Jewel Gruer - Director of Women’s Ministry for e3 Sudan
I am so excited to announce that the Lord has raised up Jewel Gruer to be our Director of Women’s Ministry for e3 Sudan. I’m sure you’ll hear lots more about, and from, Jewel in the future, but here’s a short interview with Jewel about the budding Women’s Ministry in Sudan.
What do you believe the Lord is doing in Sudan through Rose (The Sudanese Women’s Ministry Director) and the women?
I believe that the Lord has equipped Rose and the women with a desire to improve their lives. Rose is a very compassionate woman who has the necessary leadership qualities to tenderly lead the women through Bible Study and life skills to help them heal and to prepare them to face whatever the future holds for them. It is a privilege to help encourage them in any way possible to reach the goals that they have set for themselves.
When did you first begin working with e3 (GMF)?
I began to work with GMF/e3 in June 1992 when I went to Romania on a mission trip with Mike Downey and Clair Turner. Before that trip I had never witnessed to anyone except my two children. During that trip I had the privilege to pray with 30 people to accept the Lord. I felt that my life had been out of balance and that I was led to do more “mission evangelism”. I spoke to the the GMF staff and began to work helping Mike Jorgensen had also just come on staff.
How many countries have you been to with e3/gmf?
11
Which countries?
Romania, Russia, Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru, Bolivia, Uganda, Sudan, Taiwan (I addition I have also worked in Nigeria, Zambia, China, Thailand, Nepal with other ministries)
Why are you drawn to women’s ministry?
In every country that I have worked in I have seen the women suffer in many different situations like the results of poverty, prostitution, poligimist marriage, drugs, abuse, etc. This suffering crosses generational and racial boundaries and only the Body of Christ can bring us together as believers working together to help each other. Just as God sent Ruth to Naomi and Mary to Elizabeth, God continues to use women to encourage and equip other women in their spiritual journey. I feel very privileged to be able to “love” on the women and help them realize how precious they are because God loves them.
What is it about the women in Sudan that drew you to them specifically?
I was impressed to see how the women wanted to work to help themselves to better their situation. I was also impressed how they accepted me with open arms.
Why Sudan?
I had prayed for Sudan many years before I went there. I had developed a love for the people there because Talsy and Moises Vega the missionaries in Panama had such a love for the people and I prayed that the Lord would let them return and once again minister because they had lived there for several years. I never planned to go there but that must have been the Lord’s plan.
What’s your favorite all-time book?
I love the book of Acts because it shows the universality of Christianity and as missionaries we can see similar things happen on trips just like the apostles saw in those early days of the church. How more exciting could that be?
Posted by on 11/04 at 07:45 AM