Bruce and Donna Hess

Bruce and Donna Hess, called by God through his Word to follow Jesus Christ in missions and obedient to the voice of the Holy Spirit, now serve in Mobilization with One Mission Society at Houghton College. Their general purpose is to assist college students in the exploration of their calling. They do this by mentoring, discipling, building relationships, and promoting opportunities for service.

Bruce, a third-generation missionary, became involved with OMS in 1959 when he spent a summer in Colombia. In 1963, following a year of language school in Costa Rica, he and Donna went to Colombia as career missionaries.

Besides teaching in the OMS Biblical Seminary of Colombia, Bruce pioneered and pastored several churches. His interest in literature led him to establish the Inter-American Bookstore. Ordained by the OMS-affiliated Colombian church, he served as a district leader and later as treasurer and president. In 1969, he initiated an Every Community for Christ program of door-to-door evangelism and church planting. He was named field superintendent in 1973 and field director in 1978.

Bruce received a BA degree from Houghton College in 1958. He and Donna each graduated from Nyack College in 1960, receiving a BS degree in missions. In 1983, he received a master’s degree from Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, New York. That December, OMS assigned the couple for two years to the newly formed faculty of the OMS Evangelical Biblical Seminary in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Bruce structured and directed the practical work program and taught courses in theology, evangelism, homiletics, Andean culture, and missions.

While raising their children, Donna also worked closely with Bruce in various capacities such as student counselor, mission hostess, and ministries with children and women. From 1986 to 1988, the Hesses served as campus representatives for OMS at Houghton College in Houghton, New York. In July of 1988, they moved to the regional headquarters in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and served 17 years as OMS regional directors. In August 2005, they returned to Houghton, New York, to continue their ministry with OMS.

The Hesses have 3 married children and 10 grandchildren.