harvest fields, they are white to harvest.

Barbara Lofton was born Barbara McClarty, May 27, 1946 in Bruce, Mississippi. She is the eleventh child born to Gilbert and Fannie Lou McClarty, her parent at that time were sharecroppers, farming in the Mississippi delta. Later the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where she lived for three years, and when she was 14 years old the family moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin. The family began attending Temple Baptist Church, since the family had been accustomed to attending church, it was an opportunity for Barbara to get involved in the girl missions organizations. She become actively involved in the study of missions, Bible studies, and youth activities, which included choir. Little did Barbara realize the meeting with Brother Haralan in 1973 would lead to over thirteen years of travel throughout the United States from coast to coast. She was able to personally speak with thousands regarding the work behind the iron curtain, and to encourage them to get involved. During those years Barbara had responsibility for operation of the Kenosha office, making sure meetings were scheduled, materials were delivered and generally making sure everything ran the way it was planned. These duties were handled very well, during which time the children were growing up and requiring more and more attention. She also continued to be involved in the local church, singing, teaching, and staying involved in mission outreach projects.

Eddie and Barbara

It was during the spring revival services, April of 1963, she was singing in the choir, that she and Eddie meet. Barbara and Eddie had much in common having been raised in church, by parent who loved the Lord and served him. Both were actively involved in regular Bible study, youth choir, youth activities, and especially actively involved in mission study and action projects. After a year of dating which involved lots of time spent at church, involved in activities which included, accompanying Eddie to preaching opportunities throughout northern Illinois, using her talent for singing and sharing the gospel. Barbara and Eddie were wed at First Baptist Church of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, April 25th, 1964. At the present time Eddie and Barbara live in Kenosha, Wisconsin and are actively involved in sharing needs of the missionaries on many fields throughout the world. The next year Pamela Sheree arrived, and the next year Ricki Lynn, and the next year Richard Edward. Then four year later Scott Nichols arrived and during these years Barbara and Eddie were involved in ministry at First Baptist Church of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois. There were many opportunities to preach for Eddie and for Barbara to serve as Bible teachers in churches throughout the area. Some of the opportunities included being a pastor’s wife, for several years while they ministered in Chicago at Lamon Avenue Baptist Church and Argo-Summitt, Illinois at New Hope Baptist Church, and later in Kenosha, Wisconsin at Temple Baptist Church Barbara and Eddie had the opportunity to join Haralan Popov as he established his new mission Evangelism to Communist Lands. They began traveling in behalf of the mission in June 1973, this provide great opportunities to minister in hundreds of churches each year.  Eddie’s recent missionary trips have included Romania, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Brazil, with several others in the planning stages. Since 1973 there have been many changes in the world, with these changes come new responsibilities for outreach ministry. Perhaps the greatest needs are within the 10/40 window, with these opportunities come great suffering and persecutions for the new Christians. Since that time she has continued to be involved in local church ministries. In addition Barbara and Eddie have established a bio-vocational ministry, which has taken them to every state in the United States. Barbara has operated an office for L & L Enterprises and New Creations Ministry in Kenosha, enlisting support throughout every state. For twenty-six years she has done an outstanding job of operating the office, which for a number of years employed fourteen employees. This has all be done while still being involved in her own personal ministry through music, teaching and counseling with those who need prayer and comfort. She has ministered to many through mailing greeting cards of encouragement, and thereby providing encourage in dark hours to many. During the past several years she has also spent time learning to sign in order to be able to minister to the hearing impaired, she is still enjoying learning the new language.