Plant the Seed Dinner Reservations

The 2010 Plant the Seed Dinner will be held on May 4 at the MSU Strand Union Ballroom.  Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for a silent auction; the dinner program begins at 6:30 p.m. 

Partner churches are submitting fantastic Theme Packages that will be auctioned either at the silent auction or in a live auction.  A full, served meal will be provided.  Ministry booths will be available for viewing Love INC activities.  Don't miss out on hearing the plans for 2010 as Relational Ministry is introduced.  Join your friends, meet the Board of Directors, find out what remarkable things God is doing through Love In the Name of Christ.

To reserve your table and gather with 500 Christians from across Gallatin County, call Love INC today or email loveincoffice @ yahoo.com (with no spaces).  This is a table hosted event - a person, couple or group serve as a table host by purchasing a table of 8 meals or a table of 10 meals, and then inviting others to join them.  A table of 8 is $200; a table of 10 is $250.  Reservations are required.   Deadline: April 26.  Call and reserve your table today!

Iowa College Loves Bozeman

Putting Love Into Action – ten students from Dordt College in Iowa came to Bozeman to serve Love INC in March.  This service group, PLIA, spent their spring break painting, cleaning, building shelves, collecting Personal Care Pantry items from the community, sorting, stocking, delivering items to clients and rearranging our office space for us.  They ministered to the elderly at Mountain View Care Center. 

They processed donated items and they delivered "thank you" gifts (shamrocks) to Love INC partner churches.  They put together and donated a Theme Basket for Love INC's upcoming Plant the Seed Dinner.  The students even purchased building materials and paint from their own funds!  So much was accomplished to enhance the ministry of Love INC! 

The students were housed at First Presbyterian Church in Bozeman where they also helped with a library book sale and prepared and served a Wednesday Lenten meal.  Dean Garbenis (Christian Center) supervised and coordinated the student outreach for Love INC. 

Love INC thanks these students: Amy Parish, Bekah Van Maanen, Bryan Visser, Derek Brumfield, Hannah Hart, Jason Stuhrenberg, Karisa Vander Groef, Kelsey Reitsma, Rachel Endicott, Stephen Pederson for all the help!  And thanks to everyone who serves in the Name of Christ! With God’s blessing, amazing things can be accomplished with willing hands and the gift of donated time and effort!

Auto Mechanic: A Ministry Leader

Love INC is looking for an experienced auto mechanic to serve as the lead volunteer in our Car Clinic ministry.  After serving since Love INC's beginnings, Bob DeYoung, our Car Clinic master mechanic, is seeking to retire.

This is a volunteer position. The Car Clinic operates one Saturday per month, usually for about a half day.  Clients are screened and make their appointments in advance through the Love INC office.  Car repairs are limited to a number of specified, manageable types. 

The Car Clinic leader needs to be a dedicated person with appropriate experience and skills, who will work with a team of volunteer mechanics, as well as serve as the main information resource for the Car Clinic.  He/she must be a member of a local Christian church. 

Car repair can be a killer for our neighbors in need.  Car clinic mechanics have a great time together, spending one Saturday morning a month making a difference in people's lives. Please contact Love INC and use your skills to lead a ministry!  loveincoffice@yahoo.com

Board-Staff Planning Retreat

The Board of Directors and staff met on March 5-6 for Love INC's annual planning retreat.

This year's agenda was jam-packed as the group worked hard over the two days to focus on the development of Relational Ministry. Much prayer had preceded the retreat for God to guide and direct the plans and discussions.

Relational Ministry is a higher level of operation for Love INC. It seeks to involve many churches and volunteers in the education and mentoring of neighbors in need. The purpose of Relational Ministry is to "teach a person to fish" (transformation) rather than merely to "give a person a fish" (emergency relief).

Pastor Brian Empie (River Valley Christian Fellowship) used his expertise and giftedness to facilitate the discussions and brainstorming.

As invited guests, Ginny Ferre' (Coordinator of Love INC's Finding Financial Freedom program) and Pastor Bryan Clark (Gallatin Valley Presbyterian Church) contributed input and insights with their presentations on Friday.

With thanks to God, Love INC now has a plan in place to begin the hard work of moving to a deeper level of involvement in clients' lives -- all for the purpose of mobilizing Christian churches and transforming lives in the Name of Christ.

After the intense work, the Board and staff left on Saturday afternoon with agreed goals and steps to follow for the year. Pastor Bill Kern (Gallatin Valley Christian Church) and Executive Director Nancy VanDyken celebrated with a ride om Pastor Bill's motorcycle.

Now Hiring: Position Opening at Love INC

Gallatin County Love In the Name of Christ is seeking a skilled and experienced Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director.  This is a new position with responsibility solely to providing administrative support to the Director.  It is a part-time, paid position.  Candidates must agree with Love INC's statement of faith and core values.  A position description, core values and application form are available by emailing loveincoffice@yahoo.com.   Join Love INC today and put your skills to use in this vibrant and growing Christian ministry!  Deadline for applying is March 31, 2010.

Save the Date

Mark you calendars now and plan to join the fun at the 15th Annual Plant the Seed Dinner on Tuesday, May 4.  Lively auction, creative theme packages from churches, friends and fellowship, news and updates, plus special surprises... and a served meal.  Doors open for a silent auction at 5:30 pm.  The dinner will be held at the MSU Strand Union ballroom.  Will YOU be the lucky winner and go home with a beautiful, live floral centerpiece?

Welcome, Partner!

Belgrade Alliance Church officially became a Full Partner of Love In the Name of Christ at a recent Love INC board meeting.  As a full partner, the church has signed a covenant agreement with Love INC and assumes responsibility for this ministry; has committed to support Love INC financially; has a Church Ministry Coordinator in place; has volunteers signed up; will hold an annual Love INC Awareness Day; will pray for Love INC; and will participate in Love INC events.

In turn, Love INC will work to supply the members of Belgrade Alliance with good ministry/service opportunities to help Gallatin County residents in need; will promote the church; will refer clients who are searching for a church or specific ministry to the church; will work to help develop new outreach ministries in the church if desired; and will provide material support for the church's outreach ministries.

Pastor Gary Atwood and members of Belgrade Alliance have been supportive of Love INC for years.  Now, officially as a full partner, Love INC ministry in Belgrade will be significantly strengthened.  The church is located at 205 W. Cameron. 

If your church is not yet a Full Partner of Love INC, or if you are unsure whether your church is, please email us: loveincoffice@yahoo.com.  All Full Partner churches of Love INC are Christian congregations that subscribe to the faith described by the Apostles' Creed.  For more information, visit http://www.loveincgc.org/.