The Cloak
The Tradition of the Cloak
One of the Come before Winter traditions involves leaving behind a cloak when the team departs. As Paul left his outer garment in Troas (2 Timothy 4), so a missionary on each Come before Winter team leaves a symbolic cloak in the possession of one of her peers who has attended the renewal. The woman who is selected accepts the responsibility to “bring the cloak” to the next event. Originally left in Brazil in the possession of Robin Dutton, missionary to Campinas, the cloak continues its travels around the world.
During each of its stops, the cloak gains pieces of local flavor and the flag of the country where each renewal is held. One of the most enjoyable moments at each renewal occurs when the Missionary Ambassador unveils the cloak, complete with its latest additions. Watching the cloak evolve and seeing the eagerness with which these ambassadors embrace this tradition blesses the team and testifies about the rich fellowship and unity that exists among women who serve Christ.
Robin Dutton and husband Allan Dutton, Jr. serve as missionaries in Campinas, Brazil. Robin traveled with the team as Come before Winter’s first Missionary Ambassador to Greece in May, 2002.
Liz Crittenden, husband Max and son Jedidiah live and serve the Lord in Zenica, Bosnia & Herzegovina. Liz carried the cloak to Florence, Italy, in October, 2002, then served the Siberian team as praise leader.
Jennifer Williams and husband Gary direct Avanti Italia, a two-year missionary intern program in Florence, Italy. Jennifer traveled to Novosibirsk, Siberia, March, 2003.
Russian born Nelly Yevgrafova is a favorite government translator in Novosibirsk, Siberia, where she serves the Lord. Nelly represented both Come before Winter and Russia in Thailand in August, 2003.
Gigie Carranza, a native of the Philippines who directs medical mission trips in Southeast Asia, flew halfway around the world in March, 2004, to carry the cloak to Mexico.
Kim Solis, Academic Dean and instructor for the Instituto Latinoamericano de Estudios Biblicos serves with her husband Raul and her three children in Toluca, Mexico. Kim flew to Benin, West Africa, in June, 2004.
Louise Koonce, her husband Marty, and their four young sons lived in Tabligbo, Togo, when she served as ambassador to Brazil in March, 2005. The Koonces now live and serve in Kigali, Rwanda. Louise attended the Rwanda renewal, leaving the day after it was over to carry the cloak again, alongside Lori Kimbrow, to South Africa in May 2011.
Gail Heiderich is a psychologist who serves with her husband Jerry in Curitiba, Brazil, as co-director of The Family Institute of Latin America. She traveled to Germany in November of 2005.
Tonia Lastillo Vitalone works with her husband Vittorio, a doctor who also serves as a part time preacher in Rome. She represented her sisters working in Europe, carrying the cloak to Singapore in June, 2006.
Suzanna Ang uses her talents in graphic design and technology as well as her passion for bringing people together to serve in a variety of ministries in the Geyland Church of Christ in Singapore. Suzanna traveled to Fiji in June 2006, only one week after attending the renewal in Singapore.
Jo Tukana travels in Fiji, working as a coordinator of children’s Bible classes. She carried the cloak to East Africa in March of 2007.
Rebecca Talley teaches women, trains Sunday school teachers, and promotes adult literacy in Tanga, Tanzania, where she serves as a missionary with husband Tim. Rebecca carried the CbW cloak to St. Petersburg, Russia, in October, 2007.
Natasha Denisova serves the Lord, leading small group and evangelistic studies in Tomsk, Russia. Her husband Vasya serves as a minister for the Tomsk Christian Church, and the two host one of the church’s cell groups or house churches. Although Natasha was chosen to carry the cloak to Canada in March, 2008, she could not obtain a visa and had to send the cloak by carrier.
Sylvia Gerrard was selected in Saskatchewan, to carry the cloak to Bosnia in May, 2008. Sylvia now resides in upstate New York.
Tamika Rybinski serves as a missionary in Vienna, Austria. Tamika served the women of the United States at Come before Winter’s first stateside renewal in October, 2009, near Whitney, TX.
Dottie Schulz, former missionary and Director of Missionary Care for Missions Resource Network, carried the cloak to Australia in May, 2009.
Bernadine Willis, native Maori from Tauranga, New Zealand, has served in ministry with husband Mark for over 20 years, serving singles, senior saints, mothers of preschoolers, and the community. Bernadine attended the Australian renewal, leaving the day after it ended to carry the cloak to Papua New Guinea, June, 2009.
Karla Sligh coordinates a multi-language translation project aimed at providing portions of the Old and New Testaments for use among tribes in Papua New Guinea, each of which often has its own language. Karla was selected to carry the cloak to Paraguay in March, 2010.
Eunice Herchenroeder and husband Mike have served as missionaries with Pioneer Bible Translators since 1981. Their homebase is Duncanville, TX, where Eunice has taught women’s Bible classes and serves on the missions team at Duncanville Church of Christ. Eunice carried the cloak to Paraguay in March, 2010.
Phyllis Gonçalves and her husband Atenor will soon mark 34 years of missions in Brazil, where they currently facilitate marriage seminars and teach at retreats for men and women all over the country. Phyllis, alongside Sara Meadows, carried the cloak to Thailand in June, 2010.
Sara Meadows served in missions with her late husband Dave for most of their adult lives, and she has continued to work with women in the São Paulo region, encouraging them to “follow God’s will for our lives.” Sara, alongside Phyllis Gonçalves, carried the cloak to Thailand in June, 2010.
Danita Jackson and her husband Gary have worked as church planters in Belgrade, Yugoslavia; in Moscow, Russia; and have been serving in Beijing, China, since 2004. Danita carried the cloak to Honduras in March, 2011.
Ann Gonzalez serves alongside her husband Sam on a church planting team in Morelia, Mexico, where they work with the River of Life Church. Ann carried the Cloak to Rwanda in May, 2011.
Lori Kimbrow and her husband David serve in Rwanda as members of a large team of foreign and national volunteers who seek to make disciples for Christ through community development. Lori attended the Rwanda renewal, leaving the day after it was over to carry the cloak, alongside Louise Koonce, to South Africa in May 2011.
