Global Outreach was organized in 1970 by a group of Christian lay people who had become involved in several community development projects. The primary purpose of Global was to facilitate United States volunteers as they contributed goods and services to strengthen established missionary efforts. Its scope would soon broaden. There arose in Global Outreach a group of dedicated volunteers and faithful supporters who helped to shape, motivate, and fund it future development. Under the leadership of Dr. and Mrs. Sammy Simpson and Mr. and Mrs. L.D. Hancock, Global took on an organizational shape that propelled it towards the impacting international organization it is today. The organization quickly grew. In 1981 Global Outreach transitioned into a missionary sending agency, with its first full-time missionaries being approved that year. Today, Global Outreach has over 200 missionaries in 44 countries across the globe.