Reverend Father
Joshua Birdsall
Fr. Joshua Birdsall serves as the head pastor and is a graduate of St. Vladimir’s Seminary. He was ordained a priest by Metropolitan + SABA in January 2024. After ordination, Fr. Joshua continued training and serving at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY—the community founded by St Raphael. Fr. Joshua is now overjoyed to serve St. Barnabas and is learning all about life in California.
Fr. Joshua is passionate about the Orthodox Christian faith and the spiritual formation of his parishioners. He is the son of a Baptist music minister, and the grandson of an Episcopalian priest, and was blessed to be received into the Orthodox Christian Church as an adult (2008). Fr. Joshua’s godfather is a Romanian serving in America and comes from a family with five generations of Priests. Fr. Joshua first encountered Orthodox Christianity while traveling in the U.K. and visiting St. John the Baptist Monastery (Essex), the final home of St. Sophrony.
Fr. Joshua loves being outside, whether hiking, gardening, or camping. He also loves a good hot dog and is always on the lookout for the best soft-serve ice cream. He is abundantly blessed by his wife, Khouria Lindsey, and their son.
Fr Joshua would love nothing more than to tell you about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the treasures of the Orthodox Christian faith.
The Very Reverend Father
Michael Reagan
A native of Southern California, Fr. Michael grew up in Orange County and is a convert to Orthodoxy. In 1987, upon his ordination by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church of North America, Fr. Michael began serving as St. Barnabas’ second priest. For many years, Fr. Michael worked full-time while faithfully assisting in services alongside Fr. Wayne. In 2017, upon Fr. Wayne’s retirement, Fr. Michael was elevated to the office of the head priest for the parish of St. Barnabas. In 1976, Father Michael married Khouria Diane, a now-retired nurse. They have a son, Sean, who, along with their daughter-in-law, Erica, has given them five wonderful grandchildren.
The Very Reverend Father
Wayne Wilson
Fr. Wayne, our Pastor Emeritus, was the first priest for St. Barnabas. A convert to Orthodoxy, he was ordained in February 1987. In addition to his work in the church, Fr. Wayne, for many years, served as Police Chaplain for the City of Fountain Valley.
Born in Sewickley, PA, Fr. Wayne moved to California in 1964. While attending Cal State Fullerton, he served as a staff member of Campus Crusade for Christ. Fr. Wayne regards the mentoring given to him by Father Abbott Joseph Morris of St. Gregory Palmas Monastery as a special blessing in the development of his faith. Fr. Wayne married the love of his life, Khouria Lynn, in 1971. They have one son, Peter, who, with daughter-in-law, Alyx, has given him a beautiful granddaughter, Xenia. Sadly, Khouria Lynn, of blessed memory, passed from this life in 2017.
Deacon Rick
(Theodore)
Billings
Dn. Rick is the longtime owner of a marketing consulting business in Orange County. He and his wife, Nancy, a retired elementary school teacher, have three sons and four grandchildren.
Deacon Tom
(Thomas)
Braun
Dn. Tom is a native Californian and the founder and CEO of a Southern California civil engineering firm. He and his wife, Wendy, grew up Orthodox and are children of priests Fr. Jon Braun and Fr. Peter Gillquist (of blessed memory). They have one daughter, two sons, and six grandchildren.
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Deacon Charlie
(George)
Lehman
Dn. Charlie has served the parish for over 35 years. He retired from the LA Public Defender’s office after 25 years in advocacy for the accused and the mentally ill. His wife Lorraine is a choir member and retired nurse. They have two children.
Deacon John
Ma’ae
Dn. John is a native Californian. He is the Cathedral Secretary at St. Steven Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Alhambra. Here at St. Barnabas, he is actively involved with educating our teens in the faith. Dn. John and his wife, Toy, have four children; two daughters and two sons.