“My ministry is still evolving,” reflects Pastor Barry Settle of Ward African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. “I’m a student of preaching. I believe heavily in spiritual discipline—be it fasting, prayer, solitude, worship, or silence.” A native of San Diego and raised in Los Angeles, Pastor Settle’s ministry is dedicated to spiritual growth and discipleship.
His ministerial development began in 1998 while newly married to the Rev. Rochelle Settle. Guided by Pastor Norman D. Copeland, then pastor of Ward AME, he embraced his calling and entered the life of ministry with conviction.
“Looking back,” he recalls, “I could probably recognize that God was calling me a lot earlier in life. But because I didn’t have the wise counsel of a pastor to help me understand what was going on, it was something that I didn’t possibly realize.”
In 2006, Pastor Settle received his first pastoral appointment from Bishop John Bryant, leading Willis Chapel AME in Kansas City, Missouri. He then pastored First AME Church in Kansas City from 2012 to 2016. His path came full circle when Bishop Pugh brought him back to California, where he served as pastor of Allen Chapel in Riverside for six years before returning home to lead Ward AME.
Returning to Los Angeles, his place of origin, meant Pastor Barry Settle would be surrounded by people who knew him, his wife, and his kids, a dynamic that, as he admits, “can create some unique situations” now that he serves as pastor rather than overseeing youth ministry.
While leading the thriving youth ministry, he hosted retreats, concerts, Bible study sessions, and lock-ins, instilling discipline and spiritual growth in the young people. One of his favorite memories involves the weekly basketball meet-ups, where about 25 young men would participate and, later, attend regular church services.
“Men don’t always show up for Bible study,” Settle says with a knowing smile, “but they’ll show up for the game.” That simple truth became the blueprint for a men’s ministry he started in Kansas City—right in the middle of Buffalo Wild Wings on Monday nights.
“At halftime, we’d have a brief 15–20-minute devotion,” he recalls. That ministry eventually outgrew the restaurant, spilling into the homes of church members.
A writer and scholar with a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary, Pastor Settle has self-published three devotional books, each rooted in a personal spiritual practice that began during his time in Kansas City.
“I used to just write devotionals,” he recalls. “I’d take a scripture, wrestle with it, and write a 500–700-word reflection. I would send it to friends. Then they would ask to add more people to the list—it just grew and grew.” Over time, he compiled more than 300 devotionals.
Encouraged by his wife and close friends, he overcame imposter syndrome and self-published his first book, “40 Days on the Narrow Road,” a Lenten devotional released in 2019. The book was well received with “a lot of positive feedback,” he shares.
He followed it up with “Reset: Sometimes You Need to Refresh,” a 21-day devotional, and most recently, “Reset: Fatherhood Edition,” which centers the often-overlooked spiritual journey of fathers.
“I talk to a lot of fathers, and many feel overshadowed or unappreciated,” he says. “I wanted to create something that affirms them and provides biblical inspiration.”
This year, Ward AME Church is engaging with “40 Days on the Narrow Road” throughout the Lenten season, meeting daily on Zoom for reflection and prayer.
“My hope is that we create a community of believers that love God deeply, worship God intensely, and impact community greatly,” says Pastor Barry Settle, reflecting on his vision for Ward AME Church in 2025.
He acknowledges the challenges ahead, noting, “People are broken… people carry trauma with them.” Ultimately, he hopes Ward becomes “a place where the broken can come and feel welcomed and at home.”
