Meet Cindy Bultema of GEMS Girls’ Clubs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Bultema.

Hi Cindy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Cindy Bultema—wife, mom of four, and Executive Director of GEMS Girls’ Clubs. I’m also the author of Red Hot Faith and Live Full, Walk Free. I love traveling the world and sharing with women of all ages and stages about the fullness and freedom available through Christ.

I love my family, sparkly confetti, a hot cup of coffee, celebrating, cheering for hockey, spending time with my girlfriends, playing cards with my kids, and meeting new women and hearing their beautiful hearts.

Most importantly, I have devoted my life to telling others about God’s unfailing love.

You see, once upon a time — I was a lost, broken woman who nearly lost her life to the bondage of addiction.

I did not grow up with a foundation of faith. I turned to everything the world offers to fill the loneliness in my heart––food, men, alcohol, and even drugs. At the age of 26, I nearly lost my life to cocaine addiction. Finally, at the end of my rope, I reached out to a woman for help. This woman (named Carole) introduced me to Jesus, bought me my first Bible, linked me up with a mentor, paid for Christian counseling, and invited me to attend her church. My life has never been the same since.

Since that time, I’ve now served in ministry for over 20 years, and have had the humble opportunity to train leaders and create programs within a variety of settings.

My previous work experiences include working for Bethany Christian Services with adolescent sexual offenders, developing and supervising a transitional housing program serving homeless teen moms and their kids, as well as coordinating a state-licensed child-care program.

In 1999, I was hired as the founding Director of Children’s Ministries at a Grand Rapids area mega-church, leading the transition from being a one-person department to overseeing 12 staff, equipping 1,000 volunteers, and ministering to 2,700 kids every weekend.

My personal testimony, “He Loves Me: A Woman’s Journey to Peace”, was aired worldwide on the “Day of Discovery” television show. I was also a curriculum writer for Duck Dynasty’s “Faith Commander,” a seminar expert for the Grief Share series, as well as the author of the best­selling Bible study “Red Hot Faith” and book “Live Full Walk Free: Set Apart in a Sin­ Soaked World.”

I’m also a member of Carol Kent’s national speaking team, as well as an inspiring Speak Up Conference instructor and Proverbs 31 Speaker Coach.

I started at GEMS as the Executive Director in February 2017. As a little girl, I would have never dreamed I would have the opportunity to serve in this way. I grew up as a shy, insecure little girl in Kokomo, Indiana. As a chubby girl with red hair who was often bullied, I often felt left out, less than, and all alone. But God.

Today, in addition to my role as the Executive Director of GEMS Girls’ Club, I continue to travel across North America to serve as a passionate women’s speaker and Bible teacher.

May it not be said on my watch, “No one ever told me about Jesus or His unfailing, unconditional love!” I hope my journey encourages others and reminds them there is no one too far gone from God’s amazing grace!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Absolutely not.

The biggest challenge in my role at GEMS has been leading a global non-profit through a pandemic. However, we were determined to stay on a mission to help reach today’s girls, even if our circumstances looked different. Since we couldn’t gather girls together, we created a GEMS on the GO initiative. Thankfully, we were able to thrive in the midst of a season of uncertainty. GEMS not only survived the pandemic, but we also thrived in the midst of it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about GEMS Girls’ Clubs?
GEMS is the go-to ministry for girls’ spiritual growth. GEMS stands for Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior. Since 1958, we’ve served girls around the world through our mentoring relationships and Truth-filled resources. We are passionate about girls growing up strong, secure, and confident in Christ. At GEMS, we serve girls from toddlers through teens. You’ll find GEMS impacting the lives of girls from California to Canada to Kenya, and everywhere in between.

In addition to our GEMS clubs, where girls meet in small groups with mentors and peers, GEMS offers a variety of other resources for girls. These include a quarterly subscription activity box, U&ME Bible study kits, and girl-friendly merchandise, as well as ReFyne, a free app for tween girls.

In the past 64 years, our methods may have changed (for example, we now offer an app rather than a monthly magazine), but our mission has not. GEMS remains fully focused on raising up a generation of girls who know, love, and serve Jesus.

It’s not easy being a girl today. We could make a list from A to Z of the challenges today’s girls face, from anxiety, bullying, cutting, depression, eating disorders, fear, and gun violence… all the way to “z” zits. That’s why we are committed to coming alongside girls and reminding them: we see you, and you matter. you are not alone. you are loved, period.

What sets GEMS apart? Our long history (again, since 1958!), but the organization’s unique ability to stay focused on its mission while adapting the methods to meet today’s girls in relevant ways.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me? Others know they are loved, period.

In a culture that shouts you are loved IF: If you lose weight if you have enough Snapchat streaks if you make the team if you wear certain clothes; I’m passionate about girls and women knowing and believing they are LOVED. Period.

No matter what they have done, no matter what has been done to them.
No matter the color of their hair or the size of their thighs
No matter their problems, pitfalls, or poor choices.

God says that we are LOVED. Period. (1 John 3:1)

The truth this powerful is meant to be shared. How different my life would have been if someone, anyone, would have taken the time to look me in the eye as a little girl and remind me that no matter what was said in the classroom or cafeteria, I was loved, period…how different my life could have been.

I never tired of traveling from coast to coast sharing with groups of all ages, sizes, and shapes: You, yes you, are LOVED, Period.

And if God can use a girl like me with a past like mine, He can use anyone. There is no one too far gone from God’s amazing grace.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cindybultema.com and www.gemsgc.org
• Instagram: @cindybultema @gemsgc
• Facebook: @CindyBultemaspeaker @GEMSGirlsClubs

Image Credits
Carrie Ann Photography https://www.facebook.com/carrieannephotography