Overseas Ministries Study Center at Princeton Theological Seminary
Share
Engaging in God's mission, amplifying the voices of the world Christian movement When Dr. Gerald H. It has appeared quarterly since January 1977.
With more than 25,000 alumni from nearly 100 countries, OMSC has engaged in God's mission and amplified the voices of the world Christian movement for nearly 100 years. We invite you to join OMSC’s international, ecumenical community for a time of intellectual and spiritual renewal. What we now call OMSC began officially in 1922 as the Society for Foreign Mission Welfare and was called the “Houses
of Fellowship.” Founders Marguerite and Ida Doane (daughters of renowned hymnwriter William Howard Doane) sought to provide a place for North American missionaries on furlough to recover their health and have their spirits lifted before returning to their fields abroad. The Doanes established a complex of missionary furlough apartments in Ventnor-by-the-Sea, Absecon Island, New Jersey, and housed nearly 3,400 adult missionaries in their first 25 years (in addition to another four thousand children, pastors, and other visitors). These early visitors represented 106 mission agencies and denominational boards, 97 fields, and 443 overseas stations. The Society for Foreign Mission Welfare that operated the Houses of Fellowship changed its name in 1967 to the Overseas Ministries Study Center (OMSC). The name change coincided with the introduction of a series of classes for the continuing education of resident missionaries in matters biblical, theological, and cross-cultural. In those days, OMSC’s residents were almost exclusively North American missionaries serving with various denominational boards and independent agencies. These courses, open to the general public, have been led by some of the most respected scholars and practitioners in the world of missions. Anderson was appointed as executive director in 1976, one of his first initiatives was to expand OMSC's outreach with the publication of a full-blown academic journal. Building on the legacy of the Occasional Bulletin from the Missionary Research Library, the International Bulletin of Mission Research continues to serve scholars and practitioners interested in mission and World Christianity, representing a broad range of denominations and research interests. As study became a more central component of community life at OMSC, the corporation decided to move from Ventnor to a more cosmopolitan venue that could offer academic opportunities, resources for research, and social and cultural enrichment. After visits to several potential sites, the trustees voted in 1985 to relocate to New Haven, Connecticut. Until December, 2019, we were located just a block from Yale Divinity School, whose Day Missions Library is regarded by many as the premier mission research library in the world. On June 5, 2019, OMSC and Princeton Theological Seminary signed a Memorandum of Understanding to relocate OMSC’s operations and programs to the Princeton Theological Seminary campus, beginning with the 2020–2021 academic year. By making this strategic move, OMSC will be able to continue to engaging in God’s mission with the World Christian movement for generations to come.
Current Residence: Royse City Texas (previously Hawaii)
Title: Research Fellow OMSC Program / Resident Scholar
Institution: Princeton Theological Seminary / Center for Public Theology and Migration
Research Focus: Pentecostal Theology, Sacramental Theology, Theology of Migration, Psychology and Religion
What are you looking forward to this year: Research Pentecostal sacramentalism in the company of fellow scholars, continue helping migrants through scholarship and service.
Hobbies: reading books, running, watching Star Wars.
Where was the last place you traveled? : Boston, MA; San Dimas, CA; Oxford, ENG.
Institution: Federal University of Uberlândia Press (EDUFU)
Research Focus: Biblical Hermeneutics and Anthropology, specifically how migration and Pentecostalism reshape how people read the Bible.
What are you looking forward to this year: Deepening my research at the PTS archives, the intellectual exchange with the OMSC community, and experiencing Princeton life with my wife Carla and our son Marco.
Hobbies: Reading, blog writing, playing the violin, and strolling through small towns with great company.
Where was the last place you traveled?: Recife, Brazil, to attend the World Christianity Conference.
Institution: Red Continental Cristiana por la Paz (RECONPAZ)
Research Focus: The intersection of community ecumenism, tax justice, and climate finance. I'm exploring how churches accompany communities defending their territories to build advocacy tools for a fairer, non-debt economy.
What are you looking forward to this year: Engaging in a season of both intellectual and personal renewal, leveraging PTS academic ecosystem to deepen my research while embracing new experiences and connections that enrich my life as a whole.
Hobbies: Running, hiking, rock climbing, walking around to discover unique city corners and local cafes, and live music.
Where was the last place you traveled?: Thailand and Spain.
As we prepare to welcome our 2026-2027 Research Fellows this August, we are excited to introduce them to you each week with a few questions to help you get to know them.
We are kicking things off with our Senior Scholar in Residence, Dr. Carlos Cardoza-Orlandi.
Name: Carlos F. Cardoza Orlandi
Birthplace: Puerto Rico
Current Residence: Waco, Texas/San Juan, Puerto Rico
Title: Frederick E. Roach Chair in World Christianity Studies
Institution: Department of Religion, Baylor University
Research Focus: History and Theologies of Christianities’ Encounter with People of Other Faiths, focusing on Latin America and the Caribbean
What are you looking forward to this year: Looking forward to a time of learning from colleagues and complete some of my academic projects
Hobbies: Good conversations while having a cup of coffee, watching baseball games, and reading fiction as well as enjoying good music
Where was the last place you traveled?: Recife, Brazil, Seattle, Washington, and on my way to the Caribbean for the summer
We're thrilled to announce the 2027 World Christianity Conference theme, "Translatability, Transmediality, and Vernacularization in World Christianity." Check out the Call for Papers and submit your proposals on our website:
Co-Conveners of the World Christianity Conference, Drs. Raimundo Barreto, Soojin Chung, Afe Adogame, share the history, significance, and future of the conference.
08/06/2026
08/04/2026
07/31/2026
07/30/2026
07/28/2026
07/24/2026
07/23/2026
07/06/2026
06/23/2026