Barfield is Reaching Out

Warren Barfield had it all when his self-titled debut album released in 2003. Within two months of the album's release, he topped the radio charts with two hit singles, was tabbed as the #1 New Christian Artist of the Year by Radio & Records, and he was touring with Third Day. Then Barfield began to encounter some catastrophic events. Almost overnight, his record contract was gone, a family friend was dead, and his sister lay in the hospital.Barfield has been traveling and singing since he was 15. The now 27 year old, began his journey singing at churches in North Carolina where his father was a minister. His entire family provided music for the small congregations. In 2003, he released his first album and was an overnight success. CTW, his original record company, folded while he began working on his second album. Another company tried to pick it up, but the new label also fell by the wayside. Essential Records scooped him up and he started on the album for the third time.

"I didn't know what was going to happen. When I got the phone call saying my label was gone, I figured it was over. My label still held my contract, so they shopped it around to other labels. I had to sit and wait for a year and a half. It was frustrating. I wanted to know either way so I could go on with my life," said Barfield.

On top of the controversy with his label, in 2004, his sister, Rena, and her best friend, Carla, were involved in a car accident. Rena and Carla had been best friends since high school. They were college roommates who lived next door to each other after they got married. They had a singing ministry together, made a record, and were getting ready to tour. Rena and Carla were returning home from the mall one night when Rena lost control of the car. Carla died instantly. Rena was injured and was told she needed to have her leg amputated. She had to deal with the guilt and loneliness of losing her best friend.

"I spent that night with my sister and cried with her. There was nothing I could do to make it better. I wanted so badly to say something to make it all make sense, but there was nothing. I was going through the thing with the record label at the same time and we were both asking how we could ever sing again. It was too much," stated Barfield.

Barfield began to question his faith and began reaching out for answers.

"Questions of 'why' were so huge. I finally got to the point where I didn't believe anymore. I looked up at the sky and told God I didn't believe in him anymore and that if he still wanted me to believe to come closer to me. Something in my spirit spoke to me and said 'Warren, if you don't believe in me then who are you talking to? If you open yourself up I will come closer to you than ever before.' There was a new season in my life and I had to accept it. God said he'd be with me and that it would be frightening at times, but he would be here," said Barfield.

The grace of God made Barfield not give up. After much soul searching, he returned to the music scene with his new album, Reach. According to Barfield, he is completely revived spiritually, mentally, and musically. The lyrics relate to his hardships and he sings about something that he truly believes in with all his heart.

"I named it Reach because I am reaching to live for more than just temporary things. It is a struggle sometimes, but I am determined not to give up and sink down into hopelessness. Reaching is an action. I want to reach up, to reach out, and to encourage others to do the same. The hope comes in knowing that we're not the only ones making a move. He is reaching for us too," exclaimed Barfield.

Rena's doctors still want to amputate her leg. She is in a lot of pain and uses a wheelchair for distances. She is back into singing and has made an independent record. She travels, sings, and shares her story.

"All of this stuff happened and broke me. I now want to do things the way Christ would do things. I realize now that I do not deserve anything. Every good thing is a gift from God, for which I am grateful. I now care less about people's definition of success. This has affected my message on stage in a huge way. I meet people and I want to help encourage them. Sometimes I feel like it is my duty. I want people to understand that faith is the only thing that is real," said Barfield.