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!