Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some answers to the questions we get most often; if there is something we have not covered please feel free to contact us.
Our founder, Bob Evans, chose the name Greater Europe Mission (affectionately "GEM") in 1952 because he had a vision to someday have missionaries serving in northern and eastern Europe, as well as in North Africa. Today, this means that we consider many nations including Nordic countries like Iceland and Sweden, Eastern European countries like Russia and Ukraine, and Eurasian countries like Georgia and Azerbaijan, to be part of "Greater" Europe. Learn more on our About page.
All the details are available on our donation page.
You may also call us at +1.800.436.4488, option 2 with any specific question you may have.
GEM has more than 310 missionaries living in 23 countries in Europe, Eurasia, and North Africa and ministering in another 10 countries.
Our goal is to see churches planted throughout Europe and North Africa. This happens through a seamless evangelism, discipleship, and church-planting process. GEM appointees are trained in and practice these principles before departing for the field.
There is no typical age! Please see the case studies below to meet the many faces of GEM:
- A college intern who spent a summer serving in Sweden
- A couple in their early 20's appointed to church-planting in France
- A family appointed to serve in Scotland with 3 kids under the age of 4
- A church-planting family in Germany with 3 kids aged 8-13
- A single woman mobilizing prayer in the Republic of Georgia
- A couple with grandchildren beginning their second career in Italy
We offer service lengths for each of the time commitments below (click for opportunities):
- Short-Term Teams (up to 4 weeks)
- Internships - Summer, Semester and Gap Year (2-11 months)•
- Mid-Term (2-3 years) and
- Long-Term (3+ years) deployments
If you feel that God might be calling you to serve Him in Europe or North Africa with GEM, please fill out an inquiry form.
- First Step call with GEM
- Conversation with field personnel
- Application (on-line)
- References (Pastor/Employer/Co-worker/Personal)
- Biblical/Theological understanding
- Psychological profile
- Invitation to Candidate Orientation
- Candidate Orientation at IHQ (offered 3 times/year for one week)
These steps can take 2-3 months before an invitation to Candidate Orientation.
Candidate Orientation for our full-time Mid- and Long-Term Missionary Candidates is held at our international headquarters in scenic Colorado Springs, Colorado near many national landmarks like Pike's Peak and the US Air Force Academy.
For those with children, because of the focused environment, children are generally not invited to attend, so please plan to arrange for childcare at home while you are away for 7 days.
Yes. GEM is a donor-supported, faith-based organization. Most of our missionaries build a team of partners who will pray for them and their ministries and undergird them financially.
Support levels can vary greatly depending on type of ministry, length of service, and location. Each support schedule is highly individualized so we work hard to develop a support schedule that will ensure you are equipped and enabled to pursue God's calling upon your life.
The refugee situation in Europe is not something that suddenly happened in the past few months. People have been migrating to Europe for many years. Admittedly, it has accelerated in the past months, and with the Syrian crisis getting worse, media attention really started to focus on it late this summer. But this movement of peoples into Europe is something that has been happening for years and will continue for months and years to come. The face of Europe is changing.
While many of our missionaries and staff have been engaging individually with migrants, and now in the refugee situation across Europe, GEM sees an opportunity to respond as an entire organization. God is giving us an opportunity to meet physical needs and spiritual needs for folks that are in difficult times of transition.