Bozeman United Methodist Youth

The Bozeman United Methodist Youth recently went on a "scavenger hunt" for Love INC.  This large and enthusiastic group was seeking donations to be used as incentives for Change Your Life students.  (Incentives are offered to the CYL students for coming to class on regularly and on time.)

The BUMC youth did a fantastic job in acquiring goodies and encouraging the CYL students to make positive changes!  Many thanks to the United Methodist youth and all the generous residents of Bozeman who gave of their own resources to help others change their lives for the better!

Change Your Life currently has two classes running: Finding Financial Freedom and Resolving Everyday Conflict. There's a place for you to serve! If you are a member of a local Christian church and would like to help behind the scenes or work directly with an adult who is trying to acquire a healthier way of living - materially, financially, relationally, socially, emotionally and perhaps even spiritually, contact Love INC (email loveincoffice @ yahoo.com).  Administrative assistants, set up and clean up helpers, childcare workers, transportation providers, mentors and instructors are needed - there's a place for you to love God and your neighbor through this program.

Plant the Seed Plans

Several Love INC Church Ministry Coordinators met together recently to discuss and plan their activities for the 2012 Plant the Seed Dinner.  CMC Lois Hill (E-Free) invited the group to meet at her church on February 11 for a light brunch and planning.  The group had a devotional time and discussion, planned for Plant the Seed Dinner hosts and auction theme packages, and shared ideas and helpful tips with one another.

Many thanks to Lois and E-Free Church for their hospitality! 

We're all looking forward to Plant the Seed Dinner which will be held on May 8 at the MSU Strand Union Ballroom.

The dinner will feature incredible Theme Packages created by partner churches (led by their CMCs) as part of an amazing silent auction.  Enjoy fellowship with more than 500 Christians from partner churches!   Invite your friends - hear the wonderful stories of clients' lives transformed through the new Change Your Life program.  Support Love INC - our churches' shared outreach ministry. 

Plan now to attend!

Table reservations may be made by emailing loveincoffice @ yahoo.com (no spaces) or calling 587-3008 for information and a reservation package.

News & More

A great big "Thank You!" to everyone who helped Love INC reach its $19,000 goal during December.  Your generosity enables Love INC to begin 2012 on good financial footing, especially as the "Change Your Life" program continues to grow.  Your Gallatin County neighbors and fellow Christians thank you for supporting this joint ministry of 43 partner churches!

Opportunities! 
If one of your New Year's resolutions was to put your faith into action, touch lives with Christ's love, and/or challenge yourself, Love INC has perfect opportunities for you to realize your goal!  Here is a list of non-threatening places you can move forward in your walk with Christ:

• Be a Christian friend, encourager and accountability-person:  2 hrs/wk for 6-10 weeks.  Change a life!
• Give a ride to a student who is coming to Love INC classes:  1 hr. (do it once, or several weeks)
• Do phone calling to schedule volunteer drivers: work from home 1-2 hrs./wk for 6-8 weeks.  Be the reason students will get help and have hope!
• Be Christ's voice for a hurting person on the phone:  2 hrs./wk; training and apprenticeship provided, min. 6 month commitment
• Back office support (various clerical tasks; jobs tailored to your interests): min. 1 hr./wk.; flexible scheduling
• Call Love INC volunteers with reminders or current requests: 1-2 hrs./wk. or as needed; flexible scheduling
• Drop off 1 item for the Personal Care Pantry each month: dish soap, paper towels, tissue, shampoo, diapers, toilet paper, detergent, hand lotion, chapstick - 1 item, 1 time per month; deliver to Love INC office
• Don't hear much about Love INC in your church?  Be an on-the-ground coordinator in your congregation to inspire and rally the troops!  Training provided; hours flexible; one 1-hr. meeting per month
• Be a Love INC prayer intercessor: receive weekly prayer requests via email

There is something here for everyone here!  Be a doer of the word!  Live life as Christ provides and expects! 

Love INC has people waiting for Christians to provide the answers and the help they need and want.  They are "on hold" until we can find someone who cares.  Please help!

Together, we will bring hope, healing, tangible help and faith into hurting lives of Gallatin County residents!

Call 587-3008 or email loveincoffice @ yahoo.com (no spaces in the email address) for more information or to get started today!

Christmas Gift for Love INC

Love INC and our neighbors in need have received a wonderful Christmas gift -- the offer of matching funds!  The matching fund pool, made possible by several generous donors, now totals $19,000!   The matching funds help all of us support the Love INC ministry into the new year.  Any donations received between Thanksgiving and Dec. 31, up to $19,000, will be matched!

Here's how it works:  any donation up to $100 will be matched; so if you give $100 to Love INC, another $100 will be given from the match.  However, for donations over $100, they will be matched 1.5 times!  So, if you give $200, it will be matched with $300 from the matching funds!

Help Love INC receive all of the $19,000 offered in the matching funds!

Love INC serves a vital purpose in our community: mobilizing churches, connecting volunteers to serve, helping our neighbors in need, transforming lives all around.  A $1 donation to Love INC results in over $4 of goods and services given to people in need right here in Gallatin County.

All donations are tax deductible and may be sent to: Gallatin County Love INC; PO Box 7117; Bozeman, MT  59771.  

Thank you!  We pray God blesses you as we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ!

Christmas Shoppe for Kids

Love INC partner, Hope Lutheran Church, will offer its annual Children's Christmas Shoppe on Saturday, Dec. 3, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Local children, ages 4-10, are invited to come, pick out and wrap up to 5 gifts for their family members.  Gifts are new and provided free of charge to children from families in need.

Hope Lutheran volunteers will help children select and wrap the gifts.  Adults who come with the kids will receive coffee/juice and cookies while their children shop.

Love INC works with Hope Lutheran Church by creating and mailing invitations for the Children's Christmas Shoppe to 250 Love INC client families.  Many thanks to Hope Lutheran for this wonderful gift to families in our area. 

For more information, contact the church:  586-7154.

Christmas Open House

The Love INC office will host its annual Open House on December 8, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.  Come and enjoy some Christmas goodies (provided by Love INC volunteers), visit with the staff, and tour the Love INC ministry center (all dressed up in Yuletide decor)!

Are you a member of a partner church?  Are you a volunteer for Love INC?  A supporter?  Or, just a resident of Gallatin County?  Have you ever wondered what the Love INC office looks like?  This is a ministry hub of 43 partner churches' outreach ministries - come take a peek! 

Drop in, wander around, enjoy some refreshments, and see what the church volunteers are doing to transform lives in Gallatin County!  See you on December 8!

Please Pray

One of Love INC's beloved and extremely hard-working staff members was recently admitted to E.R., then hospitalized with a serious medical issue that will require surgery. She is currently on antibiotics, and has been told to rest up and recuperate for 4-6 weeks in preparation for the surgery.

Please pray for our staff member! She is in pain and facing a serious surgery. Please pray for her recovery from infection, and strength and healing.