People requesting aid from Love INC member churches will be evaluated and referred to the church which can best meet their need. Some churches may provide food aid, some may provide financial aid, some may be able to provide furniture or household or medical aid. While the client's immediate need will be met, as a condition of receiving that aid, clients will be asked to address their personal situation which has caused them to be in need. This may include arranging for financial, career or relationship counselling, or medical evaluations. It may involve helping someone learn basic life skills, like cooking, to help them be independent.
The goal of Love INC is to help meet people's immediate needs, and then equip them to move beyond that need. Counselling and instructional sessions are done in a framework of prayer and Christian love, and are intended to introduce the client to the power of a life in Christ as the way to overcome their personal obstacles.
Love INC is a nationwide program. Our local Cedar Valley affiliate is still in the developmental stages. To launch the program, interest was required from at least six different denominations. That quota has been surpassed, and on Saturday, July 11 representative of 16 different congregations met in here at First UMC to learn the next steps. The local development committee, headed by Carolyn Cleair is currently in the process of choosing a board of directors, hiring a director, and finalizing the legal and non-profit status of the organization.
Stay tuned to this page and to our About First newsletter for the latest Love INC developments. This ministry has real possibilities to change lives, and to help churches meet the needs that they are best equipped to handle.
Love INC update: building the team, Sept. 2009
Since last month the Development Committee has invited persons to consider being on the Board of Directors of Love INC. We have tried to seek persons from different churches, different professions, etc. Plans have been made to interview these persons on September 17. Please keep this in your prayers that the right persons will feel led to be a part of this ministry. We have written by-laws which will be approved by the Board of Directors and are now working on a budget. At our next meeting we will be determining ways to reach out to partner churches. As you can see, this is a detailed process, and we need your prayers as we move ahead. We have been fortunate to have been the Ministry of the Month on KNWS, 101.9 the month of August, which was a great way to get the word out to the community. If any group in the church would like more information or desire to know how you can be involved, please let Carolyn or Pastor Chad know. Thank you so much for your interest and support!
Carolyn Cleair