Today we’d like to introduce you to Dirk Smith.
Hi Dirk, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
EEM’s story began in 1961 when Gwen and Gayle Hensley, a young couple in their mid-twenties, and six other couples, 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.
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.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
From the very beginning, Eastern European Mission has walked a path marked by obstacles that could only be overcome by faith.
In the early years, the challenge was access. Borders were closed. Governments were hostile to Scripture. Possessing a Bible could lead to interrogation, confiscation, or worse. Every Bible carried across the Iron Curtain was a risk—not only for those delivering it, but for those who received it. EEM learned quickly that obedience often required courage, discretion, and complete trust in God.
Then came the challenge of scale. When the Iron Curtain fell, the need exploded overnight. Millions who had lived without access to God’s Word suddenly wanted Bibles—far more than the ministry could immediately produce or fund. Printing capacity, logistics, and distribution networks had to be built almost from scratch, often in countries with fragile infrastructure and limited resources. The question was no longer if Bibles could get in, but how many could be provided before the window of openness narrowed again.
Political instability soon followed. Wars, revolutions, and shifting regimes repeatedly disrupted plans. Borders reopened and closed. Laws changed without warning. Ministries had to pause, pivot, or reroute shipments entirely. Even in times of relative peace, corruption, bureaucracy, and censorship remained constant hurdles. Faithfulness required flexibility—and patience.
Financial uncertainty has also been a recurring challenge. EEM has always relied entirely on the generosity of donors. Economic downturns, global crises, and donor fatigue have tested the ministry time and again. Yet, year after year, God has provided—often just in time—through partners who believed that placing Bibles in waiting hands mattered more than comfort or certainty.
In recent years, new challenges have emerged. War has displaced millions. Children have been traumatized. Churches have been destroyed. Supply chains have fractured. Rising costs of paper, printing, and transportation have strained budgets, even as spiritual hunger has intensified. In many regions, the need for Scripture is greater now than at any point in EEM’s history.
Through it all, the greatest challenge has never been opposition, scarcity, or logistics—it has been endurance. Continuing to say “yes” when the path is unclear. Continuing to believe God’s Word will reach the right hands at the right time. Continuing to move forward when the mission feels impossible.
And yet, that has always been the story.
Every obstacle has become an invitation to trust. Every closed door has prepared the way for another to open. Every challenge has reminded EEM that this work has never been sustained by human strength alone—but by the faithfulness of God and the obedience of His people.
The journey has not been easy. But it has been worth it.
And by God’s grace, it is far from over.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work at Eastern European Mission is driven by a simple but powerful conviction: God’s Word belongs in every willing hand.
Throughout my journey with EEM, I have been shaped by the stories behind the statistics—children receiving their first Bible, pastors leading congregations with worn and treasured Scriptures, and families finding hope in places marked by hardship, war, and uncertainty. These encounters have reinforced his belief that Bible distribution is not merely a logistical effort, but a sacred responsibility.
As Vice President, I strive to bring both strategic clarity and a deeply personal approach to ministry. I am passionate about building lasting relationships with donors and partners, helping them see how their generosity directly fuels life-change across nations. Whether casting vision for future growth, navigating financial realities, or sharing stories of impact, I seek to honor God by leading with humility, transparency, and faith.
For me, EEM’s mission is not just professional—it is personal. Every Bible distributed represents another opportunity for God’s Word to speak, heal, and transform. And that is the work I am privileged to help advance every day.
What makes you happy?
What truly makes me happy is the joy I have in Jesus—knowing Him, trusting Him, and watching His work unfold in people’s lives. There is nothing more life-giving to me than seeing believers walk in unity, loving one another well, and living out their faith with passion, creativity, and authenticity.
I’m happiest when I’m around people who genuinely love Jesus—disciples who are curious, courageous, and committed to following Him wherever He leads. Seeing God’s people worship together, serve together, and cross boundaries of culture and geography reminds me how beautiful the Church really is.
On a more personal level, joy finds me in simple, meaningful moments: time with my family and close friends, getting lost in a really good book, traveling to a beautiful place, and sharing life with believers across the globe. Whether it’s a quiet conversation, a shared meal, or a worship service in another country, those moments all point me back to the same truth—God is at work, and being part of that story is a gift.
That’s what makes me happy.
Pricing:
- Free
Contact Info:
- Website: https://eem.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eembibles/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EEMBibles
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eastern-european-mission/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EasternEuropeanMission
