Spring, Volume 3, 2009-2010
Sharing news and light with friends of GEMS
connection
POINT
GEMS Girls’ Clubs Executive Board Shirley Batts—Portage, M I Cori Dykhouse—Port Lambton, ON Susan Kepley—Grand Rapids, M I Glennys Kuperus—Hudsonville, M I Lia Leenstra—Byron Center, M I Henrietta Reinders—Rockwood, ON Amy Schaaf—Grand Rapids, M I Lyn VanTol—Grand Haven, M I Mary Jo Vis—Riverside, California
GEMS Girls’ Clubs Staff Executive Director—Jan Boone Training Manager—Lenae Bulthuis Customer Relations Specialist— Michele DeHaan Art Director—Tina DeKam
GEMS seeks to equip God’s children for His Kingdom.
reflections
Every ear was tuned into the discussion. No one wanted to miss what was being said. “Read that again, would you?” one of the board members said.
Graphic & Web Designer— Sara DeRidder Senior Editor—Sara Hilton Conference Coordinator— Alecia VanHulzen Publications and Web Coordinator—Amy White Executive Secretary—Gert Wolfert
Jan loves on some future GEMS that visited the service center
“What you value in your church must be raised up, taught about, and celebrated on a regular basis.” Silence.
We were all thinking intently on the deeper meaning of that statement. Individually and collectively we were wondering what would happen if churches – the churches with GEMS Clubs and those that do not yet have one, would come to a point of truly, truly valuing children. What would that look like? we were asking ourselves when a different board member broke the silence.
“We have a new pastor at our church, and it is clear that he is working to institutionalize a new key value for us. And, yes, it is the very same value we are talking about—the value of children. Repeatedly in every message, in his prayers, church newsletter articles, and even in the informal comments he makes as we gather each Sunday morning, he repeats this statement: Children are central to the Kingdom of God. Over and over again he makes his point: children are central to the Kingdom of God. He very often emphasizes the word “central.” Not just “important” or “included in,” but “central” to the Kingdom. As if on perfect cue, we all said in soft unison, “Wow…” Another period of silence followed as we wondered together how God will use that powerful statement and insightful pastor to radically change that entire congregation, the lives of each child Continued on page 2
reflections
cont. within it, the lives of the parents within it, and even the children and families in the neighborhood around the church…
A mother and daughter attending a GEMS event together.
What could happen if we all understood that children are central to the Kingdom of God?
GEMS girls having fun!
Father in Heaven, show us how to reorient our priorities. Help us to love, value, train, and treat every child based on the same Kingdom perspective that You have. Help us to truly open our doors and our hearts to them… Jan Boone, Executive Director
The Outreach Potential of GEMS The harvest field Jesus is talking about reaches beyond the doors of your church. In fact, God calls His followers into the world to share His Gospel with everyone. Where is your church or Christian organization sowing His message of grace and self-sacrificing love?
Impressed with GEMS mission and materials, she approached the Director of Children’s Ministry at her church about starting a club. Grace Church in Racine, Wisconsin enthusiastically agreed to support her vision. Instead of meeting at the church, though, DeAnn wanted the club to be an outreach in Oak Creek – the suburb of Milwaukee she and her family call home. “God led every step of the way and opened the doors of the public school for us,” she said. But, after meeting at the school for a year, DeAnn felt led to move the club to the local Community Center in order to reach out to more girls. “The school district allowed us to “All I had to distribute an informational flier do was ask— to all 519 girls in the six elGod worked ementary schools. We attracted out all the 16 members,” she explained, details!” which was the most girls they could have given the number of counselors who had volunteered to serve. “All I had to do was ask—God worked out all the details!” While several of the girls do attend church with their families, the vast majority of GEMS in DeAnn’s club have no biblical background. “Sharing the Gospel and the Word with the girls has been pure joy,” DeAnn said. “They are so hungry to know the Lord, and it is amazing to see Him capture their hearts and minds—especially as we read His Word together!”
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37-38
Grace Church in Racine, Wisconsin is using GEMS as an avenue for doing just that.
Gods in the Details
GEMS from DeAnn’s club proudly display their uniforms.
Admittedly worldly and boy-crazy in her own youth, DeAnn Mercado wants her daughter to know there is a better way. “I [want] to encourage Hannah to embrace her girlhood, to appreciate the girls and women in her life, and to abide in Christ above all else,” she said. After learning the value of godly female mentors, DeAnn seeks that for her daughter as well.
The girls have especially taken to this season’s Prayer – No Worries! theme. “The counselors and I have been blessed to see them respond wholeheartedly to the lessons [about prayer]…The group is diverse,” she continued, “but they are all friends…We are united in Spirit!”
DeAnn and her fellow counselors continue to diligently pray that each girl will accept Christ as her Savior. But, their prayers don’t stop there. As an outreach ministry, DeAnn believes that these young GEMS will be pivotal in leading their unchurched family members to the Lord as well. “I believe that the structure, and the message our club offers has satisfied a void in the lives of these girls—they are realizing their identity in Christ, and it will profoundly affect their future, and the future of this community,” DeAnn said.
I Can’t Wait to see what God Can Do For Christmas this year 13-year-old Rachael Kepley decided to dream God’s dream. “Instead of receiving Christmas gifts, I wanted all the money that would have been spent on me to go toward the brick campaign so kids in Africa could realize their dream of going to school,” she explained.
Get Hands-On When you visit our website (www.gemsgc.org) you can also learn more about spring and summer work trips to Zambia to help build The Esther School. If you feel called to get more involved with God’s work in Africa, this is the perfect opportunity for you! Artistic rendition of The Esther School
Rachael making a difference!
“One day when I was home sick, I really felt like the Holy Spirit moved my heart for The Esther School,” she continued. “I began writing a letter to send to my family to share what was on my heart. At first I dreamed small…maybe 10 bricks. Then I began to see people respond and I began to pray for 100 bricks!” With help from her family, Rachael reached her goal! She took donations and collected pop cans to raise the remaining money. “I can’t wait to see what God can do. I’ve learned some really cool things. My favorite one is this: all of those “things” I thought I wanted – I really don’t need. Without all the “stuff” in the way I was really able to worship on Christmas day. I really want to do more for The Esther School. I even want to go to Africa. I’m waiting for God to show me what to do next!” Rachael is just one of countless girls learning what it means to have a radically, passionate faith defined by self-sacrificing love as they reach out to support The Call to Africa.
We Need Your Help! Each year, GEMS has clubs across North America that encounter seasons of economic difficulty. These clubs are unable to provide girls with subscriptions to SHINE brightly and Sparkle Magazine or other curriculums. Our Adopt-a-Club fund that typically covers the costs for these clubs is greatly depleted right now. Please consider making a donation to this fund to ensure that girls everywhere continue to benefit from the relationship-building power of GEMS.
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Adult’s Name Address City State/Province
Zip/Postal Code
I would like to donate $
Brick by Brick Check out the GEMS website (www.gemsgc.org) as we continue to update the number of bricks purchased for The Esther School. (We currently have 10,980!) You can also learn more about The Brick Campaign and how you can get involved with God’s work in Africa. Bricks are $9 each (which means Rachael raised $900!), and we need 180,000 to complete the school!
Bring hope Buy a brick Build the dream $9 per brick
[amount]
to the Adopt-a-Club fund to help GEMS Clubs across North America who are struggling to provide materials for their girls.
r
Visa
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Expiration date:
MasterCard /
Card Number Name on account Address on account Please MAIL TO: GEMS Girls’ Clubs • PO Box 7259 • Grand Rapids, MI • 49510
GEMS 14th Annual Golf Classic On May 21, GEMS will be hosting its 14th Annual Golf Classic at Diamond Springs Golf Course in Hamilton, Michigan. Each year the Golf Classic helps underwrite the costs of Get Connected! Camp (GEMS biennial summer camp for early teen girls) while also supporting the overall ministry of GEMS. We would love to see you on May 21, but if you are unable to register to golf, please consider becoming a sponsor, making a donation, or contributing a prize. Check out www.gemsgc.org to learn more about the individual and corporate sponsorship opportunities and learn how you or your business could help deepen the impact of GEMS around the world! Through annual events like this, GEMS is able to continue to reach out and touch even more girls for Christ! A portion of the proceeds will be used to help keep registration costs down at Get Connected! Camp—a summer camp for early teen girls. Sign up to golf or learn about the various sponsorship opportunities by checking out Events at www.gemsgc.org.
GEMS Girls’ Clubs Golf Classic Registration Form (or register online at www.gemsgc.org)
Name Address Telephone Email
Other Golfers in my Foursome Name Address Telephone Email Name Address Telephone Email Name Address Telephone Email
Sponsorship Opportunities mEVENT SPONSOR - $1,000 mLUNCH SPONSOR - $750 mCART SPONSOR - $500 mHOLE SPONSOR - $250 mTEE SPONSOR - $125 mCONTRIBUTOR - (In-kind or monetary) Sponsor Name Company Name Address Telephone Email Amount Enclosed
Individual Registration Golf and Lunch = $135
come golf with us May 21!
Diamond Springs Golf Course
x $135 =
c I will be unable to golf with you this year but I would like to make a donation or in-kind contribution of .
Make checks payable to: GEMS Girls’ Clubs PO Box 7259 • Grand Rapids, MI • 49510
Phone 616-241-5616, ext 3032 • Fax 616-241-5558