GEMS is a place where all 1st-7th grade girls are welcome to belong and be loved. GEMS evenings are packed with songs, games, crafts, lessons, projects, prayer and some special surprises. GEMS focuses on building relationships among girls, with counselors and with Jesus. Throughout the year our goal is to build relationships that help bring the girls into a living relationship with Jesus Christ.
This year’s theme is Transformed: Changed by God’s Word from the Inside Out. We are excited to help free girls from the pressure of the world’s lies and false labels, instead helping them to stand firmly on the timeless Word of God. We want to help girls find true, lasting peace, hope, and joy. We want to help girls to find purpose and meaning. We are eager to see girls transformed by God’s Word!
This year’s theme verse is Romans 12:2. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Our logo and crafts will include a lot of butterflies. Just as caterpillars do not become butterflies overnight, we do not expect girls to instantly experience God’s total transformation. But we can trust that girls will be transformed as they engage with God and his life-changing Word.
Meeting Times and Dates
GEMS nights are the first and third Mondays of the month from 6:30-8:00PM, starting September 16, 2024 and running through March 17, 2025. Watch for emails and updates on the Ferrysburg GEMS Facebook page with details for various events.
Registration and Dues
This year dues are $20. Registered GEMS will receive this year's t-shirt.
When registering you will have the option to pay online. You are also welcome to pay with a check (payable to Ferrysburg GEMS) or cash when coming to GEMS.
For more information about the international ministry of GEMS, visit gemsgc.org.
Contact Lori at lori@ferrysburgchurch.com for more information.
2024-2025 GEMS Leaders
Lori Houskamp, Club Coordinator
Mrs. Houskamp is excited to share God’s love and build relationships with girls and leaders at GEMS! She has served as the Ferrysburg GEMS Club Coordinator for 24 years.
Mrs. Houskamp enjoys hiking, running, water activities and family time. She enjoys traveling and sharing life with her husband, Mike. Her daughter Christa and her husband live in Grand Rapids and her daughter Jenna will be getting married in November. One of Mrs. Houskamp’s favorite verses is Psalm 147:4:“He counts the stars and calls them all by name.” God knows each of us by name and we matter to Him!
Jacqualin Maggio, First Grade Leader
Mrs. Maggio is very eager to be returning as a GEMS leader! This will be her sixth year with Ferrysburg GEMS. She is excited and looking forward to building relationships, having fun, and helping young girls see themselves and their beauty through God's eyes.
Mrs. Maggio and her husband, Michael, have three children, Natalia(12), Dominic (10), and Juliana(6). She loves being outdoors with her family - whether it is biking, walking dune trails, swimming, or a fun filled family camping trip. Mrs. Maggio works as a GHAPS substitute teacher. Her favorite Bible verse is Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Ava Meiste, First Grade Leader
Ava is excited to join us as a first grade leader this year! Ava is looking forward to meeting and making connections with the girls at GEMS and having conversations about God’s love and how our lives should be lived for Jesus.
Ava is a junior at Allendale High School. Her favorite activities include playing volleyball and swimming at the beach. Her favorite verse is Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Grace DePrekel, Second Grade Leader
Mrs. DePrekel is looking forward to leading your children this year. This will be her eighth year as a GEMS leader. Mrs. DePrekel is married to Jim and they have five children and four grandchildren. She works at Public Health-Muskegon County as a fiscal specialist.
Mrs. DePrekel loves working with the kids and seeing them grow in faith. Her favorite Bible verse is 1 John 3:1, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are!” This was a former theme verse from GEMS that she continues to love.
Cindy Reinhardt, Second Grade Leader
Mrs. Reinhardt is excited to be back again this year to help girls learn and grow in their relationship with Jesus. She has spent many years as a GEMS leader and Sunday school teacher over the past decades.
Mrs. Reinhardt is retired from an almost 40 year career in insurance. Her children are grown and she has two granddaughters. She hopes to fulfill what Christ told his disciples in Mark 10:4, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
Rhonda Hill, Third Grade Leader
Miss Rhonda is excited for her fifth year as a GEMS leader. She is looking forward to building relationships with the girls and counselors.
Miss Rhonda is a teacher at Muskegon Christian School. She enjoys walking her dog, baking, bike riding and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Mark, have two sons. Miss Rhonda's favorite Bible verse is Psalm 118:24, "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Kris Grek, Third Grade Leader
Ms. Grek is excited to be back at GEMS again, after a time away, to make connections and build relationships with the girls and leader.
Ms. Grek has one daughter and son in law and three grandchildren. She works for Cancer and Hematology Centers. She enjoys all sports and loves to be active. She also enjoys baking and spending time with her grandchildren. Ms. Grek's favorite bible verse is Roman's 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may be filled with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Maggie Assink, Fourth-Fifth Grade Leader
This is Mrs. Assink’s fifth year as a GEMS leader. She and her husband Adam live in Norton Shores with their feisty cat Uli. Playing ultimate Frisbee, camping, watching U of M sports, and doing home DIY projects are some of her favorite hobbies.
Mrs. Assink’s favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” She hopes to reflect the message that nothing can separate us from God’s love in her role as a GEMS counselor.
Rachel Kramer, Fourth-Fifth Grade Leader
Mrs. Kramer is excited to be a leader again at Ferrysburg Church, after being involved with GEMS for many years at her previous church in Grandville, MI. She is looking forward to getting to know the GEMS and helping them learn about how much God loves them.
She has been married to her husband John for 42 years and has three adult children and two grandsons. She is recently retired and her hobbies are photography, birding, hiking, and rockhounding. Her favorite Bible verse is Colossians 3:12-14: "Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another ... Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Elizabeth Wierenga,
Fourth-Fifth Grade Leader
Mrs. Wierenga is excited to be a GEMS leader for the first time at Ferrysburg Community Church. She is looking forward to getting to know the GEMS and helping them grow stronger in the faith and relationship with God.
Mrs. Wierenga is married to Dan and they have two married sons and the joy of three granddaughters. Her hobbies are canning, flower gardens, crafting, and spending time at the beach. Mrs. Wierenga’s favorite verse is Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Lauren Kohley, Sixth-Seventh Grade Leader
Mrs. Kohley is thrilled to back for her third year as a GEMS leader. She and her husband Jordan have three children: Reagan (8), John (6), and Jacob (4). Mrs. Kohley grew up in Florida, spending time boating, swimming, fishing, snorkeling. She didn't even own a winter jacket or a pair of boots. After graduating from Florida State University, she worked for about 10 years as a dietitian/sales rep selling food to be used for the school lunch program. She now loves her dream job…staying home with her kids!
Ms. Lauren loves to read, dance, be outside and she LOVES God! Her hope is that our GEMS group is able to build relationships with each other and grow closer to God knowing that the creator of the universe adores you and thinks you are lovely, worthy and special!
Birdella Hawkins, Craft Leader
Mrs. Hawkins is thrilled to be back as our GEMS craft leader. She loves planning cool crafts and building relationships with the girls. She and her husband, Rick, live in Spring Lake Township with their two dogs. They have six children, including two sets of twins, and 14 grandchildren, including twin boys.
Mrs. Hawkins enjoys cooking, gardening, and time spent in nature enjoying all of the amazing creations God has given us. She doesn’t have one favorite verse, but one special Bible verse is John 15:11-12, “I have told you this so that my joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
