GEM History

Greater Europe Mission has worked in Europe for more than 50 years. During that time, we have learned how to do effective ministry there and have evolved to meet changing needs.

In the early years, we concentrated on biblical education. A revival of spiritual interest followed World War II, and we helped educate for ministry young people who had found Christ during this time. Our motto was, “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2, NIV).

Later, many of our missionaries focused on evangelism and church planting. Our motto for this work was “250,000 towns and villages in Europe without a Gospel witness,” and we settled in pioneer situations to plant evangelical churches where none existed.

Evangelistic meetings became a third emphasis of Greater Europe Mission when missionaries gifted in music and drama traveled around Europe, presenting the Gospel in churches, theaters, and the open air. Through these meetings, which were held in conjunction with local Christians, many Europeans found Christ.

Short-term teams also developed. College students spend their summers to outreach in Europe. North American churches began to send work teams for two-weeks to help build and repair churches.

Increasingly, baby boomers are going to Europe to invest their life experience for Jesus. And some of our missionaries are now developing ministry internships, enabling students to receive academic credit for work in Europe. A motto of more recent years has been “Equipping Europeans to reach Greater Europe for Christ.”

Our current motto is "...a witnessing fellowship within reach of every person." This indicates our growing emphasis on partnerships, which is reflected in our purpose statement: “The purpose of Greater Europe Mission is to assist the peoples of Europe in building up the Body of Christ so that every person in Europe is within reach of a witnessing fellowship.”

From the beginning, Bob Evans, our founder, said that Europe would never be won to Christ through missionaries alone, but through cooperation with the Body of Christ there; and that is the principle we have followed through the years. However, because we have been available to God, He has brought to us a host of exciting ministries - of which you can be a part!