Calvin News

On April 2, the Calvin University community gathered in the Spoelhof Center Atrium to celebrate a milestone that has shaped conversations about faith across the globe for two decades, the 20th anniversary of the Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity. 

The celebration was both reflective and forward-looking. It honored the generosity of Doug and Lois Nagel, whose vision and endowment made the institute possible, recognized founding director Joel Carpenter, and brought together scholars, leaders, and friends committed to a shared mission: understanding and strengthening Christianity as a truly global faith. The event was marked by worship, cultural celebration, and prayers of gratitude for what God has done, and continues to do, through the institute.

A Vision Takes Root

The story of the Nagel Institute began with a bold idea: to reframe how the world understands Christianity. During a pivotal meeting, university leadership presented a vision to Doug and Lois Nagel—one centered on fostering deeper understanding of World Christianity, strengthening Christian intellectual movements in the Global South and East, and reorienting scholarship in the North Atlantic toward global perspectives. 

The response was immediate and enthusiastic. 

By the next morning, the Nagels had made their decision: they were all in. 

That moment of generosity set in motion what would become one of Calvin University’s most globally recognized initiatives.

A Global Faith, A Global Mission

Founded in 2006 under the leadership of Joel Carpenter, the Nagel Institute was built on a simple but profound truth: Christianity is no longer centered in the West. 

“Two-thirds of the world’s Christians live outside the North Atlantic region,” Carpenter noted. “The real heartland of the Christian faith today is in places like Africa, where the church is growing with tremendous vitality.” 

This shift has guided the institute’s mission from the beginning, helping the global church learn from one another. It has worked not only to study Christianity worldwide but to strengthen theological scholarship in regions where the faith is expanding most rapidly. 

For Carpenter, seeing the institute reach its 20-year mark is deeply meaningful. 

“I feel blessed,” he said. “It’s a reminder that our labor is not in vain. This is about deepening faith and knowledge around the world and helping the church understand God’s work today.”

A Transformative Impact

Under the leadership of current director Damaris Parsitau, the Nagel Institute continues to extend its reach across continents. Despite being a small team on Calvin’s campus, its influence is global. 

“The rest of the world matters,” Parsitau said. “Africa is already the most Christian continent, and its role in the future of the faith will only grow. Their stories and experiences are essential to the story of Christianity.” 

At the heart of the institute’s work is a commitment not simply to gather scholars, but to create space for them. 

Through initiatives like the Prophet’s Chamber, the Nagel Institute offers scholars, theologians, and faith leaders from the Global South a rare and valuable gift: time. Time to step away from the demands of teaching, leadership, and daily life. Time to reflect, write, rest, and engage deeply with ideas and resources. Rather than functioning as an events-driven program, the visiting scholars' experience is intentionally designed as a generative environment, one that fosters deep intellectual, spiritual, and vocational renewal. While at Calvin, scholars can connect with colleagues, access library resources, and immerse themselves in a setting that supports thoughtful, sustained work. 

From Kenya to India, Nepal to South Africa, the institute has cultivated a network of thinkers and leaders who are telling the story of Christianity in their own voices, bringing depth, diversity, and authenticity to global theological conversations. 

“We are a small institute,” Parsitau said, “but our presence is felt across the world.”

A Community Effort

One of the defining characteristics of the Nagel Institute is its collaborative spirit. Its work is not carried out by a single leader or even a single institution, but by a global community of scholars, students, and practitioners. 

“It’s a community job,” Parsitau emphasized. “We rely on people across the world - academics, theologians, students - who are all helping shape this story.” 

That collaborative model reflects the very nature of the global church: diverse, interconnected, and united in purpose.

Looking Ahead

As the Nagel Institute enters its third decade, its mission remains as urgent as ever. In a world where Christianity continues to grow and evolve beyond its historic centers, the need for understanding, partnership, and shared learning is critical. 

The institute stands as a testament to what can happen when vision meets generosity, and when scholarship is rooted in a desire to serve the global church. 

What began as an idea around a table has become a worldwide movement, one that continues to shape how Christianity is studied, lived, and understood. 

And as the Calvin community celebrated this 20-year milestone, one thing was clear: the story of the Nagel Institute is far from finished.