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GEMS Girls ClubsEXECUTIVE BOARDShirley Batts Portage, Michigan

Cheryl Boer Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Cori Dykhouse Port Lambton, Ontario

Sally Janssen - Zeeland, Michigan

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 STAFFExecutive Director Kathryn Miller

Director of International Ministries Jan Boone

Training Manager Lenae Bulthuis

O ce Manager Michele DeHaan

Managing Editor Kelli Gilmore

Graphic & Web Designer Lisa Hunter

Customer Relations Hannah Noorman

Conference Coordinator Alecia VanHulzen

Senior Editor Amy White

directors lettersharing news and light with friends of gems

This morning I was reading Seeking Gods Face by Philip Reinders, and one of his prayers really stung my heart. He started his prayer with this question: Covenant God, how could your people be so close to the promisealmost tasting the milk and honeyand yet fail to receive it? which made me wonder if followers of Christ are the same today. If the answer to that question is yes, then how do we as leaders, pastors, and mature believers change that answer to no?

One way is to understand the greatness of God. This year GEMS is delving into John 3:30, He must become greater; I must become less. It is extremely important that we truly know, believe, and have faith in God because it changes the way we view the world and what is possible! In Numbers 14:6-9 we see an example of this as Joshua and Caleb address the entire Israelite community, The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land owing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone but the Lord is

with us. Do not be afraid of them. Joshua and Caleb believed in the greatness of God, so they viewed the world very di erently.

And that is exactly what GEMS is doing this year with our theme Whos the Greatest? We want women and girls to completely understand every aspect of Gods greatness. We want them to believe that He is all-knowing, all-seeing,

all-powerful, and everlasting. This type of belief will empower them to live radically faithful livesacting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. This will give them con dence to take that step into the promised land and into the world.

To this end, GEMS Girls Clubs wants to equip women to share, to mentor, and to pour the truth of Gods greatness into the lives of girls. We o er many opportunities for training that will help transform your church ministriesso as a supporter of GEMS, encourage a counselor to attend!

Kathryn MillerExecutive Director

type of belief will empower them to live radically faithful livesto live radically faithful livesacting justly, loving mercy, and acting justly, loving mercy, and acting justly, loving mercy, and acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. This will walking humbly with God. This will give them con dence to take that step into the promised land and into the world.

To this end, GEMS Girls Clubs

so as a supporter of GEMS, encourage a counselor to attend!counselor to attend!

Kathryn Miller

whos the greatest?He must become greater; I must become less (John 3:30).

We have an amazing capacity to think about ourselves, dont we? What we want and like and need and deserve. But John the Baptist suggests a di erent way to live. A better way. He modeled a life of humility that sought to put God on center stage at all times.

This season, girls in GEMS Clubs all over North America will explore what it means to make God great in their lives. They will learn that for the world to see Jesus in us, He must increase and we must decrease.

But that doesnt mean we think of ourselves as worthless. Not at all! As C.S. Lewis said, True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. Counselors will be guiding girls all year as they answer the question: Whos the Greatest? Join us in exploring what it looks like to make much of God in everything we do!

Training and EquippingIn July, women gathered in Vancouver, British Columbia for the Annual Counselors Leadership Conference where they received training for the current GEMS season. Women were refreshed in their own faith walks while gaining valuable instruction for their work with girls.

We believe that equipping women to be meaningful mentors is one of the best ways we can achieve our mission of bringing girls everywhere into a living, dynamic relationship with Jesus. Heres what a few attendees had to say about this premiere training event:

I love the freedom to worship. This is a place where I feel Gods love. What a blessing to be part of this ministry!

I LOVED Conference, it was a wonderful experience that I needed in order to become better equipped as a GEMS leader. I am already looking forward to next year and many more Conferences to come!

My rst experience was amazing and life changing.

Start Planning!Encourage the GEMS counselors in your life to start planning for next years Conference! We will be at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, July 23-26.

bid out loudGirls like to talk. And at GEMS, we show them how to use that love of chatter to be a positive force in the world. We want them to understand what it means to stand up and speak outto use their voices to help the hurting and bring the Good News to the lost.

This fall, were asking you to use your voice, too! In order to o er our programs and services to girlsexpanding our presence and reaching even more girls for Christwe rely on your continued support. GEMS will host an online auction November 22 to bene t the overall ministry.

Well be featuring stories from women and girls all weekwomen and girls who have been deeply touched by the GEMS ministry. Please log on the week of the auction,

at biddingforgood.com/GEMS, browse the items, and then shout your support for GEMS as you BID OUT LOUD!

Bid OUT LOUD GEMS Online Auction

Bid OUT LOUD GEMS Online Auction

Girls like to talk. And at GEMS, we show them how to use that love of chatter to be a positive force in the world. We want them to Girls like to talk. And at GEMS, we show them how to use that love of chatter to be a positive force in the world. We want them to Girls like to talk. And at GEMS, we show them how to use that love of chatter to be a positive force in the world. We want them to Girls like to talk. And at GEMS, we show them how to use that love of chatter to be a positive force in the world. We want them to Girls like to talk. And at GEMS, we show them how to use that love of chatter to be a positive force in the world. We want them to Girls like to talk. And at GEMS, we show them how to use that love of chatter to be a positive force in the world. We want them to Girls like to talk. And at GEMS, we show them how to use that love of chatter to be a positive force in the world. We want them to Girls like to talk. And at GEMS, we show them how to use that love of chatter to be a positive force in the world. We want them to Girls like to talk. And at GEMS, we show them how to use that love of chatter to be a positive force in the world. We want them to Girls like to talk. And at GEMS, we show them how to use that love of chatter to be a positive force in the world. We want them to Girls like to talk. And at GEMS, we show them how to use that love of chatter to be a positive force in the world. We want them to Girls like to talk. And at GEMS, we show them how to use that love of chatter to be a positive force in the world. We want them to understand what it means to stand up and speak outto use their voices to help the hurting and bring the Good News to the lost. understand what it means to stand up and speak outto use their voices to help the hurting and bring the Good News to the lost. understand what it means to stand up and speak outto use their voices to help the hurting and bring the Good News to the lost. understand what it means to stand up and speak outto use their voices to help the hurting and bring the Good News to the lost. understand what it means to stand up and speak outto use their voices to help the hurting and bring the Good News to the lost. understand what it means to stand up and speak outto use their voices to help the hurting and bring the Good News to the lost. understand what it means to stand up and speak outto use their voices to help the hurting and bring the Good News to the lost. understand what it means to stand up and speak outto use their voices to help the hurting and bring the Good News to the lost. understand what it means to stand up and speak outto use their voices to help the hurting and bring the Good News to the lost.

This fall, were asking you to use your voice, too! In order to o er our programs and services This fall, were asking you to use your voice, too! In order to o er our programs and services This fall, were asking you to use your voice, too! In order to o er our programs and services to girlsexpanding our presence and reaching even more girls for Christwe rely on your continued support. GEMS will host an online auction November 22 to bene t the overall your continued support. GEMS will host an online auction November 22 to bene t the overall ministry. ministry.

Well be featuring stories from women and girls all weekwomen and girls who have been Well be featuring stories from women and girls all weekwomen and girls who have been Well be featuring stories from women and girls all weekwomen and girls who have been deeply touched by the GEMS ministry. Please log on the week of the auction, deeply touched by the GEMS ministry. Please log on the week of the auction, deeply touched by the GEMS ministry. Please log on the week of the auction, deeply touched by the GEMS ministry. Please log on the week of the auction, deeply touched by the GEMS ministry. Please log on the week of the auction, deeply touched by the GEMS ministry. Please log on the week of the auction, deeply touched by the GEMS ministry. Please log on the week of the auction,

at biddingforgood.com/GEMS, browse the items, and then shout your support for GEMS as you BID OUT LOUD!

Bid OUT LOUD GEMS Online AuctionGEMS Online AuctionGEMS Online AuctionGEMS Online Auction2

3every cent mattersWe believe girls can make a di erence. That they can change the worldone small act of justice at a time. We spend a great deal of time talking about the fact that God created girls with a voice and purpose, right here and right now. They dont have to wait until they are older to get involved. And we are constantly inspired by the stories and letters we receive from girls letting us know how they are reaching out to help. One of our youngest GEMS recently wrote,

Hi! My name is Rylee, and I hope this money helps you. I earned the money by a lemonade stand, losing six teeth, babysitting, and taking care of cats. This is to buy two bricks to help at The Esther School.

Your continued support allows us to inspire more girls to claim their identity in Christreaching out and making an impact because of their hope and trust in Him!

the esther school is expanding!

Dave and Jillian Draayer had no intention of moving to Zambia, but that is exactly what they did this past August in response to Gods call.

After hearing about The Esther School through Drew and Arika Roelofs (administrators at the school) blog, the couple decided to send an encouraging email to the family. It had been our intention to do this before, but we had just not gotten to it, they explained. We went to bed that night feeling good. We had emailed them. We had encouraged them. Our job was done. God was happy. We were happy. Back to our normal life we gobut not really. God was working and preparing to move our hearts to a new place.

When we woke up, we read an email from Arika letting us know The Esther School was: looking for a rst-grade teacher, had a desire to begin a Physical Education program, and was looking for someone to mentor the young men in the village. We wept as we read this email. We had no plans to move to Zambia, but God was opening doorsand our hearts!

Dave and Jillian have degrees in education, with Daves specialty being Physical Education. After more thought and prayer, the couple committed to joining the sta at The Esther

School. Jillian is serving as the rst-grade teacher while Dave is serving as the PE teacher for the whole school in addition to being the chapel coordinator, community outreach worker, and working alongside Kevin DeKam learning the role of the school administrator.

Follow along with the Draayers experience by visiting their blog, draayersinzambia.

wordpress.com. You can check-in with the other sta members as well!

Student Sponsors Needed!Each year we will add a new grade to The Esther School. That means each year we will need 24 additional student sponsors. As a sponsor, you will make it possible for children to attend the school. For a gift of $600 per year (or $50 per month), you will be providing the following for your student: school uniforms with shoes, backpack, schoolbooks and supplies, library books, daily breakfast and lunch, and annual physicals.

Visit estherschool.org for more information, or ll out the form below!

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

THE ESTHER SCHOOLBuilding a community of faithful and skillful servant leaders

The Esther School Student Sponsorship Form

I would like to sponsor a student at The Esther School for the 2013/14 school year.

Sponsor Name:

Address:

City: State/Province: Zip/Postal Code:

Email: Phone: ( )

Payment will be in the form of:

check made out to GEMS Girls Clubs with ES Stu-dent Sponsorship in the memo line

credit or debit card Visa Mastercard Discover Card #:

Expiration date:

Address on card (if di erent than above):

Please send form with payment to:GEMS Girls Clubs ES Student Sponsorship1333 Alger St. SEGrand Rapids, MI 49507

gems open

get connected! campEach year, the GEMS Open helps underwrites the costs of Get Connected! CampGEMS summer camp for early teen girls. Coming again in August of 2014, Get Connected! Camp is a truly life-changing experience. We strip away the distractions of everyday life to speak truth, share, and have a lot of fun with girls from all over the US and Canada. If you know a junior high GEMmake sure she knows about this amazing opportunity coming next summer!

This past spring, teams came out in force to pledge their support to our mission of bringing girls everywhere into a living, dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ. Thank you again to our many sponsors who made our annual GEMS Open successfuland who consistently make this ministry possible!

Event SponsorsEudell and Mary Jo VisBrad and Cheryl BoerAlan and Terri KaiserRichard and Judy EppingaLeon and Louise KoopsJe and Mary KlingenbergMall City ContainersMichael J. Liccar & Company Homes by Dutch Mill: Construction by DoornMyles and Glennys KuperusDe Jong Enterprises, Inc.R & M Construction

Cart SponsorsDale and Jan BooneGerrit and Cori DykhouseJohn and Linda VanSingelEenhoorn, LLC

Hole SponsorsDan and Pat ScottHarold and Cindy RedekerJason and Shelley KuipersShirley BattsReinders FamilyHendriksma FarmsBest Way DisposalAction PlumbingAjacs Die Sales Corp.Ship PacDeppe Mold and ToolingVisser Farms

Southwest Auto Service and Auto Wash

Tee SponsorsShannon Scott and Gwen WymanRalph and Irene DrostKlooster GreenhouseOne Way ProductsWood Work SpecialtiesRed Arrow DairyTreystarVan Den Berge Pest ControlGerald Van Wieren MDBorn ClinicWDS Construction, IncHavit SuppliesA&B RentalsStroo Funeral HomeBowerman BlueberriesL & M Costa Inc

ContributorsBrian and Kristin VosteenDon and Barb BellingerBruce and Patty GorterDavid and Linda FinkMike and Viola RomanLiz YadonBryan ScottKurt and Andrea Je ersonPetra ArendsBob and Angela FlakNel DykhouseBob and Pam Dedrick

VanDam and Kruisenga Building and RestorationDave and Kaija HakalaSherolde DenmarkDarren and Mylyn LandinguinBlane and Jacki CarnealIan and Ryan LandinguinGeorge and Gep ElzingaLucy LinkDeNooyer ChevroletHolwerda-Snoap Sporting GoodsGVL ExcavatingSteven D. Lyzenga DDSGleneagle Golf ClubPilgrims Run Golf ClubMaple Hill Golf CourseDiamond Springs GolfProperty Resources Inc.Ironwood Golf CourseThe Moors Golf CourseMines Golf CourseBroadmoor Country ClubAll-Star PrintingGrand BuickTop DistributingLudwicks Bakery

Janies CookiesCustom PrintersCelebration! Cinema RivertownKregel PublicationsGraphics UnlimitedBranns Steakhouse and GrilleRussOn The BorderCalvin College BookstoreFields FabricsWise PhotographyCindys Hair CareTee-2-GreenVlietstra LandscapeLewis PaperBluewater Orthopaedic and Sports SupplyCascade RoadhouseDixon GolfZuidema InteriorsWallaceburg Bookbinding & Mfg. Co., Ltd.

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