by Fr. Michael Plekon
On February 25, 2024, Bishop Susan Brown Snook of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego made her annual visitation to St. Barnabas parish. She preached and presided at the Eucharist and in the course of the service celebrated the new ministry of Fr. David Madsen as rector of the parish. Fr. David and Naomi began service at St. Barnabas on May 1, 2023. Fr. David previously was rector of St. Alban Episcopal Church in El Cajon. There he inaugurated Welcome Ministry, an outreach to migrants from the Middle East living in El Cajon. This ministry was ecumenical, involving the Presbyterian, Lutheran and other churches there. It provided food, housing support, employment counseling and regular Arabic-English liturgies. Naomi previous with the social ministries of the United Methodist Church. Since arriving in Borrego, Fr David and Naomi have been intensely dedicated to community service. They have trucked firewood to the asylum seekers’ encampments in Jacumba. He has continued, with her, to be involved with the El Cajon Welcome Ministry, while at the same time joining the Borrego Ministers Association, Rotary, the St. Barnabas food bank, among other activities supporting those in need in greater Borrego. Both the congregation community of St. Barnabas and the larger Borrego community welcome the wonderful service of Fr. David and Naomi Madsen and wish them many years of joy and good work here.
The Rev. Michael Plekon, PhD
Professor Emeritus: Sociology, Religion & Culture The City University of New York – Baruch College
