About



Hi and Welcome to  Turning the Page. 
I'm Barry Pearman and I have a passion for helping people who for various reasons are struggling with life and in particular with Mental Health related issues. 

I am married and have three great kids.

For Blog posts that have more of a personal side, check out these ones.

In working many years as a Support Worker and later as a Chaplain/Pastor I gleaned some valuable life lessons and insights.

Prior to being in pastoral ministry and working in Mental Health I was involved in Horticulture and Agriculture. My parents owned a sheep farm and as a child I fell in love with the land. As a young adult I went to Massey University and completed a Bachelor of Agriculture. The next career move was into growing subtropical fruit such as Passionfruit, Persimmons and Tamarillo's.

Deep inside though I recognised a heart for people, particularly those with Mental Illnesses. Family members, neighbours and friends throughout my life had suffered with depression, anxiety, Bi-Polar, psychosis etc. I also have been diagnosed with depression. So I found a place with those often excluded.

Deep questions relating to faith and spirituality emerged from people I supported. 'Where is God? I have seen things like Angels and Demons and I am living in fear, what do I do? God would never forgive me for what I have done? Church just hates me, they all stare, they don't think I have anything to offer'.

Without help to find the answers they often would remain stuck in their unwellness and without community they would remain isolated.
Beneath what our culture calls psychological disorder is a soul crying out for what only community can provide.I see a healing community as a group of people who place connecting at the exact centre if their purpose and passion.
Connecting with God (worship), others (loving service), and ourselves (personal wholeness). All else is either a route to or a result of connecting. Loving God and loving others lie at the core of God’s intention for his people. Larry Crabb 

Turning the Page hopes to add to the conversation around recovery and spirituality bringing Mental Health. 

The cup in my hand is part of my story. 

On the side there is a 'Mr.' with a red dot after the Mr. 

You can find Red dots often on shopping mall maps. You walk into the mall and want to find a particular shop so you go to a map and there is a big arrow pointing to a red dot with the words 'You are here'.

One of my mentor's, Dr. Larry Crabb, teaches about the importance of having a honest hard look at exactly where you are. From this place of complete honesty you can then relate to God without holding back.

'Every journey begins where you are'. Larry Crabb

So where are you emotionally, spiritually, mentally, relationally. Where are you, where are you going, what is on the page of your life?


Well my Red Dot is that I am excited. I am excited that you have visited my blog. It's great to have you here and I do hope that what is shared here can be of help.


Want to know more about Barry? Click here

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My Contact Details
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I am also the Pastor at River Valley Baptist Church
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