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14 sharing news and light with friends of gems
president’s letter Dear Friends, Transition. It’s a word we’ve used often the last couple of years. Miriam Webster Dictionary defines the word transition as a change from one state or condition to another. It’s a definition that fits the changes that have occurred in the GEMS ministry the last couple of years. As we think about this definition, it’s good to remember that the focus of GEMS, helping bring girls into a living, dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ, has not changed. Another way to describe this entire ministry is as a walk—a walk with God as our Guide. God has been leading and guiding each step of GEMS from the beginning, and He will continue to do just that as we trust Him. For the last eight months, GEMS has been without an Executive Director. God has been leading us through this time with a beautiful team of women on staff who have taken on extra assignments to make sure that the ministry of GEMS continues to provide excellent service to every club without interruption. They have done an amazing job of trusting God with their time and talents, and we are very grateful for each one of them.
During that time many of you joined the search team in praying for God’s direction for a new Executive Director. He has answered those prayers, and we are excited to introduce to you the woman He has chosen, Kristine Palosaari. Kristine is an energetic, positive woman whose faith in Jesus carries her through life on a daily basis. She is a strong communicator, has a heart for meeting the needs of women and girls, and her gift of encouragement brings out the best in those around her. Her past work experiences provide her with a variety of skills that prepare her well for leadership in the GEMS Girls’ Clubs ministry. Together, we prayerfully look forward to what God is going to do in the lives of girls and the women who mentor them. Serving Him together,
GEMS Girls’ Clubs EXECUTIVE BOARD Shirley Batts – Portage, Michigan Cheryl Boer – Chandler, Arizona Linda Hermen – Beecher, Illinois Judy Kapteyn – Sarnia, Ontario Mary Klingenberg – Mount Hope, Ontario Debra Liccar – Crete, Illinois 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 Office Manager – Michele DeHaan Managing Editor – Kelli Gilmore Graphic & Web Designer – Lisa Hunter Customer Relations – Hannah Noorman Conference Coordinator – Alecia VanHulzen Senior Editor – Amy White
Mary Jo Vis GEMS Executive Board President
send me! Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 Fall can mean a lot of things. Returning from vacation. Heading back to school. The start of weekly obligations that require running from one thing to the next. But as we all go from here to there, we have an assignment. We have a message to share. This season, women and girls will be learning how to Bring the Message! of God’s love and grace through their words and actions. Because while most of us are quick to recommend our favorite restaurant, we are slow to share the best news ever: that God loves us deeply and sent His Son to rescue us from our sins.
We believe that equipping women to lead, gently removed, cleansed, and returned whole and new. I didn’t even realize guide, and direct is one of the best ways it needed it. It was a very humbling we can achieve our mission of bringing experience! Just this girls everywhere into week I was diagnosed a living, dynamic “i literally felt with Multiple relationship with Jesus. Leadership like my soul was Sclerosis. Although is a life-altering training is crucial for It’s a message worth sharing! gently removed, this diagnosis, it is not life what we achieve as a We can speak it. We can live it. We can ending. Throughout ministry, but its impact cleansed, and tell people about Jesus and His love. We whole process is far-reaching. It returned whole this can show them with every aspect of our of diagnosis, I held changes the women’s lives why following God is the best choice and new. i didn’t close to [a verse from lives, too. Here’s we’ve ever made. And that’s exactly what Conference] and it, as what counselor Lori even realize it we’re going to be learning how to do this well as God, calmed Stakenas-Schneider GEMS season. needed it. it was me. I believe God from Ludington, Michigan had to say Show Them How a very humbling gives us things for a reason, and I honestly about her time at Nearly 650 experience!” GEMS believe God gave Conference: women gathered LEADERSHIP “I completely didn’t expect the experience me the ability to go at Calvin College TRAINING to this Conference because I needed the in Grand Rapids, I had! I laughed, I cried, and I met amazing CONFERENCE soul cleaning and verse before this new Michigan this past new people. journey!” July to receive leadership training for “The workshops were helpful and full of their roles as GEMS counselors. They GEMS Plan for Pennsylvania! great new ideas. I also loved talking with learned about the new theme, received LEADERSHIP Encourage the GEMS counselors in other counselors and coordinators about tips to use in club, were trained on TRAINING your life to start planning for next year’s LOCAL WORKSHOPS what has/hasn’t worked in their clubs. various curriculum, and had plenty of Conference! We will be at Messiah time to worship, share ideas, and have a “However, my favorite part was the College in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania lot of fun! speakers. I literally felt like my soul was July 9-12. GEMS
LEADERSHIP TRAINING
get connected! camp SPRING SEMINAR
Summer camp can be silly and fun and unforgettable. Summer camp with 170 GEMS girls is all of that and much more! In August, girls came from across the US and Canada to Cran-Hill Ranch in Rodney, Michigan for Get Connected! Camp—GEMS summer camp for early teen girls. Girls connected with new friends, with mentors, and—most importantly—with God.
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Camp is always an amazing time, and the fun girls have is only part of the incredible experience. They overcome fears, conquer new challenges, and learn God’s truth: that they are valued,
loved, and made with a purpose. Here’s what one grateful mom said about her daughters’ experiences: “When my oldest daughter came home from her first Get Connected! experience two years ago, I was overjoyed with the amount of faith building, self-esteem building, and just pure fun and joy this camp provided. Now, having her attend for the second time she is doubly blessed and is asking how to apply to be a CIT and eventually a leader so she can help other girls have the same amazing experiences. “I was nervous about having my
the esther school
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
THE ESTHER SCH O O L Building a community of faithful and skillful servant leaders
This school for orphaned and underresource children in Zambia, Africa continues to be the mission focus of GEMS. We are excited that God has filled each of the staff positions at the school for the upcoming year, and we encourage you to visit estherschool.org where you will find links to each of the North American staff ’s blogs. Stay up-to-date on the ways God is working in all of their lives as well as in the lives of all those they serve in Zambia! We also invite you to join us as we begin the search for staff for next year. Two teachers will be needed as well as a school administrator. Please direct anyone who may be interested to estherschool.org for details. A handful of student sponsors are still needed for the new preschool class this fall. If you are looking for a way God can use you to make a difference, please consider this opportunity! For $50/month ($600 annually) you can provide a student with a life-changing Christian education. Visit the website for more information and to become a sponsor! You may also want to find a GEM in your church or community who is collecting dimes and help her cause! This season, our SHINE brightly (GEMS Magazine for girls in grades 4-6) readers are being challenged to participate in a Dime Drive. All of the spare change they collect will help stock the music room at the school. Check out this video to learn more!
“she talks nonstop about the chapel time—especially the messages and worship songs, the people who helped her through times of fear and anxiety, and the presence of god at this camp.” younger daughter go this year, but it was an amazing experience for her as well. She felt safe, loved, and cared for. She talks nonstop about the chapel
Brent & Kathy Miedema Administrator of Site Development and Finance (Michigan)
Jean Selles Grade 2 Teacher (Montana)
Heather Miedema Music Teacher/Homeschool Coordinator (Michigan)
David & Jillian Draayer Administrator/ Grade 1 Teacher; fall only (Michigan)
Rachel VanGent Kindergarten Teacher (California)
Dana Krol Student Sponsorship Coordinator (Michigan)
time—especially the messages and worship songs, the people who helped her through times of fear and anxiety, and the presence of God at this camp. She is so proud to have done things she didn’t think she could ever do. I can’t put into words how much this means to me…What a wonderful blessing this camp was to her (and in turn to me)! Praise God!” It’s because of your support that events like camp continue to be possible. If you’d like to know how you can get involved, check out the back page and stay tuned for more information on our next GEMS Open, coming in May 2015. This annual golf outing is one of the primary ways we fund Get Connected! Camp.
CeCe Walden Preschool Teacher (Indiana)
Lisa Brearly Grade 1 Teacher; winter and spring (Michigan)
In Memory For the past several years, Wendy Deurloo served as the director of Get Connected! Camp as well as a passionate Wendy Deurloo advocate for all things GEMS. She served on training teams in both North America and Zambia and was dedicated to her local club—tirelessly pursuing girls in order to tell them about God’s amazing love for them. Shortly before camp, Wendy went home to be with Jesus. And while her presence was deeply, deeply missed—her legacy was felt in profound ways throughout the week. Her love and faith will continue to resound throughout the GEMS ministry for years to come.
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gems 18th annual golf open
A little (or a lot of ) rain didn’t stop our dedicated golfers this past May as teams gathered for the GEMS Open at Boulder Creek Golf Club. Thank you again to our many sponsors and golfers who made this event—and who consistently make this ministry—possible! EVENT SPONSORS De Jong Enterprises, Inc. R&M Construction Michael J. Liccar & Company Caveman Pallets, LLC Sovereign Order of Saint John Mall City Containers Richard and Judy Eppinga John and Linda VanSingel Myles and Glennys Kuperus Cheryl Boer Dan and Pat Scott Jeff and Mary Klingenberg Eudell and Mary Jo Vis CART SPONSORS Stroo Funeral Home, Inc. Dale and Jan Boone Leon and Louise Koops Visser Farms HOLE SPONSORS FRSTeam by Paris Cleaners L&M Costa, Inc. Hendriksma Farms Deppe Mold and Tooling
Foster Swift Collins and Smith Witte Travel Best Way Disposal Fair Oaks Dairy ShipPac Stroo Funeral Home, Inc. TEE SPONSORS Woodwork Specialties Co. Dykhouse Construction, Inc. Naber Taxidermy Gerald VanWieren, MD Treystar Janie’s Cookie Co. VanDenBerge Pest Control VanDam and Krusinga Contractors, Inc. Red Arrow Dairy Continental Linen Bryan and Madina Scott Gwen Wyman Shannon Scott David and Shirley Batts Havit Supplies, Inc. CONTRIBUTORS Liz Yadon Tim and Denise Seise Iris Burton Mike and Viola Roman Sherolde Denmark Gerrit and Cori Dykhouse Andrea Jefferson Jacki Carneal Tim and Deborah Sparks Bob Flak
Michael and Debbie Liccar Harold and Cynthia Redeker Ken Schenk Joanie Smids Bill and Marguerite Schenk GVL Excavating Field’s Fabrics Holwerda-Snoap Sporting Goods Celebration Cinema Rivertown Kregel Publishing House Graphics Unlimited Custom Printers Ludwicks Bakery Top Distributing Wise Photography John Ball Zoo Pioneer Construction Veenbaas Construction On The Border Calvin College Tee-2-Green Detroit Red Wings All Star Printing Cindy’s Hair Care Lewis Paper Maple Hill Golf Course Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club Gleneagle Golf Club Moors Golf Club Ironwood Golf Course Crestview Golf Club Diamond Springs Golf Club Bay Meadows Family Golf Rita Girl’s