Meet Your GIFT Board of Directors
The members on GIFT’s Board of Directors feel honored to serve GIFT with their time, energy, and talents. They introduce themselves below. Learn about GIFT’s leaders!
Carlos Dominguez, President
I have always had a passion for advocacy work and a calling to share God’s love with those that have been turned away from faith. I realize that proclaiming Christ for ourselves is the first step in healing and becoming whole. I have strong leadership skills in networking, organization, and pushing forward with a mission. I believe I am being called to share God’s love by working from the graces he has gifted me, and I look forward in continuing my service with GIFT while helping change West Michigan one heart at a time.
M Kelley, Vice President
“I grew up a military child moving all over the place until I ended up in Wisconsin for most of my youth. Through a strange series of events I ended up attending Kuyper College here in Grand Rapids. Kuyper was an interesting place to begin coming out as transgender, but I think coming out in a farily conservative Christian setting helped me even more realize that faith is crucial to the life of any LGBT person. My wonderful wife has been great in helping me accept myself for who I am. I am now attending Calvin Seminary, and I am unsure of plans beyond graduation. However, I feel a strong calling to educate people, specifically Christians, on LGBT issues. It is my hope that I can make a difference in their lives. I joined the GIFT board in hopes of helping make a difference in the lives of LGBT Christians and in West Michigan. West Michigan is a strange place, but I feel God is moving strongly to bring about change, and it is my prayer that GIFT will be part of that change.
A.J. Bertin, Treasurer
My name is A.J. Bertin, and I have served as Treasurer on the GIFT board since 2008. I am currently a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Over the past three years, I have seen GIFT grow and expand its programs. While acceptance of LGBT individuals in the Christian community is widening, there is still a great deal of work that needs to be done. The “Gay Christian? Yes!” Campaign and activity of the GRITS (God Rocks In The Stream) group are both very exciting endeavors, and I look forward to continue supporting GIFT’s efforts of education and healing.
Susan Sparta, Secretary and Personnel
Hi, I’m Susan Sparta. I’ve been a Grand Rapids resident for nearly twenty-five years and am a huge fan of GIFT! I am a graduate of Chicago Theological Seminary, have served as associate pastor here in Grand Rapids, and currently am employed full time working in human resources. My partner, Maureen, and I live with two dogs – Frankie and Winnie – and a black and white cat named Maddie. My calling is to help individuals discover “who they are” in Christ. Participating on the GIFT board is one aspect of ministry that brings me great joy! I’m looking forward to an exciting year ahead not only serving GIFT on the board, but I also plan to be active in the “Gay Christian Yes!” Campaign. GIFT brings new life to many within the context of rich ministry. I’m proud to serve this wonderful organization.
Cara Oosterhouse, Personnel Committee
I grew up in the Grand Rapids area, graduated from Calvin College and now work as a Repair Consultant for Home Repair Services. I am a member of Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church, and my partner Jacquie and I have been together for ten years. As you may have guessed from this background, it took a long time to come terms with myself, and I am grateful to Jim Lucas and the organization he leads for helping me. Now I hope to further the Lord’s call to seek justice and love kindness by working with the staff and board members to further the mission of GIFT. There is so much work to be done to get the people of West Michigan talking about the inclusion of GLBT individuals, and I am excited to help start that conversation.
Alice Apol, Personnel Committee
As a member of the GIFT Board, I have strongly encouraged and supported GIFT’s efforts to gain justice and affirmation for all of God’s children, regardless of sexual orientation. As a Christian and member of GIFT, I grieve over the injustice and discrimination endured by LGBT persons in the U.S. and, particularly, in the Christian Church. A graduate of Purdue University, I work part time for Measurement, Inc., an organization that scores essays for public schools. I am also a tutor for the Literacy Council of West Michigan, a Children and Worship trainer for the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) in Western Michigan, and a member of Neland Avenue CRC.
Laura Busman
Laura Busman is a 23 year old graduate of Kuyper College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Youth Ministry and Bible. She has spent the past five years at a local church serving as a leader and intern with the youth ministry program, dealing in the range of programming, leader scouting, retreats, and meeting students. She also served on the facilities staff and was the Administrative Assistant to Facilities for the past two years. Some of her passions are being present with kids, meeting with people one on one, softball, running, hiking/backpacking, any physical labor, and being thrown into new situations. She is going through huge transitions after coming out to her family, friends and staff at the church. Because of her affirmation of same-sex relationships, she had to step down from all three positions at her church and is seeking out the ministry that best suits her gifts and the calling God has on her. A place like GIFT offers her hope in being able to serve and witness to the marginalized, gay Christian youth – and society at large – as what it look likes to be yourself and be loved by the body of Jesus Christ.
Breana Brendsel
Raised in the Rocky Mountains of northwestern Montana, Breana Brendsel ventured to the midwest in 2006 in pursuit of her education. Breana, more commonly known as Bre, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Intercultural Studies and Bible from Cornerstone University in 2010. Her love for culture and traveling has brought her to seven countries on eleven missions trips, including having lived and served in an Indian orphanage for four months. Her joy is in caring for children; her passion, for justice; and her calling to care for the orphans, street kids, and marginalized of society. Having personally experienced the pressures that are faced by gay Christian youth, Bre desires to create a haven for all young people to experience the love and hope of Christ. Through GIFT, she hopes to act as an advocate, teacher, and friend to the LGBT youth of Grand Rapids, while fighting to end the stigma attached to the gay community.
Arlene Beuikema
I have become passionate about LGBT inclusion through my work as a psychotherapist. As I heard the life stories of my gay, lesbian, and transgender clients, a deep indignation grew inside me, and I wanted to learn more and to give in some way. I joined the GIFT organization and have benefitted greatly from the people I have met and the topics that I have heard discussed. I will soon be retiring from my 40-year career as a psychotherapist and see working more closely with GIFT and the GCY (“Gay Christian? Yes!”) Campaign as a meaningful way to spend my time.
Matthew Clark
The Gay Christian movement is a key passion in my life. I feel that God/Christ have called me to serve in this capacity of helping people who are suffering because of the misuse of the Bible and judgment of misinformed Christians. I have a doctorate in psychology, work with many gay and lesbian people, am on the LGBT Network board, am a member of GIFT, and am dedicated to the “Gay Christian? Yes!” Campaign.
Lisa Dailey
I gave my life to Jesus the day I turned ten, and I haven’t regretted a single day since. I am grateful for the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit who continually leads and guides us into all truth. It took over 25 years for the Spirit to gently undo the harmful teaching that God hates homosexuals, but now that I know what the Bible teaches, I can speak this verse with confidence: “‘He whom the Son sets free is free indeed.” It is my calling to bring my freedom to others. It is my greatest desire to see the love of Jesus release the prisoners from bondage and bring them into the fullness of life that He has called them to. Imagine how life would change if everyone could know who they are in Christ! The scripture says, “Our lives are hid in Christ.” We cannot realize our full potential apart from Him. It is my job to aid in the revealing of God’s great plan. It is my job to share that Good News with as many as will listen. I am delighted to now be able to confidently share it with the disenfranchised, the marginalized, the rejected… the LGBT community.
Arni Scheving
My spiritual journey started when I was 18 years old. However, even though I knew who my God was, I did not know who I was until I was much older. I grew up serving in the church and became the associational youth director for approximately 80 churches for over three years. Throughout my adult years I have served in many leadership positions in both my professional and personal life. Currently, I am serving as a co-chair for a committee with the GCY (“Gay Christian? Yes!”) Campaign. One of the things I believe God has gifted me with is that I am never satisfied with status quo. If I am allowed to serve on the board, I will work so that other people do not have to choose between being gay or Christian. For I know you can be both.
