Free Concert!!!

“Bring your lawn chair and wind down from a busy weekend by spending time in a park setting, listening to worship music.  Belgrade Community Church is hosting instrumentalist Josh Snodgrass at Lewis & Clark Park in Belgrade on Sunday, August 4th, at 6:30 pm.

 

An award winning performer and songwriter, Josh plays instrumental arrangements of popular hymns, worship songs and original music. Using a technique called Finger style, he plays the melody, bass line, and rhythm all at the same time on one guitar. He is one of the most gifted and entertaining Christian guitarists in the Northwest. Come and enjoy his energetic and worshipful arrangements of songs like “Blessed Be Your Name” and “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.”

 

Hot dogs with all the trimmings, chips and lemonade will be served.”

EAT GREAT FOOD AND BENEFIT LOVE INC!!!!

"It's Greek To Me" has generously agreed to donate 10% of their proceeds to Love INC for all of the meals served on TUESDAY JULY 23rd! Let's show them how much we appreciate it by spreading the word, and having a meal between 10:30am and 8:00pm. They are located at 16 N. 9th Avenue. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY "It's Greek To Me"!

Change Your Life Course Announcement

Become an Empowered   Person !

Ø   Want to know how to respond when others try to control you?

Ø   Are you concerned about how others are treating you?

Ø   Do you enjoy life regardless of your circumstances?

Ø   Do you know how to recover from a failure?

Ø   Want to get control of your life?

Ø   Want extra support to do so?

Ø   This course is offered at NO CHARGE to the participant. 

 Empowered people have good self-esteem and are internally motivated!

  

Course date:  August 13 – October 8, 2013 Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 pm* 

Call Now ~ 577-1296* to inquire or register!

*This phone number is for the Change Your Life program ONLY, for requests call the help line at 587-3008 M-TH 10-2pm.

 Pre-Registration is REQUIRED  ~  Space is limited

 Applications considered in the order in which they are received.

 Registration closes  July 23

*Each class is an hour of instruction and an hour of one-on-one mentoring! Students must be 18 or older.  There is real-life “homework” that will help you become empowered to be the best you can be.  *Mentors are not counselors but simply someone coming alongside.

Executive Director Selected

Gallatin Valley Love In the Name of Christ’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Christina Thompson as the Executive Director. Christina is a Gallatin Valley native and holds a degree in Business Management and Public Relations from Montana State University-Billings. Prior to coming to Love INC, Christina worked as a Quality Assurance Specialist with AmeriGas Propane. 

Love INC Family,

As the new executive director,  I am overcome with a grateful heart at the opportunity to serve the Gallatin Valley with you! The immense passion of this organization for furthering the Kingdom of God by working in conjunction with other believers is the mission of a lifetime. It is our shared dream to live out this mission day to day within our wonderful valley. I believe there is no greater statement of unity in the body than when believers cross denominational lines to serve together. As we embrace our differences and choose love we will be better together than apart, as we use our relationships to bring the hope of Christ to the Gallatin Valley! 

During my interview with Nancy I asked her what she would miss most about this position.  Her answer didn’t surprise me, but it greatly touched me. She said, “The people, the wonderful people!” She spoke of what an honor it has been to witness the display of God’s love demonstrated through your selfless service. This brought a wave of emotion over me as I heard her heart for you! I simply can’t wait to meet all of you! I plan to focus my first year as Executive Director on getting to know my new Love Inc family. I will make it my initial goal to attend a worship service at each of our partner churches and meet your congregations. I desire to build my understanding of how our differences can bring us together and to continue seeking out the unique strengths in each partner church.

Please rest assured, I do not intent to reinvent the wheel. The firm foundation built by the dedicated hard work of those who formed the character of this organization from the ground up will not to be taken apart and re-assembled. I will seek to serve alongside of the Love INC team and to facilitate an atmosphere where opportunities are made available for every volunteer our partner churches provide.   This is your Love INC and together we can do greater good for those in need than we could ever accomplish alone.  Let us together Honor the Lord by carrying out our mission to Mobilize local churches to transform lives and communities in the Name of Christ!

Your fellow servant in Christ,

Christina Thompson

18th Annual Plant the Seed Dinner

It's time once again for the Gallatin County Love INC Plant the Seed Dinner!  This years event is on Tuesday, May 7th at the MSU Strand Union Ballroom.  Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the silent auction before the dinner program which begins at 6:30 p.m.  The silent auction will feature the very fun and creative theme packages created by partner churches.  We will have display tables to showcase Love INC ministries.  You will be able to see what great things God is doing through partner church volunteers!

Are you hosting a table yet?  You can host a table individually or "team up" with others to host a table.  Host a table of 8 for $320 or a table of 10 for $400.  You can print out the reservation card below, fill it out and mail it in to the Love INC Ministry Center (PO Box 7117, Bozeman, MT 59771) with your payment, then invite your friends and guests to enjoy a fun evening of fellowship with other Christians from all around the Valley.

 

 

 

 

 



Executive Director Resigning

Our Executive Director, Nancy VanDyken, recently announced that she is resigning from Gallatin County Love In the Name of Christ.  She will continue serving during the next couple of months to ensure a smooth transition for the ministry as a whole, and to provide training for her successor.

Nancy will be assuming a full-time position with the national and international Love INC Movement as the Director of New Affiliate Development, beginning March 1, 2013.  While her focus will be to build new Love INCs, the primary focus for 2013 will be to build Love INCs in other Montana communities.   This Montana project will serve as a pilot and model for the rest of the nation!  Please encourage your friends in other Montana communities to support creating a Love INC in their area!

Nancy has served as Executive Director of Gallatin County Love INC for more than 11 years. She will remain in the Bozeman area.

Please watch this blog, our Facebook page, and your church's communications for information about the Executive Director position.  The search for a new Executive Director is currently underway; the application deadline in Feb. 28.  Contact the Love INC office for job description, application form and/or information:  loveincoffice @ yahoo.com (no spaces in the email address). 

Matching Fund Thank You!

Many, many thanks to everyone who contribued last month during our 2012 Matching Fund Campaign!  Due to you generosity, we were able to meet the match and have been blessed with needed resources for the beginning of 2013. 

Your gifts inspire us, and call us to again enter a new year committed to being stewardly and responsible to God's people in all that we do.  Love INC works hard to multiply every donation of time, talent and treasure so that it touches more lives in more ways than a simple, direct dollar donation to someone. We receive thank you notes that testify of the gratitude of your neighbors.

While we are still tabulating our statistics for 2012, we do know that thousands of needs were met through the efforts and gifts of volunteers and ministry supporters who know that when our local churches are able to reach out and manifest Christ's love through Love INC connections, lives are changed forever.

Again, thank you all, and we pray God blesses you during this new year!  Please pray for us as God calls us to respond to the great opportunities He provides for us in 2013.

Matching Campaign!

Between now and Dec. 31, 2012, donations to Love INC will have a double impact... or more!  Please include Love INC on your Christmas list this year!  

Generous donors have offered Gallatin County Love INC matching funds - up to $12,000!  Here's how it works:

• For every gift up to $100, your donation will be matched by an equal amount.  For example, a gift of $50 will be matched by another $50, resulting in a total of $100 to support Love INC ministries.
• For every gift of $100 or more, your gift will be matched 1.5 times!  For example, a gift of $100 will be matched with a gift of $150.  A gift of $200 will be result in another gift of $300, for a total to Love INC of $500!
• You can fund the entire Love INC ministry - all its programs and activities - for one enitre day with a gift of $822.

God is blessing Love INC by enabling us to provide the "Change Your Life" program for families and individuals in chronic need, as well as for people who want to learn new or enhanced life skills.  This holistic program not only provides a "hands up" approach, it brings people closer to the Lord.  Feedback from participants is enthusiastic and the results are truly encouraging.  This local program works because God is sending His grace to help hurting people through it! 

Here's what one of your neighbors, a mother, wrote to us about her experience in Change Your Life:  "One day I woke up hopeless and scared... I was so afraid to even look at my problems.  But God guided me to Love INC and the 'changing' program.  Today I leave with hope for my future and my daughter's future."

This Christmas, help provide a "hands up" to a Gallatin County neighbor during the Matching Campaign - and multiply the impact of your gift!  

We pray you have a joyous Christmas... and we thank God for everyone's prayers for Love INC!

Gift Wrap!

When it comes to gift wrapping are you all thumbs?

Well, the generous folks at Schnee’s in Bozeman have offered a way to ease your holiday stress... and help support Love INC's on-going service to Gallatin County at the same time!

On December 14 and 15, stop by Schnee's store on Main Street in downtown Bozeman to get your gifts wrapped. For a donation to Love INC, the gifts you bring to the wrapping table will be wrapped for you!

Workers will be at Schnee’s from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with colorful wrapping paper and delightful ribbons.  Please support Love INC's work of helping churches help people, and get your Christmas presents wrapped at Schnee's on Dec. 14 and 15!

Thanks for Praying!

In October, Love INC asked individuals, families and partner churches to pray for God to guide and bless Love INC.  We were especially in need of workers (volunteers) to serve in the office and on the phones.  God has answered your prayers!

Several new Intake Workers and Receptionists, along with other office volunteers and volunteers to serve our neighbors who have real needs, have come forward.  God has moved their hearts, and they have responded!  These volunteers are busy at work now, learning and being trained, and serving -- making Love INC the incredible manifestation of God's love in Gallatin County that it is.

Please keep praying, because a few shifts are still open.  Or, consider starting the New Year off with the joy of serving Christ and being a part of Love INC's wise and careful, relational approach to helping our neighbors -- consider volunteering with Love INC in 2013!

Again, we thank God for the provision He gives, and the answer to our prayers!

Annual Business Meeting

The 2012 Love INC Business Meeting will be held on Oct. 23, 7 a.m., at Christ the King Lutheran Church on Durston Road in Bozeman.

A breakfast buffet will be provided.  The meeting will include updates on the operations of Love INC.  Designated representatives from partner churches will vote on the 2013 Board of Directors.   Anyone interested in learning more about Love INC’s mission, goals, and new ministry developments are invited to attend.  For more information, call the Love INC office at 587-3008 or email loveincoffice @ yahoo.com.

Helpers Needed!

Is Christ calling you to do something? Not sure what?  Want to "give back"? Discover how to help our community and serve others behind the scenes!

Gallatin County Love In the Name of Christ helps churches help people in need.  That means that the work of service is done by volunteers from local Christian churches.  Who is served?  Anyone, regardless of faith background, who lives in Gallatin County and has a legitimate need.

Everything Love INC does starts in the office, on the phones, as people call for help.  Right now, Love INC needs people to serve in the office.  The need for workers is critical.  The opportunities for these volunteers are life-changing.  The tasks and the time commitments are do-able.  The Lord is calling!

GIVE 2 HOURS weekly to serve others! Step forward. Put your faith in action.

Serve ONE DAY A WEEK on a 2-HR SHIFT, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., any weekday.  CHOOSE THE DAY that best fits your schedule.

Position needed:  Receptionists (welcoming voice).
What you will do: Answer the phone, take messages, greet volunteers and church leaders who walk through the front door.

Position needed:  Phone workers (listening ear).
What you will do: Speak on the phone with local residents who have needs, guided by a script. Listen with compassion and discernment, fill out appropriate forms and record information.

Position Needed: Phone referral workers (connecting link).
What you will do: Call Christians who have already signed up to serve someone and schedule them to serve a person in need and share Christ’s love.

Position Needed:  Office Worker (office heartbeat).
What you will do: Pick a general office task (filing, mailing, sorting, stocking, administrative jobs). Or, update client case files, or do word processing or data entry… what would you like to do?

Find your niche and make a difference! All Love INC ministry starts in the office, and the office urgently needs help. Give just two hours per week, and put your skills into Christ’s service! Training provided.

Come on in. Work with Christians from around the valley.  Grow, learn, serve… be part of a team bringing hope and restoring lives. 

Don’t delay! Many shifts are vacant! YOU are needed!

Working behind the scenes in the Love INC office is safe and fulfilling.  Contact Love INC and put your faith in action!  Make a difference!  The need for workers is great, and the joy is real! 

Email:  loveincoffice @ yahoo.com (with no spaces).  Or, call 587-3008.

"The harvest is plentiful...." Love INC needs you. Christ needs you.



All Love INC ministry workers are volunteers who must be members or regular attenders of a local Christian church and agree with the faith expressed by the Apostles' Creed (which includes faith in the Trinity, the two natures of Jesus Christ: fully God and fully man, and the virgin birth and bodily Resurrection of Christ).

Love INC Night at the Bozeman Maze!

Save the Date!

On Wednesday, October 17th, 2012, the Bozeman Maze will hold a Love INC Benefit Night from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  50% of the entry proceeds will benefit Gallatin County Love In the Name of Christ.

Bring your friends and family.  Or, organize a fun church group outing on this night. There will be a prize, a special, pastry chef's cake, for the Youth Group with the most people attending. So, Youth Groups, please register your church with Love INC before the event (you can email: opmgrloveinc @ yahoo.com - but no spaces in the email adress).

Enjoy the maze and support Love INC! FLASHLIGHT NIGHT ~ Last person in at 8:30 p.m.

Location: At the end of Mandeville Lane behind Murdoch's Ranch and Home Supply off N. 7th.  Maze Admission: $7 per person. Children 4 and under are free with an adult. Discounts for families of 6+ and groups of 10+.

Some activities including train rides, corn box, and bungee trampoline.  Refreshments are sold separately.  Please visit http://www.bozemanmaze.com for more information.

Fun for the whole family!

•Mini Train Rides
•Pumpkins
•Kids Maze
•Refreshments

Find your way through the maze!

•Straw Bale Maze
•Photo Opportunities
•Corn Box (like a sandbox)
•PowerJUMP Bungee Trampoline

Have fun on October 17 and support Love INC's ministry as it helps churches help our neighbors in need!

Loving the Moms

Recently, we heard a tone of excitement in an email from Heidi Rasmussen, a key ministry leader with the Crib Connection. Heidi reported that The Crib Connection had just delivered its 50th crib!

The Crib Connection is a Love INC gap ministry whose mission statement is "to connect the love of Christ to the need of the community by providing cribs, compassion and comfort to expectant women in need." One goal of the ministry is to establish relationships while providing a new crib, mattress and other donated baby items to new or expectant mothers whom we have determined are in physical and financial need.

The Crib Connection partnership includes links with Love INC, Grace Bible Church and Zoe Women's Services. Love INC screens requests carefully prior to making the referral to The Crib Connection.

This ministry is based at Grace Bible Church which has budgeted money for new cribs to be purchased through Wal-Mart. Each crib is new and is able to transition to a toddler bed. However, the ministry is not just about cribs! Each mom needing a crib is visited by a team of women (most of whom are members of Grace Bible Church) to visit with her, assemble the crib and create a loving relationship. The team members also help meet spiritual needs through serving as generous witnesses of Christ, presenting the gift of "The Hope" DVD and by providing a Bible.

So the "connections" made are about much more than cribs!  Many thanks to Heidi and all the faithful members of the Crib Connection team, and to Grace Bible Church, for making this ministry of Christ's care and love possible.

Praise God for the way He allows us to be part of His provision for the needs of the tiniest members of Gallatin Valley!

Thank You, Macy's!

A great big "Thank You!" to everyone who purchased a $5 Shopping Pass (for 25% off everything) at Macy's 7th Annual "Shop For A Cause" on August 25, 2012. 100% of the proceeds of the passes benefitted Gallatin County Love INC. 

We were able to raise $195 from Love INC supporters (shoppers) and dedicated Love INC workers who promoted this event.  Muriel staffed the table at Macy's for 16 hours total over two days!  Also, Mary and Celia sold passes before the event.  Plus lots of behind-the-scenes efforts from Eliz, Jim and Chiara made this fundraiser possible.

Thank you to Macy's in Bozeman for "Shop for a Cause" and helping Love INC!

From Grief to Forgiveness

Rev. Walter Everett, retired United Methodist pastor and the father of a murdered son will be giving a talk at Living Waters United Methodist Church next week. Hear how God delivered Walt from grief to forgiveness and continues to work through Walt’s life to reach both offenders and victims of violent crime.

Where: Living Waters UMC  (51 W Cameron Bridge Rd.; Bozeman, MT 59718; Phone: 406-388-1265)
When: Thursday, Sept. 13, 6:30-8:00 pm

Baker Street Chooses Love INC!

Baker Street, the kitchen and cooking store in Gallatin Valley Mall (www.bakerstreetboz.com) has chosen to benefit Love INC!  On September 5, the store will donate 5% of its sales to Gallatin County Love INC!

Baker Street says, “We believe strongly in the spirit of community. We have been blessed by the support of our community for many years and want to give back to some of the organizations that make Bozeman such a wonderful place to live and work.

"We are especially proud of our “5% on the 5th” program. On the 5th day of each month Baker Street will donate 5% of the day’s sales to a non-profit dear to us. This is one way for our community to join with us to make a difference!”

Baker Street will also accept donations for Love INC in THE JAR at the checkout counter.  In fact, the store will have this donation jar available for the entire month of September to benefit Love INC!

Baker Street says that Love INC is, “vital, influential and impacts the lives of many in our local community. Your participation on '5% on the 5th' will help them do what they do best!”

Here’s how you can support Love INC and get something great for your kitchen (or as a gift – or early Christmas shopping?): Stop by the Baker Street store on Wednesday, September 5th, and make a purchase. Check out the Love INC information table. Or, make a donation in THE JAR. Maybe pick up a volunteer sign-up sheet; it takes only 2 hours to significantly impact our community when you serve through Love INC! 

Love INC thanks Baker Street for this tremendous support!  Remember: Baker Street's "5% on Sept. 5" event at the Gallatin Valley Mall is a great way to support a local business, find a great kitchen item or gift for that person who is hard to buy for, and benefit Love INC, too!

Vets' Stand Down

On June 16, 2012, many area organizations, businesses and groups came together at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds to offer free services to veterans and their families.  Love INC was at the Stand Down, providing personal care packages in gift bags.

Love INC board members served from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., representing Love INC and their churches as they met veterans, talked together, shared Love INC, passed out brochures, and gave the care packages to people who needed them. Board members serving at the Love INC table this year were:

• Scott Wyckman (Evangelical Free Church)
• Andy Breuner (Resurrection Parish)
• Mark Hofman (Bethel Christian Reformed Church)
• Bill Curtis (Grace Bible Church)
• Merlin Nelson (Christ the King Lutheran Church)
• Carrie Chestnut (Journey Church)

The board members were also able to hear stories about Love INC from other agency/organization personnel, and to share what Love INC does with all the community members who came to the event.  The care packages were prepared by volunteers from Highgate Senior Living who came to the Love INC offices to do the work.  The personal care items (sample size items) were donated by the many caring Christians and supporters of Love In the Name of Christ.  Thank you, all!

Fireworks for Love INC!

Bobcat Discount Fireworks is helping Love INC!  Leading up to the 4th of July, Bobcat Discount Fireworks will donate to Love INC 7% of their sales from the stand located at 101 E. Oak St. in Bozeman!   The stand is open for sales from June 24 through July 5, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day.  Celebrate the 4th with fun and flair, and support Love INC, too!

Bobcat Discount Fireworks has been around since 1993 and is operated by the people of Christian Center Church in Bozeman.  The fireworks stand is run in order to generate funds to support missionaries and Christian efforts around the world, as well as Love INC.  

This donation to Love INC is made possible, too, by the generous hearts of Steve Nettick and Steve Henderson at Revelation Industries who provide the location for the stand for free.  Again, the fireworks stand is right across the street from the County Fairgrounds (on the north side), on Oak Street, in Bozeman.

Please come, get your fireworks for the 4th and support Love INC!  And remember that the proceeds will help advance God's kingdom here and around the world!

Love INC At Work

First, the good news:  During the first quarter of 2012, Love INC's church partners met 1,014 adult needs and 893 children's needs.  Through the Love INC ministry center office, more than 3,200 needs of our neighbors were referred to church volunteers!  More than 13,350 hours of service were graciously given by Christians to serve their neighbors in need.  God is blessing lives through Love INC's work of connecting churches to people in our area who need a helping hand.

Now, the somber news (not "bad news;" rather, a call and a tremendous opportunity for God's people):  During this same time period, the Love INC ministry center in any given week had between 26 and 39 volunteer workers from churches who served in it.  This office needs at least 80 Christians from local churches in order to properly run.  We've been experiencing a tremendous load (and accomplishment) for only a few, dedicated people.  

Love INC needs help from Christians.  Love INC was built by its partners as a place for us all to serve, using our everyday skills and talents.  Can you help support Love INC's ministry by working in an office environment?  You can serve Christ in a pleasant place where your efforts will truly make a difference in the lives of people right here in Gallatin County. 

Most serious:  This need is critical.  To operate well, the Intake Office of Love INC needs 40 workers each week (if each worker takes a 2-hour shift, one day per week).  Right now, the Intake Office fluctuates between 8 and 10 workers!  Help is needed from Christians who can listen to a phone call, follow a script, record some information on a form and spare 2 hours per week!  You will find yourself growing and serving Christ in a meaningful way by using a phone and giving only 2 hours each week.  Is Christ calling you?

To be clear: the Intake Office is where people request help over the phone.  Servants of Christ from partner churches are trained and listen to these phone calls. The kinds of calls a worker "takes" depends on their training and experience level, and the desires of the worker.  Some workers even specialize in calling up volunteers from a list to see if they are available to serve a neighbor in need on a given day (volunteers sign up ahead of time, indicating their willingness to offer certain talents).

General office positions are also available (filing, mailing, stocking, word processing, administrative help, etc.).

Would you like to know you've made a difference, a real difference, in God's Kingdom?  Do you want to grow in Christ and in your understanding of life?  Do you like to work behind the scenes?  Do you want to "give back" for all you've received?  Can you spare 2 hours per week?  Want to do something different this summer?  Or, for six months, or a year?  Call Love INC today -- an empty chair is waiting for Christ's servant to fill.  Call 587-3008 or email loveincoffice @ yahoo.com (no spaces in the email address) for info.

"The harvest is plentiful...."  Please, be one of Christ's workers!  Join fellow Christians, meet new friends, serve behind the scenes.  And experience the love of Love In the Name of Christ!  Love INC needs you.  Christ needs you.  


All Love INC ministry workers are volunteers who must be members or regular attenders of a local Christian church and agree with the faith expressed by the Apostles' Creed (which includes faith in the Trinity, the two natures of Jesus Christ: fully God and fully man, and the virgin birth and bodily Resurrection of Christ).