Olivia, a single mother of three, was searching for a better
life for her family. On the promise of a friend, Olivia and
her children moved from Georgia to Charlotte, North
Carolina. When the promise was broken, Olivia and her
family were homeless and alone. They spent their evenings
at a women's shelter and their days at libraries or other
public buildings.
But all of this changed when a social worker picked up the phone and called Love In the Name of Christ. The director of the Love INC affiliate near Charlotte answered the call. She put the word out to the churches in her area. Two days later, a pastor called from a local church with great news: they had an empty house with all utilities paid. Ten churches joined the effort and turned this empty house into a home with furniture, food, clothing, and toys for the children.
Since that time, Love INC and its partner churches have connected dedicated Love INC volunteers with Olivia and her children -- helping Olivia find a job and get a car, tutoring her children, and offering budget counseling. They have found extra help for Olivia's youngest daughter who suffers from cerebral palsy. And volunteers have led Olivia and her family to find the love of Christ and be baptized in a church they now attend regularly.
The simple delivery of a couch and chairs had become a transforming event in Helen's life. Says Theresa, "It brought so much joy to her. She called me twice and my other sister once to tell the story of how wonderful Love INC was to her. It brought tears to my eyes to hear her tell the story of the love she felt from the ministry of Love INC."
Helen is a recovering alcoholic. She had been sober for over one year and left the security of a halfway house to rent an apartment on her own. But Helen had lost her drivers license and felt trapped and lonely. Says her sister, "Each minute and each day was a struggle for her. She has been through so much in her life."
When Love In the Name of Christ was contacted to provide furniture for Helen's new apartment, they went the extra mile. Not only did church volunteers find a way to bring the furniture up three flights of stairs, they stayed and helped Helen clean, then helped her arrange the furniture. Says Helen, "I was in tears with the love that they showed me. Afterwards they gave me a Bible, and then asked if they could pray with me. I was so moved that I was trembling from the inside out. I hope I can do for someone else what they have done for me."
The church volunteers who delivered the furniture continue to be part of Helen's life, calling and checking in on her to see if she has other needs.
Writes Theresa, "There are people out there, my sister being one of them, that truly feel that they are not worthy of being loved. That the life they have led is so bad that they don't deserve anyone's love. They can't forgive themselves, and therefore have a hard time accepting forgiveness from others, especially Jesus. But to see perfect strangers come alongside them and show them love and acceptance is so powerful. Thank you again for impacting a life for Christ."
"The presence of the Lord was there," said the executive director of Love INC of Live Oak, Florida, describing a housewarming celebration for Billie, a Love INC client. Billie is a single mom with three children. She holds two jobs, including working at a women's shelter where she shares her personal experience of abuse. The children's father is incarcerated. Billie's two teenage daughters have never had their own beds. Night after night they shared a raggedy old futon. When Billie called the Love INC Clearinghouse, she was in desperate need of housing. The home where she and her children lived leaked badly when it rained.
"Billie only called Love INC when she was at the very end of herself and had nowhere else to turn. I shared her housing need with a church in the Love INC network, and they responded immediately," says the director. "A real sense of urgency developed among the church members. Their response to helping Billie was 'we need to, we have to, we must.'"
One church member stepped forward with a new home for Billie to rent that provided a secure environment for her family. But the church didn't stop there. They held a surprise housewarming party. No one had ever given Billie a party before, not even for her birthday. Gratitude overwhelmed her. Church members purchased twin beds for the girls, complete with new sheets and towels. Recalls the Love INC director, "The church even bought two chairs for Billie's new porch, and a flat of flowers and potting soil, because they knew she wanted a garden." Members of the church moved the family to their new home, set up the furniture, and even brought food. But most of all, they gave the gifts of joy and hope to Billie and her family.
When Rebecca, a young mother of three children in Aptos, California, had to leave an abusive living situation in an emergency, she moved into a low-income apartment with nothing but a mattress, a kitchen table and chairs. She was working hard to pay the landlord for the security deposit when her car broke down. Needing to repair the car in order to get to her job, Rebecca found herself unable to keep up with the additional, unexpected bills. When Rebecca called Love INC of Santa Cruz County, she was ready to send her children, ages 11, 9, and 7, to live with their grandmother because she couldn't adequately provide for their needs.
Through Love In the Name of Christ, three churches rallied around this young family. Church members supplied groceries, household supplies, furniture, toys, and wood for the fireplace. Another community organization contributed gift certificates for the children. And, most importantly, church volunteers visited with Rebecca and her kids, building a special relationship.
Says Rebecca, "I had grown up resenting the church. Because I was bitter, I would send my children to church and wait outside in the parking lot to pick them up. One night just before I called Love INC, I heard one of my children pray, 'God, please have my mommy step inside the church.'" Rebecca's mother had been praying the same prayer for her daughter for many years.
Because of the love shown Rebecca by caring Christians during a season of need, Rebecca's life was transformed. Not only did her living circumstances improve, she now attends church and has given her heart to Christ. Rebecca gladly shares her story with others of how she was touched by the love of God.
When Gail left treatment for an addiction, the only thing greeting her were new challenges. She was in debt and recently separated from her husband, Max. She relocated to Allendale, Michigan, to be near her daughter, who suggested that Gail talk with a local pastor for advice and financial help. Says Gail, "The pastor said, 'If you need help, Love In the Name of Christ will help you.'"
By the time Gail contacted Love INC of Allendale she had reunited with her husband, but Max had challenges, too. His legal problems resulted in bills for court fees and lawyer services. Gail was working in a retail store, but Max was unemployed.
Love In the Name of Christ brought area churches together to help Gail and Max build a new life. To meet their immediate needs, one church paid their car insurance while another church paid their rent, keeping them from being evicted and falling further behind.
Gail and Max then entered the Love INC Relational Ministry program and began getting regular help with budgeting from a church volunteer trained by Love INC. But as much as the financial counseling was needed, it was the friendship and acceptance by the Love INC church volunteers that touched Gail and Max. Says Gail, "Anytime something went wrong, Love INC was there with counseling, prayer, and guidance."
The couple worked not only on their financial and legal problems, but on their marriage relationship, and in the process learned to seek God. "Through our experience with Love INC, Max turned his life over to Christ," said Gail. "I had been a believer, but not doing what I needed to do. Love INC was praying for me before I ever came to church. They were so accepting."
Through the coordination of Love INC of Allendale, seven different churches helped Gail and Max overcome their problems. They received provisions of furniture, clothing, and even a car. But it was the relationships formed, the skills taught, and the love shared by volunteers from the various churches that made all the difference. Today, Gail hopes to share the love God has shown her by donating her time to serve others through Love In the Name of Christ.