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!

Love INC Mission Statement

At the National Love INC Board meeting in June, the mission statement of Love INC was modified, although for Gallatin County Love INC, the new mission is the same one anyone involved with Love In the Name of Christ has known all along.

The new mission statement changed two words, replacing "the Church" with "local churches" - which highlights that local churches are the heartbeat and owners of Love INC.  Here is how the new mission statement reads:

The mission of Love INC is to mobilize local churches to transform lives and communities in the Name of Christ.

You will soon see the new mission statement on our brochures and, if you visit the office, on our wall.  The change was unanimously adopted by the National Board.

National Board News

Gallatin County Love INC is an independent affiliate of the national movement of Love In the Name of Christ.  For several years, our Executive Director, Nancy VanDyken, has worn two hats: she has served as the head of our local affiliate and has also served, as needed, as a National Trainer with the Love INC national office/movement.

With the closing of the national office, additional tasks and responsibilities have been given to Nancy, along with the two other national trainers: to help train, advise and guide the new and existing Love INC affiliates around the country.

In late February, all three National Trainers and the Chair of the National Board of Directors met at our Love INC offices in Bozeman to plan: (a) the future direction of Love INC, (b) how to provide needed training and support resources to affiliates, and (c) how to structure and deliver training events for developing affiliates in the immediate future. 

Additionally, at its March 9, 2011, meeting, Nancy was appointed to the National Love INC Board of Directors, along with the other two trainers.  

Gallatin County Love INC is working hard to focus on our mission, live out Love INC's core values, and follow best practices.  The wonderful churches, committed local Board of Directors and wonderful Christians in our area who live out the love of Christ make it possible for Gallatin County to model what being Love INC is all about to many other communities throughout the country. 

Please pray for Nancy as she seeks to continue fully in her role as Executive Director while picking up the extra tasks and responsibilities on the national level.

National Restructuring

Gallatin County Love INC is an independent non-profit organization, registered in the State of Montana.  It is also affiliated with a national movement called, "Love In the Name of Christ."  This national movement has been guided by the work of a national Board of Directors and a national headquarters (an office with staff).  The national office has provided resources, held up best practices, offered training, and promoted the vision of Love INC across the country.  Still, Gallatin County Love INC is its own local non-profit; as a network of Gallatin County Christian churches that work together to meet needs in our own community, we are governed and run totally on a local basis.  Local volunteers serve their neighbors in need through the ministry of Gallatin County Love INC.  Our funds are raised locally and used to serve local residents. 

There is news on the national level, though: the national headquarters office closed at the end of January.  This closing was due to a lack of funding for the national office. 

Clients, volunteers, supporters, staff and partner churches of Gallatin County Love INC will not experience a change in our local operations.  We plan to continue to grow Relational Ministry throughout 2011 and to continue to serving our neighbors in need through the generous time, talents and resources of local Christians and their churches.   Gallatin County Love INC is healthy and growing, thanks be to God!

Although the national office has closed, the national organization (the non-profit entity representing the national Love INC movement) is still in existence.  The national Board of Directors is active and working hard to chart a new path forward.  Gallatin County Love INC remains affiliated with this incredible national movement of God's grace.

Additionally, new and developing Love INC affiliates in communities around the country have been assigned mentors from more mature affiliates.  Trainings for new affiliates will be conducted by the three national trainers, one of whom is Gallatin County Love INC's Executive Director, Nancy VanDyken.  The national trainers will take on these responsibilities, in addition to their work as Executive Directors, to ensure that these communities will be able to form viable, functioning Love INCs.  Our Love INC will help provide needed training materials.  In Gallatin County, we are privileged and blessed to be able to assist these fledgling, "baby" Love INCs come into existence and start transforming lives in their own areas of the country.

The national Board of Directors recently sent this message: "We, as a board, are confident that God’s hand is on the Love INC Movement. Although the door has closed on this current version of the national office, we are looking toward the future with hope, faith and anticipation of what wondrous things God has in store for Love INC."

At Gallatin County Love INC, we, too, believe God is guiding Love INC nationally into a new "version" and an exciting future.  There is much work to be done, for there are many hurting souls to be connected with the healing, transforming love of gifted, blessed Christians.