The Barnabas Fellowship is a grant of $250 enabling a member of InScribe to further his or her progress in writing. It is named for Barnabas, a co-worker with the Apostle Paul. His story is found in the book of Acts. Barnabas means “encourager,” which coincides with the purpose of this award. It is awarded at the Fall Conference to one deserving applicant who must be a current member of InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship.
Applications for the Barnabas Fellowship Grant are accepted each Summer, with a deadline is August 31st of the current year.
You must be a member to InScribe to apply for this award. If you desire to take your writing to a new level, winning this award might just be the motivation and ‘encouragement’ to help you achieve your current writing goals. Carefully read the following rules before sending in your application.
Abridged from: https://www.alberta.ca/aoe-gerald-hankins.aspx
Dr. Hankins has brought distinction to his community, province and country through his work as a missionary doctor and writer, and through his commitment to serving others.
Born in Calgary, AB Oct 16, 1923, his parents divorced when he was four. His mother, Gladys struggled to raise her two sons through the poverty of the Depression.
After graduating High School in Calgary, Gerald joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and served as a radio navigator in Britain, India and Burma. In 1943 his plane suffered engine failure and crashed, leaving Gerald with a severe back injury. During 10 months of convalescence in Scotland, Gerald developed an interest in the medical profession. He also experienced a growing sense of faith that would greatly influence his life.
Upon his return home, Gerald began studies at the University of Alberta. He married Alison in 1948, earned a B.Sc. in 1949, and a medical degree in 1951. The family settled in Calgary where Gerald established a general surgery practice, and over the years raised five children.
In 1966 Gerald took part in a two-week mission trip to Mexico, but he felt it important to wait until the children were grown before undertaking a more extensive assignment.
Eventually, Gerald went to Nepal. Gerald, Alison, and their youngest daughter, Jennifer, lived in Nepal from 1974 to 1986 where Gerald performed surgery and taught junior Nepali doctors. There he realized there were few, if any, textbooks of practical surgery that would help doctors working in Third World countries. Working with an editor living in Kenya, he and 10 other surgeons contributed to a textbook called Primary Surgery. The project took five years to complete. The two-volume textbook continues to be an invaluable resource, still seen and in frequent use in Third World hospitals.
Dr. Hankins retired in 1990, and set his sights on a new career. In 1992 he published the autobiography of Dr. Helen Huston, followed by autobiographies of three other distinguished Albertans: Dr. Arthur Jenkyns, Dr. Otto Schaefer, and Dr. Gary McPherson. A fifth work, on Calgary’s Mustard Seed Street Ministry, followed in 2004, along with numerous articles, poems and stories.
In 2005 Dr. Gerald Hankins was inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence.
Dr. Hankins was the President of Inscribe Christian Writers Fellowship in the early days of the organization. Members of the time remember him as a gracious man. He established the Barnabas Award to help and encourage Christian writers.
Barnabas Fellowship Grant Application Process
- Applicants must hold a current year InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship membership.
- The application must be postmarked no later than August 31st for the year of application.
- Both published and unpublished writers may apply.
Your application must include the following items:
Biography/brief history of your writing experience: describe when you became interested in writing, the progress you have made, courses you have taken, conferences attended, and any other relevant information. Length: no more than one page.
Curriculum vitae/summary of published writing: include books, magazine articles, poetry, newspaper features, columns, etc. You can include work published in church bulletins and newsletters. If your work has not been published in any form, mark “Never published” on your curriculum vitae. Length: no more than one page.
Personal essay/explanation of your writing goals and how this award could help you achieve them: you may also describe how God is using your writing ability. Length: no more than one page.
Tearsheet of a published article/scanned copy is permissible: demonstrating your writing ability. If you have not been published, send 1-3 pages (maximum) of your writing as a sample of your work.
The recipient will not be required to account for their use of this grant but Inscribe asks that the winner respect the stated intention of this award.
Please email your completed package to the Awards Committee. The subject line should read “Barnabas Award Application”
The body of the email should contain your name, address, email address, and phone number. The required items should be attachments in Word document or PDF format.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Midnight of August 31st, every year.