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Dear ,
Summer is upon us and with it the opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends. Are you looking for a way to make this summer special for your family? Or maybe you are a small group leader and your group wants to do something different to give to the community but they don't really know how. Love INC can be the answer to doing something worthwhile together as a family, small group or church. Whether your goal is to keep the television and game systems silent for a few hours or help live out the church mission statement, Love INC can be the means this summer. Let us help you help someone else who truly needs a hand.
First, think about what you want to accomplish. Are you interested in blessing a neighbor, raising funds, raising awareness in your church or family about the many needs of people in our community? Do you want to bless Love INC? Second, decide whether you want to do this by yourself, with family or friends or as a larger body. We have one-time projects or ongoing opportunities, things you can do by yourself or with your entire church.
Let's start with your family or small group. Make a meal together and while you prepare it, double the recipe and take the meal to someone else. Deliver a meal another volunteer has cooked, or small items from the Annex. Some people love to tidy and clean. Is that you? Volunteer to clean a room in someone's house together or even volunteer to come clean the offices or the Annex at Love INC. If you love to work outside, do spring cleanup in someone's yard or brighten their day by planting flowers in their yard. Maybe you have something you or your group specializes in and you want to offer it to a neighbor in need. You might recall the volunteer who donates cakes and was able to bless a birthday teen with the cake of his dreams. We can connect you with the neighbor who needs the meal, clean house or yard, whatever you have to offer.
Do you want to get your whole church involved? We can tailor a service project for larger groups or an entire church. Last year Love INC coordinated mini home makeovers. Church groups were broken up into teams and did amazing work on homes of people who were unable to do it themselves. Another idea is a Love INC fundraiser. St. Johns does an annual chili feed every year to raise funds for Love INC. Your church could have a car wash, a bake sale, a yard sale, walk-a-thon, a talent show, an auction, babysitting night, you name it - and donate the proceeds to Love INC. Whatever idea mentioned sparks your interest and imagination, make this summer memorable by letting Love INC help you show God's Love In the Name of Christ. |
 | Love INC's Spotlight On Partner Churches |
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We enjoy taking the opportunity to introduce you to the partner churches of Love INC in this part of the newsletter. Every month we highlight a different partner church and give you a glimpse into what its body of believers is like. We want you to see how God uses churches of all shapes, sizes and styles to reach out to Anchorage.
Calvary Church, located at 3800 W. 80th Ave. ( www.calvaryak.org, phone number 243-8984) is part of the denomination of the Assemblies of God. Their senior pastor is Ken Buller and Nila Morgan is their CMC (church ministry coordinator). How far back does Calvary and Love INC go? "We were the first church to host a presentation from Anchorage Love INC," Nila recalls.
Calvary's mission statement is "Connecting you...to God and His work, to the family of faith, to your ministry." They are seeking to live out that mission statement by ministering with a variety of outreach organizations including the following: Crisis Pregnancy Center, Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission, Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, Back to School Blessings, VBS, and Kids Crusades. Love INC is another organization that allows them to help neighbors in need and introduce them to what it is like to be in a relationship with God.
Currently Calvary is in the process of developing a new gap ministry. The ministry is that of a career clothing and job acquisition support program. Nila explains why this ministry is such a good fit for their congregation: "Calvary has a burden for individuals needing employment or desire to better their current employment situation. Pastor Ken Buller prays for this need almost weekly and we have seen God answer this prayer many times. Recent remodeling projects have slowed the roll-out of this new ministry, but we continue to be excited about how God is preparing the way."
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| Summer Service Opportunities
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Your chance to help...
It has been an amazing first-third of the year for the Clearinghouse. Many neighbors are being blessed with having needs met and systems are continually being built upon that will sustain organizational growth. Tuesday and Thursday evening work time are available. Volunteers are always needed.
Below is a brief listing of current needs for all of our ministry times.
- First-Contact: (6) Answer incoming calls and lis
- ten compassionately to callers while gathering and recording vital information regarding neighbors' needs.
- Full-intakes: (9) By phone, gather and record vital information regarding neighbors' needs while ensuring needs are manageable and specific.
- Caseworkers: (2) review and analyze information gathered during intakes, resource needs and ensure they are manageable and specific.
- Volunteer Mobilizers: (3) coordinate acts of service, provide directions for volunteers and update records after service is performed.
- Closing: (1) close files and ensure data and hours are accurately entered into computer system.
- Voucher writer: (1) write vouchers so the mobilizer can find the appropriate volunteers.
- Follow-up: (2) contact both the volunteer and neighbor once the act of service is completed and ensure proper notes are recorded.
- General office: (2) assist staff with daily operations, including receiving/routing phone calls and helping with basic office activities.
- Annex organizers: (2) assist the donation coordinator in receiving, inventorying and organizing donations as needed.
Each need represents a 4 hour block of time either Monday and Wednesday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, or Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Please call 274-LOVE (5683) if you would like to learn more about these exciting opportunities.
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h give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!
Psalm 105:1-2
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