Husband to a force of nature (Anji) & Dad to two amazing kids (Amy & Aiden), Ash has spent over 30 years living and serving on the front line of urban poverty and has a passion to release the unique potential of urban people & places through Jesus.
Since 2014, the Barkers have been based in Winson Green, inner city Birmingham, UK. They founded Newbigin House which started two new local congregations as well as innovative organisations such as Newbigin Community Trust, Red Letter Christians UK & Urban Shalom Society now led by others.
Currently, Ash leads Seedbeds (the new name for Newbigin School for Urban Leadership which merged with the Community for Reconciliation) focusing on growing leaders & communities into fullness of life. This includes 'School for Urban Leadership' accredited programmes (UrbanLeadership.org.uk) and 'Change Makers' emerging leaders programmes (UrbanChangeMakers.org). Ash and Anji are also URC Ministers of Lodge Road Community Church in Winson Green with Anji also leading Newbigin Community Trust.
An inspiring speaker and lecturer, Ash earned his PhD on the rise of urban poverty from the University of Divinity, Melbourne. He helped design and lead accredited courses with Nazarene Theological College (University of Manchester), Stirling Theological College (University of Divinity, Melbourne) and Tabor College (Melbourne). Ash is the author of eight books including Risky Compassion, Make Poverty Personal and Slum Life Rising.
Ash is an instigator. For over 20 years he co-founded and led Urban Neighbours of Hope (UNOH.org 1993-2014) beginning in his native Melbourne in 1993 before relocating to Bangkok's largest slum in 2002 for 12 years. Ash led UNOH to grow 12 neighbourhood transforming teams in five cities in Australia, New Zealand and Thailand as well as developing training, conference and publishing arms. He also started and handed on leadership of Surrender Conferences (Surrender.org.au 2003-2007), Urban Shalom Society (UrbanShalomSociety.org Nov 2012-2018, formerly known as International Society for Urban Mission) and Red Letter Christians UK (RedletterChristians.org.uk 2018-20) all of which now carry on very well without his leadership.
