Barnett Signs is a family-owned electrical sign company, but to the people that work there, it is so much more than that. Owner Brian Barnett sees his work in the marketplace as a way to serve God and help people understand who God created them to be and grow into that identity.
To learn more about Barnett Signs, visit their website.
My name is Brian Barnett and I’m the president of Barnett signs in Mesquite, Texas. Barnett signs is a local custom sign shop. We fabricate, install and service primarily electrical signs for all sorts of businesses that you would see in your community. My grandfather started the business in 1971. I’ve been privileged really to follow in the footsteps of two men, my grandfather and my dad, who were, who were men who wanted to [00:01:00] honor God with their lives and what they did in business.
By trade, I’m a master sign electrician. So what do we do? We help brand facilities and businesses so that you know what they are. And in fact, that’s something that I do in this, in the spirit realm is I help people to know who God has called them to be. The
work is like baby. It’s a sanctuary. It’s a safe place. [00:02:00] It’s, uh, one of the places where I know there’s people around me who really love me and care about me. I didn’t have a father. Well, long story, I did have a dad, but he was absent most of my life. I had a stepdad, really abusive, so didn’t have the perfect father figure.
My mother’s father was absent. My mother’s mother’s father. So there’s this long lineage of fatherlessness, right? Until the Barnett family and this company have been mentors in many ways by being an absolute friend. When I was here and I saw Barry, uh, And, and, you know, he was this Christian man that, you know, could build stuff, that could teach you things, that was patient, and that was kind.
You know, I really attach to that, and he’s, I mean, I’ve never told him that, but he’s probably one of the most influential, you know, men in my life, and still is today.
Obviously it’s a family owned company, um, but your last name doesn’t have to be Barnett to feel like a part of the [00:03:00] family, you know. What do you think your wife would say about this theme if you came here seven years ago? Versus the Steven who’s here today. I think that she would say that I’m the man that she’s always known that I could be.
When I was young, I would have kingdom leaders come up and talk to me and they would say, I see a pastoral call on your life. And what’s interesting is God never called me to start a church. In fact, he’s called me to express his shepherd’s heart through me in the realm of business, vendors, suppliers.
Employees, customers, these are the people that I’m called to. There’s been more transformation in my life outside of the church and in the marketplace, specifically here at Barnett Science. I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. I wouldn’t be who I am today. God has, uh, has [00:04:00] definitely changed me and helped me to become, uh, more like Him, especially in the realm of leadership.
Uh, He’s given me ideas and dreams and. And wisdom that, um, that I’ve been able to share and I would not have otherwise been able to share that with people had he not, uh, fulfilled that dream. And that’s really my heart’s desire. I want to see each person step into a level of calling and identity, uh, that they didn’t even think was possible.
That’s what, that’s what excites me.