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History

Since 1949 God has used GEM to transform the lives of thousands in Europe. What began with a handful of North Americans working in France has expanded to about 300 people serving throughout Europe. It all began when God gave one man a burden to reach the peoples of Europe. As Billy Graham puts it:

“Sharing Christ with the spiritually impoverished millions in Europe has been an urgent concern for me since my earliest trips to the continent as a young evangelist just after World War II. What would it take to achieve revival in those sophisticated, history-laden nations where countless people culturally identify themselves as Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox, yet where only a tiny percentage actually enjoy a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?

“Robert P. Evans, my friend and companion on some of those early forays to Europe, felt this burden perhaps even more keenly than I did. What he did about it, in partnership with first dozens and later thousands of other North Americans, is the story of Greater Europe Mission.”

Milestones in GEM History

1949
  • Bob and Jeanette Evans start the European Bible Institute (EBI) ministry in Paris, France.

1952
  • The name Greater Europe Mission is adopted.

1954
  • Billy Graham dedicates EBI’s recording studio; millions of French people hear the Gospel.

1955
  • German Bible Institute founded in Königsfeld-Erdmannsweiler, Germany.

1958
  • Ministry begins in Italy. Italian Bible Institute founded in Rome.

1959
  • Ministry begins in Spain.
 hikers at camp of the peaks

1965
  • Free Evangelical Seminary founded in France.

1967
  • Camp des Cimes (Camp of the Peaks, France) holds its first camp session.

1969
  • Scandinavian Bible Institute founded in Säffle, Sweden.
  

1970
  • Short-term summer ministries program, EuroCorps, begins.

1972

  • Ministry begins in eastern Europe.
 

  • Belgian Bible Institute becomes a part of GEM.

1973
  • Greek Bible Institute founded in Athens, Greece.
 

1974
  • Free Evangelical Seminary founded in Giessen, Germany (now German Theological Seminary).
 
  • Portuguese Bible Institute founded in Sto. Antão do Tojal, Portugal.
 
  • Spanish Bible Institute and Theological Seminary founded in Barcelona, Spain.

1981
  • Eastern European Bible Institute founded in Vienna, Austria.
  
 
  • Evangelical Theological Seminary founded in Heverlee, Belgium.

1984

  • Anno Domini musical ministries started (later renamed PROCLAIM!).
 
  • Biblische Ausbildung am Ort (Biblical Training on Location) founded in Vienna, Austria.

1985
  • Tyndale Theological Seminary founded in Badhoevedorp, The Netherlands.
 
  • Ministry begins in Iceland.

1987
  • Ministry to Muslims begins in Europe.
  

1990
  • Ministry expands in former communist countries.
 

1991
  • The Spanish Camp and Conference Center (L’Arcada) opens in Barcelona, Spain.
 
  • Short-term ministry program, EuroTeam, established.
 
  • Baptist Bible College founded in Olomouc, Czech Republic.

1992
  • Ministries begin in Ukraine and Russia.
 
  • Credo Academy founded in Stockholm, Sweden.
 
  • Evangelical Bible Institute founded in Cakovec, Croatia.
  
 
  • Sibiu Bible Institute founded in Sibiu, Romania.
 
 
  • GEM missionaries begin serving at Logos Bible Institute in Sofia, Bulgaria (now United Theological Faculty).
  

1993
  • Theological and Missions Seminary founded in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia.
  
 
  • Missionaries begin serving in Albania and help found the Albanian Bible Institute in Durrës.
  

1994
  • Protestant Theological Faculty founded in Timisoira, Romania.
 
 
  • Zaporozhe Bible College founded in Zaporozhe, Ukraine.
  
 
  • Kiev Baptist Seminary founded in Kiev, Ukraine.
  
  • The College of Socium founded in Odessa, Ukraine.
  

1995
  • GEM becomes involved with the Alliance for Saturation Church Planting.
 
  • Persip Bible Institute Founded in Ukraine.
 
  • LifeQuality International established.

1997
  • Areopagus Center for Christian Education and Contemporary Culture established in Timisoara, Romania.

1999
  • Missionaries serve Kosovar refugees in Albania; later begin ministry in Kosovo.
 
  • Special Short-Term ministry program begins (now EuroQuest).

2000
  • First Christian camp session held at The Oakes Holiday Centre in Sheffield, England.

2001
  • Distance learning ministry (eDOT) established.

2004
  • Ministry begins in the Mediterranean Region.
 
© Greater Europe Mission 2010