Rev Stacy's letter continues below... 

Congratulations & Toi, toi to Luke Krueger - Playwright, Actor, Author and Teacher. Luke is a Visiting Assistant Professor, School of Theatre and Dance, at Northern Illinois University... he was the first playwright to be named the Emerging Writer-in-Residence at Pennsylvania State University... Luke is also the author of A Noble Function: How U-Haul Moved America. 

 

If history has taught us anything it is that the variety of Christian sects can agree that they can't agree upon much. However, on April 14th, of this year, I was fortunate to attend (along with Gail Sitzes-Piper, Rosemarie Ostberg and Marilyn Sjoholm) the third annual Love INC banquette, a group dedicated to the core principle all churches hold in common: Our dedication to living a life inspired to by the life of Christ. To be specific the line from Matthew 25:40, "as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me," is the key line from Christ that guides Love INC.

 

The banquette was lovely and catered by Nat's on Maple. Our evening's (entertainment is the wrong word) ministry was provided by Christine Monteiro, a name and voice known well among our community for her glorification of God through music. I must admit, her passion for her praise chorus music even had me tapping my feet and clapping along. But we weren't simply there for good food and music. It was a time to reaffirm our charge to care for those who are least among our brethren.

 

The INC in Love INC stands for In the Name of Christ. The program is a nationwide network of local churches to provide for the needs of the people in that specific community through the work of 15 separate ministries overseen by different churches in the area. These ministries include: an appliance, car repair, clothing closets, diaper, electronic, financial, food pantries, furniture, gas card vouchers, kitchen, lamp, life skills, linen, Moses basket (a new program for single expecting mothers that provides the essentials for a newborn), paper, and transportation ministries. On top of this there are gap ministries that provide bikes, and home repair to those in need. The network of parishes added its 32nd member in January of 2012, an impressive feat given that Love INC was first organized in 2008 here in DeKalb.

 

The organization has an efficient process used to distribute resources to those in need. Those requesting aid are vetted so as not to divert resources to those who are not in need. The proper ministry/ministries are contacted and provide the requested services and items. More importantly there is a follow up by Love INC to again make sure all of their needs have been met because Lord knows, in times of crisis unforeseen bumps appear. In short the service provided by Love INC is not simply one of fire and forget, but one that utilizes a nurturing attitude and gives those in need a partner to see them through from beginning to end in trying times.

 

What is amazing is that all of this comes from donations. The cost of running Love INC for one day is only $218; an astonishing number given the predilection of organizations to keep overhead far above what it needs to be. There is only one paid employee, executive director Nathan Scott. Mr. Scott exudes passion for Love INC., and it is clear he is beloved by every person who has volunteered, or served on the board. He is a leader they trust, and he gives them every reason to do so. Under his leadership in 2011 469 clients were served; 1,667 needs met; and over 7,287 volunteer hours were performed. These numbers speak well for Mr. Scott's efforts, but they speak even more highly of his ability to inspire action from other people to help those in need. But for the impressive stats above, it is a singular incident related at the banquette that encapsulates this organization's essence and ability perfectly.

 

The vision of Love INC states: "As a ministry we desire to continuously mature in our capacity to provide effective opportunities of service and to meet people's needs for the Glory of God's people." This vision in action was best demonstrated by an incident that took place this April and related by former board member Doug Stice. On April 5th of this year, Doug Stice forwarded on an E-mail to Executive Director Nathan Scott. A family had recently lost everything in a fire. The family was in need of a bed, refrigerator, plates, linen, clothes...everything that people spend a lifetime accumulating, had been lost in an instant. Nathan Scott mobilized the various Love INC members and their associated ministries. By April 7th, everything had been delivered to the family, save for a stove (which Love INC, did not have in its store). I found this thoroughly amazing. In less than two days, our community in Christ had met the needs of a family mired in an unforeseen crisis. Such a traumatizing lost could have devastated the resolve of this family. Instead, the call to aid those in need was answered at a time when despair could have fostered a resolve of hopelessness. As Doug Stice pointed out, Love INC is able to "show people they have value when they're going through a hard time."

 

That statement seems rudimentary enough, but it has ramifications that resonate far beyond simple palaver. As someone who has endured my own struggles as starving artist and burgeoning academic, I often found myself on an island with little more than my faith to sustain me in lean times. Feeling as though I had no worth was easy, common, and I was encumbered by a simplistic malaise that could beget useless lethargy and apathy. Love INC works as a mouthpiece for God who says, regardless of your circumstances, you have as much value as anyone I have placed on this earth, and will not let you forget that.

 

This banquette for Love INC stood as a reminder for us that within DeKalb County, there is an opportunity for us to mobilize. In my mail box are copies of the volunteer sheet. As you will see, there is such a variety of volunteer opportunities, that I cannot imagine any of us not finding a call to be answered. Should you choose to contribute monetarily as well or instead of volunteering, donations can be sent to Love in the Name of Christ, 151 W. Lincoln Hwy. Suite B, DeKalb, IL 60115.

 

History may say Christians like to disagree. But today, we here in DeKalb, at St. Paul's can join with 32 other churches to say that what we agree upon, the most important and fundamental thing we all share despite our differences is spreading Love In the Name of Christ. Those who write history can say what they want. We now have the opportunity here and now to say something that resonates beyond the narrative of old.     ---Luke Krueger, Vestry Member