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, prayer, projects, and some special surprises. GEMS focuses on building relationships among girls, with leaders, 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 Wayfinder: Following the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Today’s girls are navigating a world filled with confusion, pressure, anxiety, and countless competing voices telling them who they should be and where they should find the truth. In a world filled with competing routes and questionable directions, we want to help guide girls to follow Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and walk alongside them on their journey.
Meeting Times and Dates
GEMS nights are the first and third Mondays of the month from 6:30-8:00 PM, starting September 21, 2026, and running through March 15, 2027.
Sept. 21……...… 6:30-8:00 Kick-off/7:30 info meeting for Grown-ups
Oct. 5.…………... 6:30-8:00 GEMS
Oct. 19…………… GEMS & Gals Night
Nov. 2 …………… 6:30-8:00 GEMS
Nov. 6 ………….. 7:00 Sleepover
Nov. 16…………. 6:30-8:00 GEMS
Nov. 30…………. 6:30-8:00 GEMS
Dec. 7…………… 6:30-8:00 Christmas Party
Jan. 4 ……….…. 6:30-8:00 GEMS
Jan. 18…………. 6:30-8:00 GEMS
Feb. 1……….…… 6:30-8:00 GEMS
Feb. 15 …………. 6:30-8:00 GEMS
Feb. 28……………GEMS Sunday/Luncheon
March 1 …………. 6:30-8:00 GEMS
March 15………… GEMS & Gents
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 by mail or 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.
2025-2026 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 25 years, and she also serves on the GEMS Global Board.
Lori enjoys hiking, running, water activities, and family time. She enjoys traveling and sharing life with her husband, Mike. She loves her daughters, sons-in-laws, and granddaughter! One of Mrs. Houskamp’s favorite verses is Psalm 34:6, “Look to him and be radiant.” When we fix our eyes on Jesus, we can be filled with joy and reflect His love.
Jacqualin Maggio, First Grade Leader
Miss Jackie is eager to be returning as a GEMS counselor! This will be her eighth 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.
Jackie and her husband, Michael, have three children: Natalia, Dominic, and Juliana. 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.”
Grace DePrekel, Second Grade Leader
Miss Grace is looking forward to leading your children this year. This will be her 10th year as a GEMS leader. Mrs. DePrekel is married to Jim and they have five children and six grandchildren with another on the way this October. She is retired and loves to care for her grandkids two days a week. She also enjoys traveling, exercising and baking.
Grace 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.
Kathy Wanczyk, Second Grade Leader
Miss Kathy is looking forward to her first year as a GEMS co-leader for the second-grade girls with Grace DePrekel! She is originally from Spring Lake and recently moved back to be closer to family and part of this great community. Kathy and her husband Chris have been married for 37 years, and they have three grown children, two awesome grandsons and are expecting a granddaughter any day! Mrs. Wanczyk enjoys being with family, hiking, biking, doing puzzles, reading, and she also volunteers at Four Pointes as a driver.
Kathy is excited to get to know the girls and the other leaders. One of her favorite Bible verses is Numbers 6:24-26, “The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Rhonda Hill, Third Grade Leader
Miss Rhonda is thrilled to be back for her sixth year as a GEMS leader! She is looking forward to seeing what great things God has in store for this 2025-26 GEMS year.
Rhonda is married to Mark. They have two sons; one is married and the other one attends Calvin University. She enjoys being outside for walks, biking, gardening, or soaking up some sunshine in God's creation. One of her favorite Bible verses is Psalm 118:24, "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Nancy Bontumasi, Third Grade Leader
Miss Nancy is experiencing her first year as a GEMS Leader. She is looking forward to getting to know the precious girls who have a heart to know Jesus as their Lord.
Nancy is married to Michael, has two sons, and four grandchildren. She delights in Sunday dinners with her family, flower gardening, doing puzzles, playing games and being a Bible Study Fellowship Children's Leader. One of her favorite verses is Job 19:25-27, "I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. I myself will see Him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me."
Elizabeth Wierenga, Fourth Grade Leader
Miss Elizabeth is excited to be back as a GEMS leader 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.
Elizabeth 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.
Kim Purcell, Fourth Grade Leader
Mrs. Purcell is so excited to be involved with GEMS this year! She can’t wait to connect and build relationships with the girls and other leaders and worship Jesus together! Mrs. P has been married to her husband, Nate, for 15 years and has two children, Emery (9 and a GEM) and Liam (6). She loves her job serving families as the UpStreet Director at Covenant Life Church in Grand Haven. Mrs. P enjoys nature, especially water! Passing time collecting rocks by a river, creek, or swimming in the lake is her happy place. She loves music, art, reading and photography. When she is in nature or creating she feels close to Jesus! She’s working on her disc golf game and is eager to beat Nate one of these days! Mrs. P’s closest friends have walked through life with her and encouraged her since she was a kid, and she is praying for each girl to grow meaningful lifelong friendships at GEMS!
Lisa Mulder, Fifth Grade Leader
Mrs. Mulder is eager to join GEMS this year! She is looking forward to being with young girls and helping them experience all the joy that is available to all of us by being part of our GEMS family and, more importantly, the family of God!
Mrs. Mulder recently retired from Spring Lake Schools and has a long list of things to do, see, and learn in this next season of life - including GEMS! Mrs. Mulder has a large family, including 14 grandchildren, that fill her days and her heart. Mrs. Mulder finds strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow in a verse from Lamentations: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3: 22-23)
Rachel Kramer, Sixth-Seventh Grade Leader
Miss Rachel is excited to be a GEMS leader again at Ferrysburg Community Church. She has enjoyed the connections formed with the girls and looks forward to helping them learn about how much God loves them.
Rachel has been married to her husband John for 44 years and has three adult children and two grandsons. 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."
Laura DeHart, Sixth-Seventh Grade Leader
Miss Laura is excited for her first year as a GEMS leader! She is very much looking forward to getting to know the girls in her group and spending time in community with everyone at GEMS.
Laura is married to Jed, and they have two little ones, Judah, who just turned four, and Hazel, who is almost two. She loves being a mom and treasures spending her days taking care of and growing and learning alongside her children. She loves anything outside, especially swimming, hiking, rollerblading, and biking!
One of Laura’s favorite verses is Hebrews 6:19: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
Birdella Hawkins, Craft Leader
Miss Birdella is thrilled to be back as our GEMS craft counselor. 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 15 grandchildren, including twin boys.
Birdella enjoys cooking, gardening, and time spent in nature with 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.”
Pam Billmeier, Craft Assistant
Mrs. Billmeier is looking forward to returning to GEMS for a second year as an assistant with crafts. She has an artistic background but will focus on helping the girls grow in their understanding of who Jesus is and His deep love and care for each one of them, as she has been doing for most of her adult life as a Sunday School teacher.
Pam left her career as an Environmentalist and Chemist 42 years ago to marry Ken. They have two sons. Her granddaughter also attends Ferrysburg GEMS. How special it is to watch her granddaughter, along with all the girls, grow in their understanding of Jesus’ love for them through GEMS!
Mary Beth Retsema,
Prayer Grandma
We are excited to have prayer grandmas available on GEMS nights! If GEMS would like to meet with a grandma for a prayer, conversation, or a blessing, they have this option.
Nona Boer,
Prayer Grandma
Grandma Nona will be joining us again at the beginning of the season before she heads to Nashville for the winter months.
Robin Spicer, Prayer Grandma
We are happy to have Grandma Robin serving as a Prayer Grandma this year and helping with special events. Robin heads up our VBS decorating team and loves to create fun environments.
