Ronnie Gene (“Ron”) Barefield, 74, of Springfield, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on December 14, 2023, after a long battle with the neurological disease progressive supranuclear palsy. Ron was born on November 4, 1949, to Frank and Mildred Barefield in Eufaula, Alabama.

Gifted in writing and communications, Ron worked as a sports reporter for the Eufaula Tribune, Lakeland Ledger, and Montgomery Advertiser throughout high school, college, and the beginning years of his career. Ron earned a bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Bible College of the Assemblies of God in 1974, and married his wife, Sharon Flattery, in 1977. Together, Ron and Sharon followed a call of God to missions and were appointed to serve in Brussels, Belgium, with International Correspondence Institute (now Global University), through the Assemblies of God Division of Foreign Missions. Their missionary service included assignments in Belgium; Irvine, Texas; and Springfield, Missouri, and concluded in 1992. That same year, Ron established Barefield and Associates, a consulting agency with the sole purpose of connecting God’s people to God’s work around the world.

Until his death, Ron was dedicated to assisting missionaries and missions organizations in development, communications, and fundraising. Often described as a fundraising “genius,” Ron helped direct hundreds of millions of dollars towards missionary endeavors touching nearly every country and territory on earth. Perhaps the most significant part of Ron’s legacy in missions was his role as a founder of the Assemblies of God Bible Alliance in 1998, and as one of the earliest champions of the FireBible. Because of Ron’s influence and tireless efforts, the FireBible has been translated in 60 languages, with millions of copies in worldwide circulation. Additionally, Ron had a major role in the establishment of Global University’s ministerial training institutes in Armenia, China, Cuba, India, Iran, Myanmar, Vietnam, and others across the Arab World, Central Asia, and Europe.

In addition to his distinguished career in missions and skill as a fundraiser, Ron also excelled at building relationships with others. Across the world, thousands of friends mourn his death, and stand in agreement that heaven will be filled with people of every nation who accepted Christ as Savior due in great measure to Ron’s life and legacy. Ron was also known for his dedication to his family, his remarkable generosity toward others, his passion for the game of golf, and steadfast support of the Auburn Tigers football team.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Sharon; son, Kristoffer; daughter, Brooke (Jon) Bryan; grandchildren, Bennett and Stella; and brothers Keith (Lisa) Barefield and Frank (Karen) Barefield.

A visitation will be held at Central Assembly of God in Springfield, Missouri, on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at noon, with his funeral service beginning at 2:00 pm. Ron will be laid to rest in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens following his funeral service. There will be a formal procession from the church to the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you select a missionary supported by your home church and send them an extra donation this Christmas.