Spring 2013 Cable by GEMS Girls' Clubs

Spring 2013 What’s inside:

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Join us in Vancouver for Conference July 17-20

How you can use GEMS Sunday as a time to testify

Prinsburg club builds prayer tent, recruits prayer friend

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Cable

the Counselors’ Newsletter

Greetings and blessings to all! I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to all of the wonderful women who have answered God’s call to be counselors in the GEMS ministry. My name is Kathryn Miller, and I have been serving as your Executive Director for a little over a month. I am married and I have three children—Grant, Sam, and Reagan—a daughter-in-law, Rachel, and a beautiful granddaughter, Allayna. As I prayed about what I wanted to share with you, the parable of the sower kept coming to mind. As I read and prayed through the parable, I began to realize how many seed planters God has placed in my life. I didn’t grow up in the church, but I always loved going with my friends. Then, in college, God placed a handsome young man in my life who loved God and loved to share his passion with others. So after several months of studying God’s Word, I decided to give my life to Jesus. I also decided to marry that handsome young man! As we began to live our lives together for Jesus, our first assignment was the young people in our church family. I assisted my husband in his role as a youth pastor. Then God placed the next seed planter in my life: A missionary from Thailand who spoke about the millions of lost souls in that country as well as the devastating effects of human trafficking. So my family answered the call and went to Thailand. We spent five years teaching English

through the Bible, evangelizing to the lost, ministering to women in rural villages, and working with an anti-human trafficking organization. Then God called us back to the states, so we faithfully followed! This summer, during a time of solitude and prayer, God called me to focus on helping bring women and girls into a dynamic relationship with Jesus. Does that sounds familiar? My family and I answered the call once again as I joined the GEMS sisterhood. As I look back at the countless seed planters in my life, I am convinced that GEMS does just that—we plant seeds in girls’ lives. In Matthew 13:32 Jesus talks about the planting of the mustard seed: “Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” We may never know which seed we will plant that will bloom into a tree. But I want to encourage you to continue being faithful in planting— you never know, one of the seeds you sow could be the next Executive Director!

Kathryn Miller Executive Director

GEMS Girls’ Clubs Executive Board Shirley Batts – Portage, Michigan Cheryl Boer Eden – Prairie, Minnesota Cori Dykhouse Port – Lambton, Ontario Mary Klingenberg – Mount Hope, Ontario Debra Liccar – Crete, Illinois Henrietta Reinders – Rockwood, Ontario Pat Scott – Jacksonville, Florida Amy VandenBerg – Grand Rapids, Michigan Mary Jo Vis – Riverside, California Cindy Visser – Zeeland, Michigan

GEMS Girls’ Clubs Staff Director of International Ministries - Jan Boone Training Manager - Lenae Bulthuis Customer Relations Specialist - Michele DeHaan Managing Editor - Kelli Gilmore Graphic & Web Designer - Lisa Hunter Executive Director - Kathryn Miller Conference Coordinator - Alecia VanHulzen Senior Editor/Publications & Web Coordinator - Amy White Executive Secretary - Gert Wolfert

To honor God by being responsible stewards of His creation, Cable is printed on post-consumer recycled paper and uses vegetablebased inks. Canada Post Publication Sales Agreement #41124116, return undeliverable copies to Cable c/o GEMS Girls’ Clubs, PO Box 39, Norwich, ON N0J1P0

President’s Letter Dear Sisters in Christ, A few years ago GEMS had a theme on prayer, which inspired the ministry to develop a stronger focus on prayer. This prayer focus then has been foundational to seeking God’s guidance in determining who He would choose to continue to lead this ministry. In the last Cable, we shared in thanksgiving for God’s leadership through Jan Boone for 18 years. They have been years of wonderful challenges, joys, and blessings. Our hearts will always be thankful for this time. But, we knew God was leading us through a time of change. While we were praying about this and even before, God was calling a woman back from the mission field in Thailand— from the ends of the earth (Isaiah 41:9). A while after this return, a friend spoke to this woman of sensing a call for her to mentor girls, and this friend agreed to pray about this with her. These prayers have led us to Kathryn Miller—our sister in Christ, a person of God’s choosing for such a time as this (Esther 4:14). It is our hope and prayer that each of you will be praying for her, the staff, the volunteer staff, and the ministry. We also pray that as we all adjust you

will welcome her with open hearts. This is God’s ministry and we serve with confidence, trust, and joy in Him. At a recent event to celebrate God’s leadership through Jan and to introduce Kathryn, a leader who had flown in from New Jersey to Michigan shared how she loved to be with her sisters in Christ in GEMS. To her it was like being with family, a place she belongs. This summer’s Annual Counselors’ Leadership Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, is a time to be together, to belong, to learn, to grow, to share, and to be with God. It is special time to be equipped practically, but even more so spiritually. Ladies, you give so much. Come, be filled. Serving together,

Henrietta Reinders

WHO’S THE GREATEST?

WHO’S TH E G EATEST? If you have questions for theRGEB please send them to us at boardquestions@gemsgc.org

2013/14 Theme Who’s the Greatest? We all know the answer, right? God is the greatest. Simple. Next question, please. But does your life really show it? Do your words and actions display it? Do your attitudes and habits confirm it? The heavens declare it; His works affirm it. But sometimes, as God’s people— let’s be honest—we neglect to let God have center stage in our lives. But true

joy is wrapped in our choice to make much of God—every detail of our lives should point to Him. John the Baptist got it. He understood enough of Jesus’ greatness to recognize his place in relationship to Christ. He said, He must become greater; I must become less (John 3:30). For the world to clearly see

WHO’S GREAT

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Club News NEW Merchandise Watch your mailboxes in late summer or early fall for the GEMS Supply Catalog. We’re sure you’ll love the new theme materials and lots of fun new merchandise including a hoodie, a GEMS scarf, a tumbler, a mini flashlight, and more!

GEMS Sunday

Most clubs will be hosting GEMS Sunday on either April 28 or May 5. This is the perfect opportunity for your GEMS to give back to the congregation as they serve in various capacities throughout the day. It’s also the perfect time to look back and reflect on your year as a club while informing the members of your church or organization what you’ve been up to all season! Don’t miss the information on our website for hosting this special event (gemsgc. org), and check out the ideas in this issue of Cable as you start to plan.

Club Coordinator Mailing

In late June or early July you should receive a checklist for the upcoming season, SHINE brightly and Sparkle renewals and invoices, as well as a Supply Catalog and order form. If you are not returning as the Club Coordinator next year, please let us know so we can ensure the correct person receives this information.

Jesus in us He must increase and we must decrease. Next season, GEMS will take a serious look at what it means to use our lives to point people to Jesus. When Christ is the center of all we think, say, and do, we fade into the background allowing others to see Him more and more! And, of course, becoming less does not mean we think less of ourselves—it merely means we think about ourselves less. This is an important lesson for us to receive as women, and to then pass along to the precious girls in our clubs!

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Join us in Vancouver! Get the most out of next season’s theme by coming to the Annual Counselors’ Leadership Conference July 17-20. This summer GEMS will be hosting it’s Conference at the University of British Columbia. The beauty of Vancouver is waiting for you, so join us for fun, fellowship, and learning as we equip and prepare you for your work with girls. In addition to the engaging massmeeting speakers and plethora of workshop options, this year’s Conference will feature several highlights including: • Prayer Partner Lunch. During the much-anticipated Women’s Night of Worship attendees will meet their prayer partner. Then, on Thursday, you will have the opportunity to enjoy lunch with her as a means of both networking and brainstorming. • Theme Night Experience. On behalf of the judges and organizers of The Movie Premiere, we are delighted to invite you to be a contestant in an exciting competition that will identify who is the greatest. You’ll showcase your talents, walk the red carpet, and see who is the night’s featured star! This highly interactive venue comes with a surprising twist that will lead you to a deeper understanding that God is the greatest and must take center stage in our story. Come, audition, and discover how your story can point to the True Star!

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• Dessert on the Beach. Following the closing worship session and dinner on Friday night, counselors are invited to come together for dessert on the beach! Sit and view the spectacular Vancouver skyline, meander along the water, or walk the trails near the beach. Whatever your choice you’ll be sure to enjoy the beautiful sights, the fellowship of women, yummy desserts, and this relaxing and casual night on the sandy shores of Vancouver! • Post-Conference Tours. If you don’t think Conference will give you enough of a taste of the local area, there are five post-conference tour options that will give you a glimpse into the beautiful sights and sounds of Vancouver. The tours will depart Saturday morning and include a whale-watching expedition, a suspension bridge tour, and a trip to beautiful gardens and Victoria. All counselors should have received their registration materials in January, but you can also access all the information you need and register quickly and easily by visiting the GEMS website, gemsgc.org.

Serving with a Purpose When the fifth grade GEMS class from Friendship CRC in Caledonia, Michigan was given the opportunity to serve a Christmas dinner to a group of elderly widows, the girls jumped at the chance. “We immediately talked with the girls and asked them about giving whatever funds were raised to The Esther School,” said counselor Joanie Zuiderveen. “They were eager to do that and so eager to be waitresses for the event!” The girls all wore black pants and white tops, complimented by a collection of aprons collected by one of the women from her various travels around the world. “It was such fun for

“It was such fun for the girls, and the women loved being served by them.” the girls, and the women loved being served by them,” Joanie added. The girls waited tables, cleared them, and even helped with the dishes. Since many of the widows attending the dinner had never heard of The Esther School (if this is your first time hearing about the school, head to

estherschool.org to find out about GEMS mission focus in Zambia), they were offered a brief history and an update on current events. The women were then given the opportunity to help thank their servers with a donation to the school. “Our girls not only had a lot of fun serving these dear ladies, but they also had a good meal themselves and in the end raised $121 for The Esther School. It seems clubs are always looking for service projects for their girls to be involved in so it was a dream come true to have one dropped in our laps!”

Wish it were spring?

2013

GEMS

Open

Join us on Friday, May 17 at Diamond Springs Golf Course in Hamilton, Michigan for a fun day of golf, fellowship, and fundraising for GEMS Girls’ Clubs. The money raised at the GEMS Open allows us to continue to challenge, equip, and encourage girls to be activists for Christ. By getting involved, you can specifically help support Get Connected! Camp—GEMS summer camp for early teen girls in North America. You can make a difference through sponsorships, donations, or joining us on the greens! And any GEMS counselor who signs up a foursome will golf for FREE!

GEMS Sunday Time to Testify! There are a variety of ways your club can make the most of GEMS Sunday. A year ago, I outlined several ideas (you can read them online in the Spring 2012 issue of Cable). This time around, I want to re-emphasize my suggestion to use GEMS Sunday as an opportunity for individual girls to give a testimony. Having one, two, or three girls share something about their personal relationship with Christ has the potential to communicate more about the heart of GEMS than any theme song (even with flags and creative movements!) can ever do. Of course, presenting the theme song and theme verse is still a great way to feature the whole club on GEMS Sunday, but a personal story born out of a relationship with Jesus—now that’s powerful! Consider following these guidelines a few weeks before your GEMS Sunday date: • Pray, asking God to direct you to the right girls (or even CITs) to give a testimony. • Ask your counselors to help identify girls who may be willing/capable of sharing their story.

I will tell everyone that your love stands firm forever. I will tell them that you are always faithful! Psalm 89:2 • Stand beside them for support as they share, perhaps holding the mic for them so the congregation can hear every word. • Make sure someone publicly acknowledges them and thanks them for their testimony when they finish. If you have too many girls who’d like to share, or if no one is willing to speak publicly, then a bulletin insert featuring written testimonies would be another good way to declare what God is doing. Either way, your congregation will learn about and want to celebrate God’s faithfulness to and through this ministry on GEMS Sunday! I will tell everyone that your love stands firm forever. I will tell them that you are always faithful! Psalm 89:2

• Privately explain the idea to those girls and their parents, asking them to pray about it, too, before saying yes. • Have each girl write out her testimony and go over it with her, adjusting for clarity and brevity if needed (a 1-2 minute message is sufficient). • Rehearse ahead of time in the sanctuary with the sound system. • Allow girls to read their stories rather than memorizing them—this is not a speech contest!

Grace Moes is a counselor at Mississauga Meadowvale CRC in Ontario and has led praise and worship with her longtime friend, Colleen Reinders, at GEMS conferences, camps, and events in addition to creating several worship CDs for the ministry.

Think 2013 GEMS Open! Don’t golf? Pass along this information to a golfer friend or consider sponsoring the event—check out gemsgc.org for sponsorship opportunities. Or, encourage your GEMS parents to get involved and their daughters will receive a free autographed copy of the Micah Road Mysteries: Shadows in Tenebre Forest—GEMS’ first full-length book based on the much-loved series from SHINE brightly Magazine!

Don’t live in the Michigan area? Choose the golf-at-a-distance option! Simply gather your foursome and head to a course of your choice. We’ll send your team goodie bags and recognize you at our event! Check gemsgc.org for more info! Questions? Contact Kelli at (616) 241-5616 ext. 3035 or kelli@gemsgc.org

You won’t want to miss this! 5

Adopt-a-Club Have you ever seen that look in a girl’s eye when she gets it for the first time? When it clicks that being fearfully and wonderfully made is, in fact, the best thing to be? When she grasps that the depth of God’s love for her—for her!—is too wide and long and high and deep to even comprehend? Have you ever experienced that change that takes place when a girl understands that God wants her—that He longs to have a real, living relationship with her? If you have, you know what GEMS is all about. You get it—not just conceptually, but in reality. You know how much it matters! What you may not know is that plenty of clubs are not able to purchase the curriculum and magazines they need to continue to reach more and more girls for Christ. That’s why the Adopt-a-Club fund exists. It allows our clubs who are experiencing a time of financial blessing to come alongside our clubs who are in a time of financial need. By donating to our Adopt-a-Club fund you are helping ensure that girls continue to hear the good news that the Creator of the world loves them!

Adopt-a-Club Donation Form Name _________________________________________________ Address_ _______________________________________________ City ____________________________________________________ State/Province________________ ZIP/Postal Code__________ Phone __________________ Email _________________________ You can fax this form with credit card information to the number below or send form with checks payable to GEMS Girls’ Clubs PO Box 7259 • Grand Rapids, MI • 49510 Phone 616-241-5616 ext. 3032 • Fax 616-241-5558

I would like to donate $ _______ to the Adopt-a-Club fund. Visa

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Summer of Badges As your GEMS season begins to wind down, start planning now for how you can connect with your girls this summer. If it’s feasible, host a get-together for your small group that’s focused on fun and fellowship. Maybe your girls would like a movie night or a trip to the local water park! If you have more time, consider having a summer of badges! Lots of the badges in Discovery Place Badge Book are perfect for summertime. Grab your girls and bless them with your presence and fun ways to earn extra badges this summer! Or, simply give your girls these ideas to complete on their own during the months when your club doesn’t meet. • Head to the beach or neighborhood pool and earn the swimming badge. Maybe your GEMS could even host a fun day for other kids in your area complete with water games, relays, and contests. • Plant a vegetable garden and then have a harvest party as you work on gardening/horticulture. You may also want to consider finding a way to donate the food you grow or using it to bless others by making and gifting a delicious meal to someone in need. • Plan a campout with the tips and tricks from the camping badge. This is an especially great idea for girls who live in the city and rarely have the opportunity to get out and experience God’s creation. Escaping the hustle and bustle of daily life is a wonderful way for girls to slow down and truly connect with God. • Organize a group bike ride on a local trail as part of the bicycling or exercise and physical fitness badges. You could do a ride at the beginning of the summer and then set a goal for the end of the summer—maybe to double your distance or make it to a predetermined destination as a group. Encourage the girls to work toward the goal between trips. • Start a pick-up game with your GEMS and other kids in the neighborhood in conjunction with the team sports badge. Be as serious or as silly as you want—the point is that girls are getting out and getting active! The options are endless! Make it a priority NOW to check in with the girls in your small group over the summer and remind them how much you care!

Prayer Friend In an attempt to build into the lives of their GEMS and bolster their prayer experiences, counselors from Prinsburg First CRC constructed a prayer tent and recruited a prayer friend for their club. “Our [Club Coordinator] called and said she wanted to meet with me,” explained Gerri Ledeboer. Having been involved with GEMS for about 19 years, Gerri knew how club worked, but now she was being asked to be a prayer friend. “When she told me what it was about I was very nervous. I don’t get up in front of people to talk, and even handing out the girls’ badges was a struggle for me, so I couldn’t imagine how God would use me in this new idea.” But after much prayer of her own, Gerri agreed to take on the new role. The club has a space for Gerri to sit during meetings. Then, whenever girls feel they would like to, they are invited to visit her and ask for prayer. “The first night I was really nervous,” Gerri admitted. She was introduced at the beginning of club, and that night ten girls visited the prayer tent. “I was so blessed! The girls come with many different requests and

“I see God’s hand strengthening me in a new area I was fearful of. God has opened this new door in GEMS and I am so grateful I get to be involved in it!” different lifestyles so their needs and prayer requests are all different. Sometimes it’s over school problems, family problems, friendships, health, or their own fears.” No matter the issues the girls bring, Gerri listens before praying for their specific requests. “It is so wonderful to be able to share with them God’s love and to hold their hands and pray with them,” Gerri said. While some girls seemed hesitant at first, many of them are warming to the idea as the year progresses. For any girls who still don’t want to venture into the tent to pray with Gerri, a prayer box is positioned outside the tent for them to drop in their requests. Gerri then takes them home and prays for these girls. She also writes down every prayer request she receives. In the fall, she stapled the requests to leaves for the club’s prayer tree, around Christmas they went into ornaments, and for Valentine’s Day she made a prayer chain. “It is exciting, and I have been very blessed through this,” Gerri said. “I see God’s hand strengthening me in a new area I was fearful of. God has opened this new door in GEMS and I am so grateful I get to be involved in it!” If your club has a great idea you think others would benefit from, please let us know! You can email your stories and ideas to amy@gemsgc.org.

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Dynamic Youth Ministries P.O. Box 7259 Grand Rapids, MI 49510

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Green Truth

Micah Road Mysteries The Secret Order #2

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In the recently-released book two, The Secret Order, Chloe and Tasha—the much loved characters from SHINE brightly Magazine—follow clues that will uncover a dark secret from their town’s past that, as it turns out, is still alive and well today. The pair confronts hard truths, fights against inaction, and proves that even young girls can make a big difference in the world.

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Race relations, injustice, lying, cruelty: our girls face all of these issues in one way or another, and they should not have to face them alone! The Micah Road Mysteries series is one more way to help engage your GEMS (or your own daughters) in conversations about relevant topics that impact their lives.

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Spring is a great time to educate your family and your club about God’s creation and all of the fun and easy ways we can take care of it. Plan a trip to a local farm. You can volunteer, or just ask for a tour. Either way, make sure to ask lots of questions and see how things work. Cultivating relationships with local farmers is a great way to learn a lot and motivate you to care for creation.

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Author and speaker Sara Lynne Hilton evokes emotion and engages girls in relevant discussions through her writing and storytelling. Girls will be challenged to think about how they act and react in all kinds of circumstances as they journey with the characters through this new mystery! Order your copy today!

We Walk Tour Check out gemsgc.org/MRM for the remaining dates and times of this dynamic motherdaughter event traveling around North America. Hear from Sara Lynne Hilton and others during a morning created just for you and your GEMS or daughters!

Name _________________________________________________ Address_ _______________________________________________ City ____________________________________________________ State/Province________________ ZIP/Postal Code__________ Phone __________________ Email _________________________ You can fax this form with credit card information to the number below or send form with checks payable to GEMS Girls’ Clubs PO Box 7259 • Grand Rapids, MI • 49510 Phone 616-241-5616 ext. 3032 • Fax 616-241-5558

Send me a copy of The Secret Order for $6.99! Visa

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