Search Tips/Member Login/Register Now/Ad Opportunity

We are a small Christians ministry endeavoring to serve the Lord by providing an up-to-date, comprehensive, online directory of quality Christian Resources.

You may be curious about our name, 5 Barley Loaves. It is based primarily on the account recorded in John 6:9 where Jesus used 5 barley loaves and 2 small fishes to feed over five thousand hungry people...

"There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?" (John 6:9)...

"Therefore they gathered together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten." (John 6:13)

The miraculous feeding of this multitude of people from such a meager supply serves to illustrate a simple, yet profound, lesson. When we give what we have (e.g., time, talents, resources) to the Lord, no matter how insignificant, He is able to take it and use it to meet the needs of His people. To that end, we offer this Christian Resource Directory, 5 Barley Loaves.

It is interesting to note that barley is the first of the grains to ripen in the Promised land. These firstfruits of the harvest were presented to the priests and are a clear symbol of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:20).

Furthermore, we note that, in the natural, barley is very healthful. According to Dr. Mary Ruth Swope, "...the embryonic leaves of the barley plant contain the most prolific source of all the nutrients in a balanced form in a single food on the face of the earth."

Finally, the number 5 itself has special significance in Scripture. It is clearly the number of Grace. Consider a few of the many reasons why this is true:

God's unconditional covenant with Abram involved 5 sacrifices (Gen 15:9).
God changed Abram's name to Abraham (Gen 17:5) by adding the 5th letter of the alphabet (Hey), the symbol of the number 5.
Israel was delivered out of Egypt by supernatural grace going up by 5 in a rank (Ex 13:18).
David chose 5 smooth stones when he went to meet Goliath (I Sam 17:40).
The Tabernacle had 5 for its all-prevading number. Nearly every measurement was a multiple of 5.
The Holy anointing oil (Ex 30:23-25) was composed of 5 parts.
The Incense (Ex 30:34) was composed of 5 parts.
The 5-fold ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13).

If you have been blessed by this ministry, please help us by clicking the donation button below.

May God bless you as you explore our web site. Please feel free to contact us at any time.