Their Shared Story
Lead Pastors & Founders
“For them, ministry is not about being seen. It is about seeing people.”
Pastors Emmanuel and Retha Simmons are the visionaries and founders of All Nations Church of God, a ministry born from faith, family, and a calling to reach people across racial, cultural, and generational boundaries.
In 1995, they stepped forward in faith with a vision far greater than themselves: to build a ministry committed to taking the Gospel to all nations while ministering to the whole person: spirit, body, and soul. Alongside them from the beginning were their two sons, Isaac and Micah Simmons, making the story of All Nations not only one of ministry, but also one of family, sacrifice, and shared faith.
From those beginnings, Pastors Emmanuel and Retha Simmons have remained committed to teaching and preaching the Gospel in a way that edifies, builds, equips, and strengthens people from every race and culture. Their ministry is rooted in the conviction that the church should be more than a place people attend. It should be a place where people encounter God, discover purpose, experience genuine love, and receive the spiritual foundation needed to live transformed lives.
Their faithfulness to that calling has helped All Nations grow to include its main campus in Jackson, Tennessee, and a satellite ministry in Bolivar, Tennessee.
Yet some of their most meaningful ministry has never taken place behind a pulpit or in front of an audience.
Pastors Emmanuel and Retha Simmons have developed a heart for serving people in the moments when there are no cameras, recognition, or applause. Their ministry extends beyond public worship into the quiet work of helping individuals and families navigate difficult seasons, encouraging those who are hurting, praying with those in need, and offering support wherever they are able.
That servant-hearted approach continues to shape the culture of All Nations Church of God: a church committed to the Gospel, compassionate toward people, and determined to make a meaningful difference in the communities it serves.
Visionary Founder • Faithful Pastor • Servant Leader
Pastor Emmanuel Simmons
Where there is no vision, the people perish…
Proverbs 29:18
Biography
Pastor Emmanuel Simmons is a visionary leader whose ministry has been shaped by a conviction that the Gospel has the power to reach beyond barriers of race, culture, background, and circumstance.
In 1995, Pastor Simmons, alongside his wife, Pastor Retha Simmons, founded All Nations Church of God with a vision to take the Gospel to all nations and to build a ministry capable of reaching and developing the whole person: spirit, body, and soul.
What began as a step of faith became a continuing work of ministry centered on preaching, teaching, discipleship, and service.
Pastor Simmons believes ministry should equip people not simply for what happens inside the church, but for the lives they are called to live beyond its walls. His approach to leadership emphasizes biblical truth, spiritual growth, personal responsibility, faith, and the development of people.
At the heart of Pastor Simmons' calling is the role of pastor.
His commitment is not simply to preach to people, but to walk with people.
Throughout the ministry of All Nations, that calling has meant encouraging individuals and families through victories as well as difficult seasons, offering spiritual guidance, praying with those who are hurting, and helping people continue forward when life becomes difficult.
Much of that work happens quietly.
Pastor Simmons does not believe every act of service requires recognition. Some of the most important work of ministry occurs away from the platform: a conversation, a prayer, an encouraging word, assistance offered to someone in need, or simply being present when a person or family needs support.
It is a philosophy of ministry grounded in service rather than attention.
Pastor Simmons' vision for All Nations extends beyond building a congregation. It is about building people.
His desire is to see individuals strengthened in their faith, equipped with biblical principles, and encouraged to recognize the purpose God has placed within their lives.
That same vision embraces people regardless of race or culture. The name All Nations represents more than the name of a church. It expresses the heart of the ministry: creating a place where people from different backgrounds can worship, grow, serve, and experience the Gospel together.
Nearly three decades after beginning the ministry in 1995, the original mission continues.
Today, All Nations Church of God includes its main campus in Jackson, Tennessee, along with its satellite ministry in Bolivar, Tennessee.
For Pastor Simmons, growth is not measured simply by buildings or locations. The greater measure is found in changed lives, strengthened families, growing believers, and people discovering that their lives have purpose.
His vision remains focused on the work ahead: preaching the Gospel, developing people, serving communities, and continuing to reach all nations.
Co-Founder • Pastor • Woman of Faith • Servant Leader
Pastor Retha Simmons
“Service itself is the testimony.”
Biography
Pastor Retha Simmons is a co-founder and Lead Pastor of All Nations Church of God, serving alongside her husband, Pastor Emmanuel Simmons, since the ministry began in 1995.
From the earliest days of All Nations, Pastor Retha has been an integral part of both the vision and the work required to bring that vision to life.
Together, Pastors Emmanuel and Retha Simmons began the ministry while raising their two sons, Isaac and Micah Simmons, establishing a foundation in which faith, family, and ministry have remained deeply connected.
Her ministry reflects a genuine love for God and a heart for people.
Pastor Retha's ministry is grounded in the belief that people need more than words. They need compassion, encouragement, prayer, and people willing to stand beside them through the realities of life.
That heart for people extends beyond what is visible during a church service.
Some of her most meaningful ministry is found in the personal moments that may never receive public recognition: encouraging someone who is struggling, praying with a family, listening when someone needs to be heard, helping someone through a difficult season, or quietly meeting a need without seeking acknowledgment for doing so.
Her approach demonstrates that compassion does not have to be announced to make an impact.
Service itself is the testimony.
Alongside Pastor Emmanuel, Pastor Retha has remained committed to the founding mission of All Nations: teaching and preaching the Gospel in a manner that helps edify, build, and equip the whole person: spirit, body, and soul.
Her ministry recognizes that people arrive at church carrying different experiences, challenges, hopes, and needs. Her desire is that they encounter a ministry where they can grow spiritually while also knowing they are valued as people.
That commitment extends across racial and cultural boundaries and reflects the very meaning behind the name All Nations.
Family has been part of the All Nations story from its beginning.
Pastor Retha has served alongside her husband while also building a family with their sons, Isaac and Micah. Their journey reflects a partnership in faith and ministry that has continued through the growth and development of the church.
Together, Pastors Emmanuel and Retha Simmons have shared the responsibilities, sacrifices, victories, and challenges that accompany building a ministry.
Their partnership demonstrates a simple but important principle: ministry begins with faithfulness.
Today, Pastor Retha continues serving the people of All Nations alongside Pastor Emmanuel as the ministry reaches people through its main campus in Jackson and satellite ministry in Bolivar.
Her focus remains centered on people: helping them grow in faith, encouraging them through life's seasons, strengthening families, and demonstrating the love of Christ through both words and actions.
For Pastor Retha Simmons, ministry is not defined by a title or a platform.
It is found in a life of faith, compassion, service, and a willingness to be there when people need you most.
Continuing the Ministry
The story continues in Jackson and Bolivar.
Pastors Emmanuel and Retha Simmons continue to lead All Nations Church of God at its main campus in Jackson, Tennessee, and satellite ministry in Bolivar, Tennessee.