Joshua plays a key role in ACTEA’s research, consultations, and publications, including editing the ACTEA Series and co-managing the journal African Christian Theology. Originally from the U.S., he has mission experience in India and Papua New Guinea, has taught in South Africa (2000–2001), and has lived in Kenya since 2007. There, he’s worked as a curriculum developer and theological educator, primarily serving the Maasai and Turkana communities. His teaching experience spans Chemistry, Old Testament, Christian History, Missions Studies, and World Religions. Passionate about Christian history, particularly in Africa, he has published extensively on related topics, missiology, New Testament exegesis, and African Christian theology. He serves on several journal peer review boards, including Priscilla Papers, and co-founded the “African Christian Theology” Facebook group (unconnected with ACTEA’s journal). He is one of the series editors of African Christian Studies Series (Pickwick Publications), the series editor of Rethinking Church in the 21st Century, and the series editor of the ACTEA Series. He serves on the editorial board of HTS Theological Studies. An ordained minister, he and his wife, Ruth, have six children. They co-authored a text on congregational hermeneutics and homiletics in Maa, which has also been translated into Swahili and Turkana.

Joshua Robert Barron
Consultations, Research & Publications Coordinator
co-written book
- Barron, Joshua, and Ruth Barron. Enkinosata Ororei le Nkai. [kiMaasai language title “Eating the Word of God”.] Edited by Francis ole Yenko and Cosmas ole Lemein. Nairobi: Community Christian Church, 2008.
- kiSwahili Translation: Kujilisha kwa Neno la Mungu, translated by Joseph Okulo et al. (2015).
- Turkana Translation: Akiyen Akiroit A Akuj, translated by Simon Eipa (2017).
edited series
- African Christian Studies Series (Pickwick Publications); series co-editors are Stan Chu Ilo, Esther Acolatse, and Joshua Robert Barron
- ACTEA Series (Langham Global Library); Joshua is the series editor
- Rethinking Church in the 21st Century (Langham Global Library); Joshua Robert Barron is the series editor
articles & chapters
- “African vs Western Worldviews: Turning Christward at a Crossroads in Mission.” Chapter in Understanding Missions from an African Perspective, edited by Victor Bajah and Perry Shaw. Forthcoming.
- “Andrew F. Walls: Apostle of World Christianity.” Missio Dei: A Journal of Missional Theology and Praxis 12, no. 2 (2021). https://www.academia.edu/67965051/
- “The Camel Has Four Legs: A Contextual African Practical Ecclesiology.” Chapter 18 in Ecclesiology in Africa, edited by David K. Ngaruiya and Rodney L. Reed, 365–399. ASET Series 9. Carlisle, Cambria, UK: Langham Global Library, 2024.
- “The Camel Has Four Legs: A Contextual African Practical Theology.” Chapter 13 in Future Ready, Mission Faithful: Theological Education in Africa, edited by Danson Ottawa and Joshua Robert Barron with Ruth Barron. ACTEA Series 1. Carlisle, Cambria, England: Langham Global Library, 2026.
- “Can AI Be Turned Christward? The Problems and Possibilities of AI in Theological Education and Christian Publishing.” TheoScope Journal, forthcoming.
- “Can AI Be Turned Christward? The Use and Misuse of AI in Theological Education and Publishing.” Chapter 18 in Future Ready, Mission Faithful: Theological Education in Africa, edited by Danson Ottawa and Joshua Robert Barron with Ruth Barron. ACTEA Series 1. Carlisle, Cambria, England: Langham Global Library, 2026.
- “Connections and Collaborations among the Nubian, Coptic, and Ethiopian Churches.” Chapter 6 in Globalizing Linkages: The Intermingling Story of Christianity in Africa, edited by Wanjiru M. Gitau and Mark A. Lamport, 91–107. Introduction by Mark R. Shaw. The Global Story of Christianity: History, Context, and Communities 3. Edited by Emma Wild-Wood and Mark A. Lamport. Series Introduction by Dana L. Robert. Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books, 2023.
- “Conversion or Proselytization? Being Maasai, Becoming Christian.” Global Missiology 18, no. 2 (April 2021): 12 pages. http://ojs.globalmissiology.org/index.php/english/article/view/2428
- “An Enkiteng Hermeneutics—Reading (and Hearing!) the Bible with Maasai Christians: A review essay and proposal.” Global Missiology 18, no. 4 (October 2021): 2–16. http://ojs.globalmissiology.org/index.php/english/article/view/2530
- “Eramatare: A Missional and Theological Approach to Environmental Stewardship.” African Theological Journal for Church and Society 5, no. 2 (2024): 25–51. https://atjcs.netact.org.za/index.php/netact/article/view/195
- “God as Motherly Father and Fatherly Mother.” Priscilla Papers 37, no. 3 (2023): 20–23. https://www.cbeinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/37.3_Web-1.pdf (links to entire issue)
- “Is the Prosperity Gospel the Gospel? The Prosperity and Productivity Gospels in African Christianity.” Evangelical Review of Theology 47, no. 4 (2023): 321–338. https://theology.worldea.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ERT-47-4_web.pdf (links to entire issue)
- “Is the Prosperity Gospel, Gospel? An Examination of the Prosperity and Productivity Gospels in African Christianity.” Conspectus: The Journal of the South African Theological Seminary 33, no. 1 (April 2022): 88–103. https://doi.org/10.54725/conspectus.2022.1.6
- “Lessons from Scripture for Maasai Christianity, Lessons from Maasai Culture for the Global Church.” Priscilla Papers 33, no. 2 (Spring 2019): 17–23. https://www.academia.edu/38753599/
- “Mutual Submission, Mutual Respect: Reciprocal enkanyit in Ephesians 5 in the Maasai context.” Stellenbosch Theological Journal 7, no. 1 (2021): Article #33, 34 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.17570/stj.2021.v7n1.a33
- “My God is enkAi: a reflection of vernacular theology.” Journal of Language, Culture, and Religion 2, no. 1 (2021): 1–20. https://diu.edu/jlcr/volume-2-number-1/ (links to entire issue)
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co-written articles and chapters
- Barron, Joshua Robert, and Anna Kasafi Perkins. “The Unreality and Reification of Race: Two Perspectives on Ethnocultural Identity in World Christianity.” Black Theology, forthcoming 2026.
- Barron, Ruth, and Joshua Barron. “Eating the Bible: From Context to Curriculum.” In Rooted in Context: Curricular Engagement for Missional Impact, edited by Perry Shaw and Jessy Jaison. Carlisle, Cambria, UK: Langham Global Library, forthcoming.
- Barron, Ruth, and Joshua Barron. “Not Yet But Already: How Eschatology Can Foster or Counter Abuse.” Chapter in Eschatology in African Christianity [working title]. ASET Series 11. Carlisle, Cambria, UK: Langham Global Library, forthcoming 2026.
- Barron, Ruth, and Joshua Barron. “Who are the Lost Sheep, and What is Our Mission? How the Issue of Abuse in the Church is a Missiological Issue.” Chapter in Missiology in African Christianity [working title], edited by David K. Ngaruiya. ASET Series 10. Carlisle, Cambria, UK: Langham Global Library, forthcoming 2026.
- Kihuha, Wanjiku M., and Joshua Robert Barron. “Introducing the Africa Society of Evangelical Theology.” Evangelical Review of Theology 47, no. 4 (2023): 303–338.
- Mndolwa, Maimbo, W. F., Fergus J. King, and Joshua Robert Barron. “Frank Weston of Zanzibar: An Assessment and Appreciation of an ‘Apostle to Africans’.” African Christian Theology 1, no. 2 (2024): 335–361. https://doi.org/10.69683/dwjqv631
- Tarus, David, and Joshua Robert Barron. “Home Away from Home: An Outsiders’ Reflection on the 2021 Canadian Census.” Post-Christendom Studies 8 (2023–2024): 75–85. http://mcmasterdivinity.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/8.PCS_.74-84.TarusAndBarron.pdf
