“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.”  Luke 6:20-21

For all those who don’t know where to turn or where to direct those in need, let this story inspire you. 

Jim lives alone and worships at one of our partner churches. Years of experience have taught him the Power and Love of Christ. When declining health and limited resources laid an overwhelming burden on him, Jim reached out to his long-time Pastor, knowing that God’s hands and feet would help (God’s children, the Church). 

His Pastor, hearing the situation, immediately called Love INC. Our Clearinghouse volunteer contacted Jim and started the process of identifying, clarifying and meeting his needs for the long-term. Immediately, a Love INC volunteer mentor stepped forward, and Jim met them with an open heart. They meet once or twice each week to discuss, plan and counsel, with the aim of providing both financial assistance and Fellowship.

With disability his only income, and with more than $350 in monthly medical costs, Jim has very little left for the basics in life. Love INC fills that gap as well. We provide gas for doctor’s appointments, food from the House of Esther, and much more. Jim continues to be faithful in praising God for His blessings and His people. Though his world was turned upside down and all of his retirement planning proved insufficient, he remembers that he is not alone. All he has to do is reach out and ask. Together, Jim and Love INC continue to be blessed through Christ’s love and our love for Christ.

“For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 1:5

Trikester

Love INC is looking for a good home for our Trikester.  The Trikester was donated by a local family for a child with special needs.  The Trikester has hand pedals and a harness system (such as the one on an adult bike's child seat).  Call Barbara at Haggai House for more information at (352) 288-2419.

Love Story: Potholes Transform Lives.

Four years ago when Sue came to Love INC for help with an electric bill she never dreamed the process would still be going on.  All those years ago Love INC did help Sue with a small electric bill to keep the air on for summer, but shortly after paying the bill Sue stopped returning Love INC’s calls to transform.  Year after year Sue called Love INC for one item or another, but not ready to engage in life transformation. 

Sue was living in her home with two teenage daughters, sick, elderly parents close by and less than $500 per month in subsidiaries (all from the government).  Sue had been receiving help from a couple of churches and individuals that learned of her story and need.  But the need was unending and the helpers were becoming weary.  No end in sight. 

In the meantime, Sue’s two teenage daughters who are witness to their Mom’s struggles, emotional draining and cries for help begin to feel helpless, too.  The oldest letting her grades drop; moving her out of the mainstream school into an alternative school for behavior problems, fighting with everyone, lashing out for attention, etc.  The youngest daughter just trying to survive and help where she could. 

Then in June that call came.  One of the individuals who was helping Sue knew Love INC had helped in the past and reached out for a meeting.  A meeting was held.  The stories were told and a plan was made.  Sue had tough decisions to make.  How would she respond?  No job, no car, no income, little hope. 

Our Operations Director and volunteer took the plan, sat down with Sue at her home and listened to her story.  Heard the laundry list of needs and with the plan set goals to move ahead.  Finding a job, working through one of the teenagers grades and attitude, setting boundaries for the grandparents/parents were just a few.  Sue heeded the advise and started to work towards her goals;  knowing God loves her and our Christian volunteers are there to encourage and lift her up.  Sue started putting in job applications at local establishments and found that without reliable transportation (no car) and only a GED, jobs were non-existent within walking distance. 

So Sue took the steps to check out the local, Salon Professional Academy.  Sue’s lifelong career dream was to become a cosmetologist, but becoming pregnant and getting married at a young age quickly discounted that dream.  There is so much to Sue’s background and teenagers that makes this dream and day-to-day responsibility hard to keep!  From the chronic back pain she is learning to manage throughout the day and countless medical issues to her children’s development and attitudes going to and being on time to school each day is a big responsibility and hardship. When Sue came to her mentor and later to Love INC with her findings, beaming with excitement and a plan, Love INC (with lots of discussion and further goals) embraced Sue’s decision. 

Love INC is walking daily with Sue and very proud to say Sue started school in September and has NOT missed one day or even been tardy!

Her road has been paved with lots of potholes along the way.  Her oldest daughter, after working her way back to her mainstream school, keeping her grades up, joining the Volleyball team, completing her first season successfully,  and planning to start on the Basketball team was beaten up badly at school.  The pothole caused the daughter to want to quit.  But with the prayers, encouragement, and support of her Mom, Mom’s mentor and others, through our love to advocate for her, she chose to stay in school. 

Sue gave her child the hope of completing school, not giving up, and working out the potholes!  Love INC, through the love of Christ, gave Sue the hope of competing school, not giving up, and working out the potholes! 

God continues to work in Sue’s family’s lives through Love INC.  He never said it’d be easy!

**Names have been changed to protect the identity of the families we serve.