What does it cost to give your life away quietly?

In this month’s Velvet Ashes Legacy Podcast, Sarah sits down with author Jordan Monson to explore the remarkable story of Katharine “Katy” Barnwell—a woman whose influence on Bible translation shaped millions of lives, even though most people have never heard her name.

Born in London during the Blitz, Katie’s story begins in the shadow of war and unfolds into a lifetime of faithful, behind-the-scenes service. From learning unwritten languages in Nigeria to helping transform Bible translation into a model that empowered local believers, Katy carried a vision that changed the global church.

But her story is also one of cost.

The cost of singleness.
The cost of obscurity.
The cost of staying through hardship, civil war, exhaustion, and years far from home.
The cost of offering your gifts fully to God without needing recognition in return.

This conversation is a reminder that God has always used ordinary, imperfect people to do extraordinary things.

Jordan Monson is an author and the Professor of Missions and Old Testament at Huntington University. He also directs Huntington's Center for Faith Integration and Vocation.

Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Velvet Ashes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Featured music is "Doxology of Mercy" by Eine Blume. Check out more from them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or wherever you get music!

We are grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnabas International⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this podcast! Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Learn more about our Online Retreat for this year, ⁠Listen: Hear My Voice⁠

Check out Jordan's book, Katharine Barnwell: How One Woman Revolutionized Modern Missions

The new Velvet Ashes book, Yet We Still Laugh, is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble

In this episode of the Velvet Ashes Legacy Podcast, we explore the quiet but powerful theme of feeling like an imposter—especially in the unique spaces women navigate cross-culturally. Through an honest and hope-filled conversation with Jenn Chang, we unpack the tension between calling and doubt, confidence and comparison, and the ways imposter syndrome can take root in our stories.

Jenn shares from her own leadership journey, offering insight, language, and encouragement for women who wonder if they truly belong in the spaces God has placed them. This conversation is an invitation to name what feels hidden, to release comparison, and to step more fully into the person God created you to be.

Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Velvet Ashes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Featured music is "Doxology of Mercy" by Eine Blume. Check out more from them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or wherever you get music!

We are grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnabas International⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this podcast! Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Learn more about Yield Leadership Coaching

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Blog posts on Women in Leadership

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What are you listening to in the midst of all the noise?

The world hums with urgency, headlines, and endless voices—yet beneath it all, there is a quieter invitation: to listen for what is true, steady, and unseen.

In this episode, we sit with the weight many are carrying and the sacred practice of tuning our hearts again.

We also step into the story of John and Betty Stam—a story marked by courage, surrender, and a faith that echoes far beyond their years.

A story that asks us: what does it look like to listen… and to trust… with open hands?

Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Velvet Ashes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Velvet Ashes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Featured music is "Doxology of Mercy" by Eine Blume. Check out more from them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or wherever you get music!

We are grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnabas International⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this podcast! Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Learn more about our Online Retreat for this year, Listen: Hear My Voice

Check out Andrew's book, By Life or by Death: The Life and Legacy of John and Betty Stam

The new Velvet Ashes book, Yet We Still Laugh, is available on ⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble