Greg and Shirley Carlson

The Carlsons serve with One Mission Society Australia. Greg is a passionate discipler of men. He says, "I love connecting men with their own motivation and drive for growth and spiritual responsibility." Shirley connects with donors through phone calls, visits, and prayer. She also writes ongoing correspondence to thank and encourage prayer with OMS Australia constituents. "So many long-term supporters have spent years, some their whole lives, investing in OMS ministries and missionaries. They are deeply appreciative of being listened to, thanked, and prayed with."

Greg and Shirley have four grown children: Micah (and Abby), Maddy, Nico, and Tiffy.

Greg, from Jackson, Mississippi, received a bachelor of arts degree in social work from Baylor University. Beginning in 1989, Greg served two years with OMS in Bogotá, Colombia, in youth ministry. While working on his master’s degree, he served for a year in Russia with OMS and the CoMission project. In Russia, he trained educators to teach a Christian curriculum of ethics and morality and conducted neighborhood Bible studies. Greg was ordained by OMS in 2005.

Shirley is a registered nurse and midwife and an ordained elder in the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Born in New Zealand and reared in Australia, she holds a bachelor of arts degree in theology from Kingsley College (Melbourne, Australia). Greg and Shirley met while studying at Asbury Theological Seminary and were married July 7, 1996, after completing master of divinity degrees. After language studies in Costa Rica and Greg's battle with leukemia, the Carlsons served with OMS in Mexico City; Bogotá, Colombia; and Montevideo, Uruguay. Greg served as regional director for U.S. Ministries from 2007 to 2011, and for the next five years, he served with Every Community for Christ as the Latin America regional coach and church multiplication facilitator for Colombia and Ecuador. He was also the treasurer for the Colombia field from 2005 to 2015.

Shirley wrote and edited for the Communications Department, wrote children’s versions of several missionary biographies, led worship, facilitated HOPE61 human trafficking prevention training, and trained and equipped new missionaries through OMS Orientation, adult interactive learning, and OMS CROSS Training (Cultural, Relational, Organizational, Strategical, and Spiritual). From 2015 to 2021, Shirley directed OMS World Intercessors to saturate the OMS global mission with Spirit-anointed prayer.

Sign up for updates at: carlson.epistle.org