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The Hoodlum Preacher: I Was Lost, Now I Am Found
From prison to the pulpit, this con artist-turned church preacher, went from standing in a police lineup to standing alongside Rev. Jesse Jackson. The Hoodlum Preacher details a life of crime and redemption, as a former drug addict now helps troubled youth and young prisoners avert a wasted life and to turn things around as he finally did.
200 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 6, 2025
This man is from my church, He baptized me with Rev. Bobo and I knew him personally. I heard his story from him but also read the book to get the details. This is a true man of God who saved countless men and children in the system. His presence shifted rooms and he had a light in him and his life saves lives!!! A life changing read from a truly called man!
January 14, 2009
Lost Soul
We find Mr. Barr as a young man seeking "that something special" that he has seen in other ministers and wants it. He does not know what it is, but he knows that he must get it somehow. He made the one mistake that we all tend to make; he put his faith in Man and not in God. When that happened, he began the roller coaster ride of his life due to the choices that he made.
Barr works during the day and preaches at night. He finds that he's being labeled as a "thief," by his employer. He is able to find another job and continue with the ministry but, again man (a preacher) let him down. If he just goes out and party a little who would be hurt? After all, he is just a having a little "fun." Things begin to spin out of control and he is left wondering if he'll be able to untangle this mess that he has created for himself.
When Mr. Barr thinks that he has everything under "control," things go from BAD to REALLY BAD to WORSE.
Hoodlum Preacher shows us how you can easily be persuaded to do things that you don't want to do by being with the "IN CROWD" but are you really having fun.
Mr. Barr finds himself in a lot of dilemmas and he is shown how to get out of a situation, but he winds up in another situation by his own hand. Mr. Barr was definitely a LOST SOUL trying to run but he surely could not hide.
A very good book that I consider a MUST read for everyone!!!!!!
We find Mr. Barr as a young man seeking "that something special" that he has seen in other ministers and wants it. He does not know what it is, but he knows that he must get it somehow. He made the one mistake that we all tend to make; he put his faith in Man and not in God. When that happened, he began the roller coaster ride of his life due to the choices that he made.
Barr works during the day and preaches at night. He finds that he's being labeled as a "thief," by his employer. He is able to find another job and continue with the ministry but, again man (a preacher) let him down. If he just goes out and party a little who would be hurt? After all, he is just a having a little "fun." Things begin to spin out of control and he is left wondering if he'll be able to untangle this mess that he has created for himself.
When Mr. Barr thinks that he has everything under "control," things go from BAD to REALLY BAD to WORSE.
Hoodlum Preacher shows us how you can easily be persuaded to do things that you don't want to do by being with the "IN CROWD" but are you really having fun.
Mr. Barr finds himself in a lot of dilemmas and he is shown how to get out of a situation, but he winds up in another situation by his own hand. Mr. Barr was definitely a LOST SOUL trying to run but he surely could not hide.
A very good book that I consider a MUST read for everyone!!!!!!
January 2, 2009
Revelations,
Burton Barr Jr. unveils demons that he's battled consistently in his life span. As a son, husband, father, con artist, thief, inmate and junkie Burton has fallen many times. Disbelieving that God would actually be there if he called on Him, Burton decided that the only way to make a way was if it was his way. Each and every single time Burton was proven that he absolutely could not go it alone. Yet he never stopped trying and God never once left him.
I was immediately drawn to the title, THE HOODLUM PREACHER. It just confirmed for me that we've all fallen and it's by the grace of God that we can get up. While reading as he ran the streets of Chicago, St. Louis and San Diego I wondered what would be the deciding factor for him to decide that God has already got a plan for him. See he'd already fallen, gotten back up, dusted himself off and attempted to do right, YET every single time there was always an obstacle just waiting for the chance to present itself. Isn't that life?
THE HOODLUM PRECHER painfully explores Burton Barr Jr. before he allowed God to use him. This eye opening testimony should be read by everyone.
"No matter what you have done or who you have become, God still loves you."
Reviewed by: Crystal
Burton Barr Jr. unveils demons that he's battled consistently in his life span. As a son, husband, father, con artist, thief, inmate and junkie Burton has fallen many times. Disbelieving that God would actually be there if he called on Him, Burton decided that the only way to make a way was if it was his way. Each and every single time Burton was proven that he absolutely could not go it alone. Yet he never stopped trying and God never once left him.
I was immediately drawn to the title, THE HOODLUM PREACHER. It just confirmed for me that we've all fallen and it's by the grace of God that we can get up. While reading as he ran the streets of Chicago, St. Louis and San Diego I wondered what would be the deciding factor for him to decide that God has already got a plan for him. See he'd already fallen, gotten back up, dusted himself off and attempted to do right, YET every single time there was always an obstacle just waiting for the chance to present itself. Isn't that life?
THE HOODLUM PRECHER painfully explores Burton Barr Jr. before he allowed God to use him. This eye opening testimony should be read by everyone.
"No matter what you have done or who you have become, God still loves you."
Reviewed by: Crystal
February 20, 2008
Great memoir. I had the pleasure of hearing Rev. Barr preach. I really enjoyed reading about his time in the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton (since I served at the base as well) and his time in St. Louis (since I'm from St. Louis). I love his stroy because it's not how you start, but how you finish!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews