Todd and Angela Owen . . .

. . . are passionate about partnering with God in his great mission: to “reconcile the world to himself in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

To that end, Todd earned a Bachelor of Theology in Missions and Bible from Ozark Christian College (OCC) in 1993 and additionally studied Linguistics at the University of Texas at Arlington (in conjunction with the Summer Institute of Linguistics program). Angela studied at OCC for two years, then transferred to Missouri Southern State College and earned an Associate Degree of Nursing (’92).

In 1997, under the auspices of Pioneer Bible Translators (PBT), the Owen family moved to Papua New Guinea to serve as Bible translators with the Somau Garia people of southern Madang Province. They were able to celebrate the publication and distribution of the Gospel According to Mark on Easter Sunday, 2007.

In 2008 the Owens concluded that God was prodding them in a different direction–and so they resigned from PBT and accepted a pastorate in the Midwest. During their years in the pastorate God kept bringing missionaries to their doorstep–for fellowship or advice or encouragement. As they prayed, they became convinced that God was beginning to orchestrate a return to their roots in missions.

That return to missions meant a move to Southwest Florida to work with New Mission Systems International, helping develop a missionary care program, from 2010 to early 2013.

The Somau Garia people were never far from their hearts, though. In 2013 the Owens began making preparations to return to Papua New Guinea in order to finish translation of the Somau Garia New Testament. They returned in 2015.

Around 2023, as part of an initiative of Pioneer Bible Translators, Todd and the team mapped out what it would take to finish the New Testament in six years’ time. It was audacious, to say the least. During the years spanning 2024 through 2026, the team would need to bring 24 of the 27 books of the New Testament through final checks in preparation for typesetting and publication. Audacious indeed. 

At writing (May 2026), we are preparing to check 5 of the final six books from that list. We are on track to finish all checks before the end of 2026!

If you’d like to know more or would like to partner with us in this venture, please drop me (Todd) and email at the following address:

towen@shakethegates.org

Our Story as told by Todd

Perhaps some of you would rather listen to a podcast version of our story. You can press play on the player below to listen. Thanks!