Mission Research

OMF Mission Research publishes the Mission Round Table journal, organizes mission research consultations, interacts with OMF centers about important missiological issues, and oversees the OMF archives located in Singapore.

Mission Round Table Journal

Mission Round Table is OMF’s journal for reflective practitioners.


The Mission Round Table focuses on contemporary mission in Asia viewed from the perspective of reflective practitioners. Articles are designed to provide biblical, theological, and missiological foundations for thinking about mission and real-life examples that anchor the theory in practice.

The journal is published three times a year for field workers, teachers and students of mission, and people engaged in mission through local congregations or other agencies. 

                                                                                                              To subscribe, click the link below and send us an email
by choosing  "Research & archives" as subject 

OMF Archives

CIM-OMF archive materials are held in various OMF centers as well as other institutions listed below.


The materials preserved give insight into the past and provide historical information relating to the growth of Christ’s church in East Asia.  The archives hold many stories of what God has done. Telling the story gives God the glory. 

Researchers who wish to access materials at the OMF International Center Archives can apply to do so by contacting us at least one month before a proposed visit: send us an email by choosing "Research & archives" as subject — please include details about your research.

We welcome donations of materials of historical interest related to CIM/OMF. If you wish to donate materials, please tell us more about the items by contacting us: send us an email by choosing "Research and archives" as subject — please include details of the materials you wish to donate.
To send an email to OMF archives, click the link below and choose "Research & archives" as subject 
OMF International Archives, Singapore

The holdings at OMF International Archives include collections of CIM-OMF books, public and internal publications, audio-visual materials produced by CIM-OMF, and microfilm of CIM holdings in the Billy Graham Center. Documents held relate to CIM, most of which are post-1950 relating to the operations of OMF International Headquarters.
OMF UK Archives

The holdings at OMF UK include extensive collections of photos, books, periodicals, prayer letters, maps and other records, some dating from the foundation of CIM, and some relating to mission in China generally, pre-dating CIM. There is also an archive of individual CIM/OMF missionaries’ documents, both paper and electronic. There are also audio-visual materials relating to OMF.
OMF USA Archives

The OMF USA archives is composed primarily of books and periodicals relating to the history and work of CIM/OMF in East Asia, as well as information relating to various American missionaries affiliated with the organization; material specific to the US offices (previously located in Pennsylvania); and post-1950s operations and administrative documentation.

Archives of CIM Publications

China Inland Mission published the first edition of its monthly magazine China’s Millions in London in July 1875. Publication of the North American and Australisian editions of China’s Millions began in 1893. Scanned copies of the British and North American editions of China’s Millions (1875-1935) can be downloaded from the Internet Archives and Yale University.

Other CIM publications, including books and reports are also available for download from the Internet Archives.

SOAS University of London
The holdings are mainly pre-1950s: CIM-OMF records, including London Council minutes; CIM China Council minutes; James Hudson Taylor papers; personal and private papers of missionaries; records relating to Chefoo Schools; CIM photographs; CIM-OMF publications (directories of missionaries and mission stations, field bulletins, China Millions/East Asia Millions, etc).
Billy Graham Centre
The holdings are mainly pre-1950s: correspondence, minutes, directories, newsletters, brochures, photographs, book manuscripts, slides, audio tapes, photo albums, and materials documenting the origins of the CIM North American branch; church planting, evangelistic, medical, educational and literature work in China up to 1951; CIM’s reorganization into OMF.
Hong Kong Baptist University
The holdings are microform materials from SOAS. Its section on Digitization Projects includes a “China Through the Eyes of CIM Missionaries” database that contains 225 lantern slide and glass plate negative images of portraits, landscapes, scenery and architecture in China as well as shots documenting the socio-economic activities of the Chinese from the 1900s to the 1930s. Access listings at HKBU.