GEMS Girls' Clubs
Encyclopedia
GEMS Girls' Clubs is a non-denominational, non-profit Christian
organization that seeks to equip women and girls to live radically faithful lives for Christ. Clubs are established in churches and other Christian organizations and allow women to mentor girls as they develop a living, dynamic relationship with Jesus. GEMS, which stands for Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior, was founded in 1958 in Grand Rapids, Michigan
, and has since grown to become an international ministry with 5,200 women serving over 23,000 girls in more than 800 clubs in the United States
, Canada
, Zambia
, Nigeria
, Belarus
, Australia
, and New Zealand
.
In 1966, GEMS (Calvinettes), the Calvinist Cadet Corps, and Youth Unlimited (then the Young Calvinist Federation) merged to form Dynamic Youth Ministries (then known as United Calvinist Youth).
In 2006, GEMS expanded its global vision to reach girls everywhere by organizing clubs in Africa
. Since then, Girls in clubs across North America have been active in
Assisting the efforts, and new curriculum has been developed, a micro-financing program has started, and construction has started on a school for orphans in Zambia.
GEMS Girls' Clubs is governed by an executive board that oversees general policies, finances, and the overall effectiveness of the ministry.
Each summer, GEMS hosts its Annual Counselors’ Leadership Conference for women. This is a major event for the ministry and is held in different locations around North America
. Volunteer leaders are also appointed to various areas of the United States and Canada and these women offer regional training and support to the counselors in their geographic region.
. Members of the ECFA must adhere to seven standards of responsible stewardship including high standards of accountability in fundraising, financial disclosure, confidentiality of donor information, and the use of resources. The ministry submits to an annual independent audit.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
organization that seeks to equip women and girls to live radically faithful lives for Christ. Clubs are established in churches and other Christian organizations and allow women to mentor girls as they develop a living, dynamic relationship with Jesus. GEMS, which stands for Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior, was founded in 1958 in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, and has since grown to become an international ministry with 5,200 women serving over 23,000 girls in more than 800 clubs in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
History
In 1957, the Young Calvinist Federation decided there was a mounting need to design a ministry specifically for young girls. Barb Vredevoogd, a member of Beverly Christian Reformed Church in Wyoming, Michigan, was invited to expand the club program she had designed for local girls in order to offer the curriculum to other churches, as well. Vredevoogd then became the first acting director, and the program – originally known as Calvinettes – began to flourish.In 1966, GEMS (Calvinettes), the Calvinist Cadet Corps, and Youth Unlimited (then the Young Calvinist Federation) merged to form Dynamic Youth Ministries (then known as United Calvinist Youth).
In 2006, GEMS expanded its global vision to reach girls everywhere by organizing clubs in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. Since then, Girls in clubs across North America have been active in
Assisting the efforts, and new curriculum has been developed, a micro-financing program has started, and construction has started on a school for orphans in Zambia.
GEMS Girls' Clubs is governed by an executive board that oversees general policies, finances, and the overall effectiveness of the ministry.
Program Levels
Most local churches divide their GEMS programs into three different age levels. GEMS produces a variety of age-appropriate curriculum for each of these levels. GEMS also partners with Cadets to produce a curriculum for 4 and 5 year-olds, and offers a leadership-development position for High School-aged girls who wish to remain in the Program- Kingdom Kids (4 & 5 year olds)
- Awareness Level (grades 1-3)
- Discovery Level (grades 4-6)
- Advanced Level (grades 7-8)
- Counselor-in-Training/CIT (grades 9-12)
Magazines
GEMS Girls` Clubs produces two magazines specifically for girls that help them recognize and embrace their potential to be world changers.SHINE brightly
Published monthly from September through May, SHINE brightly is for girls ages nine to fourteen. Each issue contains three Bible lessons as well as articles and stories that inspire girls to be activists for Christ. The magazine is designed to help girls see how God is at work in their lives and in the world around them.Sparkle
Produced monthly from October through April, Sparkle is designed for girls in grades 1-3 and through Bible lessons, articles, stories, and games, seeks to show girls how they can make a difference in the world.Leadership Training
A crucial aspect of the GEMS ministry is giving women the tools they need to effectively reach out to the girls in their local clubs. Volunteer leaders (counselors) are offered several training opportunities in which they learn how to use the GEMS curriculums as well as gain important insights into the development stages of the age group they are teaching. These training events are all designed to equip and encourage counselors in their work with girls.Each summer, GEMS hosts its Annual Counselors’ Leadership Conference for women. This is a major event for the ministry and is held in different locations around North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Volunteer leaders are also appointed to various areas of the United States and Canada and these women offer regional training and support to the counselors in their geographic region.
Accountability
GEMS Girls' Clubs is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial AccountabilityEvangelical Council for Financial Accountability
The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability is an accreditation agency to promote fiscal integrity and sound financial practices among member organizations. Founded in 1979, it comprises over 2,000 evangelical Christian organizations which qualify for tax-exempt, nonprofit status and...
. Members of the ECFA must adhere to seven standards of responsible stewardship including high standards of accountability in fundraising, financial disclosure, confidentiality of donor information, and the use of resources. The ministry submits to an annual independent audit.