EEM’S History
The Impossible Dream That Became a Mission
How it Began
EEM’s story began in 1961 when Gwen and Gayle Hensley, a young couple in their mid-twenties, set out with little more than faith and a vision to bring God’s Word to millions trapped behind the Iron Curtain.
Alongside a small band of missionaries, they bravely answered God’s call, smuggling Bibles and using underground printing to share Scripture with people under the rule of the Soviet Union.
When the wall fell in 1989, the mission shifted from covert delivery to open, large-scale distribution.
“ God’s Word cannot be contained, controlled, or confined” — Inspired by 2 Timothy 2:9
Pictured above: The original EEM families, 1961
Pictured above: Gwen and Gayle Hensley
Pictured above: The original EEM team, 1961
EEM Today
What began as an impossible dream is now a global ministry sharing God’s Word freely across nations.
Since 1961, EEM has provided free Bibles and Bible-based materials in more than 30 languages across more than 35 countries. With over 3,000 trusted partners—and generous donors like you—God’s Word is reaching millions, bringing hope to schools, orphanages, prisons, and churches throughout Eastern Europe and beyond.
Though the mission has grown, the purpose remains the same: to see lives transformed as people encounter the saving love of Jesus through His Word.