Since September, Guisèle Larmonie-Berkel has joined our Federation as a pastor in the churches of Mechelen, Ghent, and Hasselt. She will also take care of the new Latino group in Genk.
Meeting Guisèle is like encountering a burst of energy. You can immediately feel her enthusiasm and her desire to get involved and dive into the life of our Federation. So, who is this dedicated pastor? Let’s find out…
Little Guisèle grew up in Curaçao in a Christian but non-Adventist home. From a young age, she was curious and asked her parents countless questions — sometimes even difficult ones. But she was fortunate to have a home open to discussion and curiosity.
At the age of 19, she left the Caribbean to study in the Netherlands. She first chose law, then international relations. Yet, as she thrived in her studies, doors began to close — dialogue was absent, and open-mindedness seemed only theoretical.
Amidst these closed doors, a window opened through a friend named Glenn. He introduced her to the Bible. Guisèle’s natural curiosity led her to study this fascinating book deeply and to discover her Savior. She was baptized in 1999.
Then came the question of her studies — a problem for Guisèle, perhaps, but not for God. Once again, doors opened, voices encouraged her, and financial help arrived. Guisèle found herself at Newbold College to study theology. The journey lasted longer than expected since her life had changed: Glenn, her friend, had become her husband, and two children, Ameya and Corban, joined the family.
Since 2011, Guisèle has been serving as a pastor in the Dutch Union. She now joins our pastoral team, bringing both challenges and opportunities. Her motto: “Connect to better support.” Every church has its gifts, desires, and diversity. By understanding the people and their communities, one can discern their needs and help them grow — just as Jesus did by drawing near to people and meeting them where they were.
Guisèle has also worked extensively outside the church, giving her a realistic perspective on today’s society. Of course, she will need to adapt to her new work environment, juggle family life partly still based in the Netherlands, and deal with traffic jams and queues…
We rejoice at her arrival, which strengthens the Dutch-speaking side of our Federation. We wish her and her family a blessed and fulfilling time among us. Welcome, Guisèle!