Rev. Burton Barr, Jr., Associate Minister
West Side Missionary Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Burton Barr, Jr. has served as an associate minister of the West Side Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis, Missouri since 1994. He retired from his position as Minister of Outreach & Evangelism on December 31, 2019.

Barr serves as Chairman of the Home Mission Board of the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Missouri and Director of Prison Ministry for the Berean Missionary Baptist District Association. He is the former Chaplain of the Division of Corrections for the City of St. Louis.

Barr is an officer in the Criminal Justice Commission for the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., The St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition, and The Missionary Baptist Ministers Union of St. Louis & Vicinity. He is the author of five books: the best-selling autobiography The Hoodlum Preacher, Amazing Grace, He's Only a Prayer Away, God Still Loves You and 121: Overcoming Drug Addiction by Faith. The book The Hoodlum Preacher is currently being developed into a film and 121: Overcoming Drug Addiction by Faith has been adapted into a documentary, of which Rev. Barr is the subject and narrates.

Barr earned both Bachelor and Master Degrees in Christian Education from Western Baptist Bible College in Kansas City, Missouri. He was awarded an honorary doctorate degree for his work in prison reform and criminal justice. He is certified to teach Prison Ministry by the Sunday School Publishing Board of the National Baptist Convention. He preaches and teaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ in jails and prisons all over the country and serves as a Missouri State Opioid Response consultant to help prevent opioid overdose deaths.

He is a native of Chicago, Illinois and is the husband of the former Charlotte Anne Nelson. He is a very proud father and grandfather.