Unheard Stories: Women as Early 20th Century Canadian Pentecostal Missionaries

What is it about?

This work tells the story of Barbara Johnston, the first Canadian Pentecostal missionary to India. Like many early 20th-century Canadian Pentecostal missionaries, she was an educated and capable woman who had experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit, spoken in tongues, and felt a clear divine call to missionary work. Johnston's missionary work in India consisted of New Testament Bible translation from the original Greek to the local dialect, running an orphanage, and regular preaching.

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Photo by Joshua Olsen on Unsplash

Photo by Joshua Olsen on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The story of Barbara Johnston, the first Canadian Pentecostal missionary to India in 1907, is important because it sheds light on the often-overlooked role of early 20th-century Canadian Pentecostal women in church planting and missionary work. Many of these women, including Johnston, were highly educated and skilled, yet their contributions have been largely forgotten due to the lack of written records. Cultural norms of the time, such as women adopting their husband's names and being overshadowed by male counterparts, further obscured their stories. Despite these challenges, Johnston exemplifies how women like her navigated restrictive societal expectations, effectively leading and working alongside both men and women in their missionary efforts. Her story not only fills gaps in historical narratives but also challenges some modern assumptions about gender roles in early Pentecostal missions.

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