GEMS, the girls’ club active in many Christian Reformed churches, will have a new executive director on March 1.
Kathryn Miller comes to GEMS with excitement and with leadership experience in both the nonprofit and corporate sectors. She has also served as a missionary and a rehabilitative coordinator in Thailand, where she worked with individuals who had been rescued from human trafficking and as a house parent for foster children.
Kathryn Miller is the new executive director of GEMS.
Miller said she first sensed God calling her to mentor and disciple young women this past summer. “God is always faithful,” she said. “His faithfulness is what has brought me to the GEMS ministry, and my heart is overflowing.”
Miller will succeed Jan Boone, who has served as executive director for the past 18 years.
Reflecting on those years, Boone said, “GEMS has given me the opportunity to intentionally live out what it means to be a Titus 2 woman—to teach and train the younger women and girls who come behind me the things of God. This has given my life great meaning and purpose. Helping grow the faith of as many younger women and girls as possible in as many ways as possible has been my great joy and passion. I will forever be grateful.”
Some of Boone’s contributions to GEMS include guiding the ministry through a name change from Calvinettes, starting a weeklong summer camp for early teen girls, and expanding the international presence of the ministry to countries such as Zambia.
After stepping down as executive director, Boone will serve GEMS part-time by helping the ministry develop internationally, especially in The Esther School in Zambia.
Henrietta Reinders, GEMS executive board president, said the board is announcing the change with mixed feelings. “We’re saddened as we’ll deeply miss Jan as executive director and friend, but are joy-filled as we remember that this is first and foremost God’s ministry, and he is always faithful,” she said. “We’re grateful that God has led us to the next executive director.”
About the Author
Daina Kraai is the Banner's regional news correspondent for classes Muskegon and Northern Michigan.
