Monson Publishes Biography on Renowned Missionary
HU professor shares story of one of Christianity’s most influential missionaries
HUNTINGTON, Ind. — Huntington University Assistant Professor of Missions and Old Testament Jordan Monson released a biography titled “Katharine Barnwell: How One Woman Revolutionized Modern Missions” on Tuesday, highlighting the life of who Monson feels is one of the most influential missionaries of all time.
From fleeing Nazi bombing raids as a little girl to escaping civil wars on foot and by river, to being hunted by terrorists, Barnwell has a fascinating story.
In the last 60 years, missionary work has largely passed from Western-led to being led by the global Church. Barnwell had more to do with that change than almost anybody. She trained and equipped the global Church to translate Scripture for themselves, rather than depending on outsiders and Westerners to do it for them.
Some 3,000 languages now have Bibles or partial Bibles because of Barnwell’s work. And since she rewrote the Jesus Film’s translation methods, more than 400 million people have indicated they have become Christians following a viewing. This, coupled with her Bible translation, makes her well over 100 times as influential as Billy Graham. Monson felt it was time the world learned her name.
“Katy is one of the most influential missionaries (or people in general) in world history,” Monson said. “But if you don’t work in Bible translation, you’ve probably never heard her name. I used to work in Bible translation, and we all knew how influential she was. Then, as I read missionary biographies of so-called ‘greats,’ I would furrow my brow. Here I knew a story that was greater than these, both in breadth and reach, but nobody knew who she was! It caused me a lot of cognitive dissonance. Somebody needed to tell Katy’s story to the wider world.”
Monson brought Barnwell’s story to Christianity Today in 2021, and in 2022 it became a cover story — the longest cover story published in Christianity Today in the 21st century. What started as the magazine profile eventually developed into the biography, as the reaction to the cover story motivated Monson to expand upon Barnwell’s story and give it the justice it deserved.
“I was so encouraged after Katy’s story first ran at Christianity Today,” Monson said. “We got reports from all around the world of people weeping their way through it — not in sadness, but in the greatness of what God has done through her. It’s been a hard 30 years to be in ministry in the West. Many pastors, leaders and ministers in the West are working in an increasingly hostile and secular environment. They watch as their own children and grandchildren leave the faith, and their ministries hollow out. Reading Katy’s story brought renewed hope. God is still doing amazing things. Even if we are in a dry spell, God is still doing amazing things in the world.”
Monson worked on and off on Barnwell’s story in its various forms from 2021-2024, highlighted by a trip to the UK in January of 2024 to meet with Barnwell in person to collect interviews and work through Barnwell’s files, photos and correspondence for resources. He concluded the writing process later in 2024.
Monson hopes readers enjoy learning about and are encouraged by Barnwell’s story. His goal was to make it an easily digestible read leaving readers wanting more.
“It’s hard to put down,” Monson said. “With short and fast-paced chapters, many readers are pushing their bedtimes back and saying, ‘Just one more chapter!’”
The book, published by B&H, is available everywhere books are sold and is also available on Amazon in both print and Kindle format. For those interested in an audiobook format, the book is available through Audible. Those opting for the audiobook version will enjoy hearing Monson narrate the book himself, which he was able to professionally record locally at Sweetwater Studios.
