The Unsung Missionary: Catalyst of Modern Bible Translation and Twenty-First Century Missions

Celebrating a Quiet Revolutionary in Christian History

History is often written by those whose names echo through the halls of fame, yet some of the most transformative figures remain largely unnoticed. Among such individuals is an unsung missionary whose tireless work not only revolutionized the world of modern Bible translation but also laid the foundations for what we now recognize as twenty-first century missions. The book Katherine Barnwell, by Jordan K. Monson seeks to illuminate the life and legacy of this remarkable individual, whose influence continues to shape the spiritual landscape across continents.

As a child she would hide from Nazi bomb raids and flee civil wars.  And as an adult she revolutionized every field she touched.  Because of her efforts around the world hundreds of new believers read and hear the word of God in their own language.

And while with such accomplishments, one might expect Ms. Barnwell to be aloof or arrogant.  Those that knew her remember a sweet, warm, patient, and sometimes feisty person whom they called “Mama Katy”.  She is truly the mother of modern Bible translation and the mother of twenty-first-century missions.

A copy of Monson’s book Katherine Barnwell—How one woman revolutionized Modern Missions—is available is Heights Baptist Church Library for check out.