Following God’s Call to Ministry
What does a
truck driver, a furniture store receptionist and a high school grad that chose an
alternate route all have in common? All of them have been transformed by God to
be used for His kingdom purpose!
God has been
stirring our hearts for some time now. He has been preparing and shaping us on many levels. Different training and experiences, life lessons and trials all have
been used in this preparation so that we were ready to say yes when God's call came.
The Boersema’s
have heard God's call to full time ministry at Beautiful Gate Orphanage in
Lesotho, South Africa, and we are following that call to serve for a 2 year minimum
commitment. Beautiful Gate is a Christian orphanage on a sizable campus,
complete with a preschool, chapel and health clinic. They employ 45 local staff
members and caring for approximately 65 children ages 0-5 years old that need
love and care until they go back to their families or are adopted.
The staff
members work very hard with much love and excellent care for the children and
keep the orphanage running smoothly. But as you can imagine they need spiritual
encouragement and renewal to continue to be effective in their roles. Some are
unable to get off campus for regular church services and activities. One of their
greatest needs is for spiritual leadership. As of now there is no one in place filling
that position. Their expressed desire is to have a Chaplain on campus. The
Chaplain would provide weekend services, Bible studies, discipleship and basic
spiritual support and encouragement, community outreach as well as meeting with
area pastors to impact the community and surrounding areas.
Another need to
be filled is that of the position of Operations Manager. The current volunteer
in this position is finished with her term at the end of the year, obviously
leaving a void and a need. This position
includes general administrative tasks as well as working with the social worker
and the director, and corresponding with volunteering teams as well as writing
an annual UNICEF grant and helping to allocate the funds for the children with
educational toys and curriculum.
And of course
the most obvious ongoing need is caring for and showing love to the children who call Beautiful Gate their home…temporary home. Along with that
is the continual need of the Basotho people to hear the gospel message of Jesus
love for them.
All of these
needs are very real and need to be filled soon. That’s where we come in. Our
daughter Grace lived and served at Beautiful Gate from January to July of 2014.
She worked alongside some of the house mothers taking care of the daily needs
of the children and providing developmental activities to help them as they grow.
She also led Bible studies with some of the local staff and found great
fulfillment and a calling in this. She hopes to continue this work when she goes back.
Karen and Ron were part of a team of 21
members of our church that went there to serve for nearly two weeks in March
and April of this year. We went with our eyes and hearts open to what God might
show us about what He has in store for us. To use the common clique’ that “we've
never been the same since” would be an understatement. Upon returning home we began sharing our desires and what our
gifts and abilities are with the directors of Beautiful Gate. They have
extended the invitation and we have agreed to serve and fill these roles. .
Our new roles:
-Ron will be serving as the first
Chaplain of Beautiful Gate providing spiritual care.
-Karen will be filling the role of
Operations Manager helping with the daily administration.
-Grace will resume caring for the
kids and partnering with the local church to do evangelistic outreach.
-All three of us also hope to be
encouragers of the Directors and their family.
Our prayer needs:
We need to sell our home! This means
packing up our lives and belongings after living here 24 years.
Our house also needs some big
things done to sell quickly. It needs a new roof, furnace and electric upgrade.
Preparing to move…not only the
physical side but the emotional and relational side of leaving family and
friends behind including our nearly 4 year old first grandson/nephew…and hoping
for more!
Along with your prayers we are
asking for your financial support. We need your partnership!
We need to raise the funds for
living expenses for 2 years along with getting set up in a new home.
Doing work in God’s Kingdom is
always accomplished by the efforts of the whole body of Christ. We couldn't do this without your prayer and financial support.
Thank you in advance for partnering with us in God’s call
to serve Him and His children! And may He bless you for your generosity.
Matthew 28:18-20 18 Then Jesus came to them
and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to
me. 19 Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the
age.”
