It is important for blog readers to know a little about the writers of this Blog.  Therefore, as one of the Blog’s writers, let me introduce myself.

Hi, there!  My name is Dr. Leslie E. Bartley. I was born in and now resides in Shreveport, Louisiana. My wife, Frances, and I are the proud parents of two grown children and one grandchild.

Serving as a missionary, evangelist, pastor, and educator summarizes my career journey. I have been an ordained minister, in fellowship with the Assemblies of God, for more than 45 years. I have been involved in Christian ministry, before my ordination, for six years as a licensed minister and four years as a layperson. Earning a BA, two M.Ed. and a PhD., to augment his career as a minister and educator; were among my most happy times.

It has been a great honor to serve as a public school teacher and principal in Louisiana and Texas. As an educator, my I have experience as a public school and college administrator, classroom teacher, librarian, counselor, and program evaluator. In addition, I have coordinated, at five different times, accreditation processes for public schools and colleges.

Ministerially,  I have been an evangelist, pastor of eight churches, a foreign and home missionary, Christian educator, and I am currently a semi-retired US missionary. My family and I spent eight years in Jamaica, WI, ministering throughout Central America and the Caribbean. We have spent the past 24 years as US missionaries, working in Arizona, New Jersey, Louisiana, and East Texas. The Bartley family currently ministers to urban senior adults, providing counseling services and a monthly fellowship meal and activities.

Traveling, reading, watching vintage movies and listening to gospel music are among my varied hobbies. I have collected and cataloged a 6,000 volume traditional library, which was donated to a local Bible college. I continue to add to my 4,500 volume digital library.

My life journey has relied upon two guiding principles. First, your family must be sustained in a loving and safe environment that is a home and not just a house. Just as important is a commitment to serve the Lord Jesus Christ with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your mind. There have been many secondary goals in my life, but none that are more important than these two guiding principles.