Elizabeth M. Simmons
GEM International | 41165
My Story
My journey to life in full time ministry started with a yellow legal pad at church camp when I was in the 4th or 5th grade. The mission speaker that year challenged all who were willing to follow the Lord’s call at any time to anywhere to come forward and sign their name to his yellow legal pad. So up I went! The significance of that simple act of obedience would not become a reality for a few more decades.
It was during and after my studies at Dallas Theological Seminary that I was able to serve on three short term mission trips – Mexico (2007), Greece (2011) and Israel (2012). While in Greece and Israel God began breaking down my 80s-church-kid stereotypes, revealing to me that mission work is not solely reserved for pastors and evangelists, but that He has equipped me with gifts and talents that can be used to spread the Gospel and grow His Kingdom.
In 2012 I began exploring what it might look like to serve overseas, in 2013 I was appointed to serve with GEM through GEM Teams, and in 2015 I moved to Germany. From 2015 to 2020, I served with GEM Teams leading short-term mission trips all across Europe. In 2020, I returned to the States on my scheduled Home Ministry Assignment (furlough) and while in the US God orchestrated things such that I transitioned back to the States and served with GEM US’s Mobilization Team from 2022 – 2025. In late 2025 I started a new role with GEM International serving as the manager of both the GEM Insider (GEM’s Intranet) and GEM’s Grants.
Where I Work
In almost 13 years with Greater Europe Mission, I have been privileged to serve in a few different roles. With GEM Teams, I was able to serve as a Project Supervisor and facilitate short-term mission trips all across Europe. With US Mobilization, I had the chance to connect with individuals from all across the country (and some from outside the US) as they explored God’s call on their life to serve as a global worker/missionary and how GEM might be the avenue for them to live out this calling. In each of these roles I have used various combinations of the skills and talents the Lord has given me to advance the Gospel and witness Kingdom growth.
In my new role as the GEM Insider (Intranet) and Grant Manager, I have the opportunity to be a part of advancing Kingdom growth through internal communications and Kingdom initiatives through strategic funding. This is an exciting amalgamation of the skills and knowledge I gained in my previous roles within GEM. In my Insider role, I have the joy of working with leaders from all across GEM as we work together to ensure our global workers have quick and easy access to up-to-date and accurate information and support to do what they have been called by God to do…whether that be financial, spiritual, emotional, training, or any of the myriad of other resources GEM provides. In my Grant role, I get a first-hand look at the variety of creative ways global workers (both inside and outside GEM) are exploring and trying out as they strive to make Jesus known across Europe. I find great delight in reading each application that crosses my desk, reviewing them with my teams, and then tracking what God is doing for a year or more in the grants we award. In 2026, I am looking forward to visiting a few of the recipient ministries and hearing their stories of how God is moving.