Close to my Heart

Most of my readers know that I am deeply and passionately involved with the GEMS Girls Club Ministry. I became involved when Sarah was a tiny baby. I remember the Club Coordinator at the church we attended at the time gave a report about the GEMS Counselor Convention she had just attended and she invited women to join her as counselors in the upcoming year. My heart started pounding, as it usually does when God is giving me instructions to say “yes”. And having been a “Calvinette” (which is what GEMS used to be called) and having been a teacher, and having just had my first daughter, I was thrilled to sign up.

I started teaching sixth graders and Oh. My. I loved them. Oh, did I love going to GEMS. I was so blessed by those girls, and the other counselors I worked with. Ed has always been, and continues to be, 100% supportive of my involvement with GEMS and it gave him a chance to be Daddy, on his own, without me hovering, and he always did great.

When Bethany was born, Ed said to me, “I think we have even more reason to keep the GEMS program going strong now.” He was right. When our third daughter was born he just kind of shook his head at me. I kept working with those sixth graders in GEMS and kept loving every minute.

Then we moved. And I took a year off. And I got pregnant with our fourth. While I was still pregnant, I was asked to be the Club Coordinator of the GEMS club at our new church. We said yes. Then our fourth DAUGHTER was born. Ed said, “Okay, so we’re lifers.” This GEMS ministry is a team effort; and ultimately, a family effort. I’m in GEMS not only because it’s a girls’ ministry, but also because it’s a ministry that will benefit my daughters, which will ultimately, God-willing, benefit countless others they will touch in their lives.

I have now also been blessed to serve all the counselor in my area as the Area Coordinator. This means I go to training with other Area Coordinators and Leadership Trainers from around the continent to be taught by some amazing women on staff with GEMS. I come back to my area and teach as many counselors as will come everything I’ve been taught. It has been a TON of work and it has been a blessing. I learned that I am in this ministry ALSO for the women. In a way I never could have imagined, God has used me to speak to these women so that they can be better equipped to serve their GEMS girls. I am humbled. I pray God will continue to bless our Area and all the GEMS and all the counselors in it.

All this to say, there is something going on in GEMS that is very. close. to my heart. When I heard about this, my heart started pounding, which is how I knew, once again, that God was making it very clear that He had called me to this position for such a time as this.

My oldest two daughters have been reading books by author Nancy Rue for years now. They love the books and her. Nancy Rue. She’s a Christian author of books for tween girls and a tween specialist. And she has partnered with Zonderkidz and GEMS to put on events around the country specifically for tween girls and their moms. She comes to speak, and a dynamic praise & worship duo, Colleen & Grace, come as well. I had seen advertisements for the Faithgirlz Beauty of Believing Tour  in magazines and such and thought, “I hope this comes to my area” AND “Man, GEMS needs to get involved with this!” So, you can see why I was so excited when presented with the opportunity to host a Faithgirlz event IN MY HOMETOWN!

This event is coming up on November 6, 2010 – it’s a Saturday afternoon – at Word of Life Church here in town. More information is available on the GEMS Tour Website and you can purchase tickets at iTickets. PLEASE email me at faithgirlzlynden@gmail.com or leave a comment if you have more questions. Please pray for this event and PLEASE COME!

This is close to my heart. I don’t know how long God will keep me in this position, or in GEMS at all. But as long as He does, watch out. Because this won’t be the last time you read about this ministry on my blog. :)