Every month I share love stories about how God has used this organization to touch individuals. Today I want to tell you what happens to the people in need you don't read about. Over the last three months a lot has happened at Love INC. Needs are being met by someone like you, through partnership with one of Love INC's 18 local partner churches. Call Center volunteers and others at the clearing house coordinator rely on these churches' gap ministries and individual volunteers to bring help to our neighbors.

However, helping people is rarely black and white and is frequently complicated. Some people who call are not willing to allow us to verify their needs, so we are not able to help them. Others do not answer or return our calls, and after a couple of weeks of trying to contact them, we must close their files. This is a hard reality, but we must accept it. Even in these situations though, needs like food and clothing are provided when possible.

There is something else that makes our calling even harder. Nothing is more discouraging in this ministry than when we cannot help people because we do not have the resources or manpower to help them. There are times no assistance can be given because there is no church support available either by way of volunteers or gap ministry. Calls for repairs or specialized services must go unanswered because no one with that skill set has offered their talents or are not available. There are times when furniture is donated, but there are no moving teams to pick them up. Yet calls for furniture continue to pour in. This is truly heartbreaking and why it is so vital to understand that without church support through congregant participation, funds, and gap ministries, Love INC simply cannot function.

But there is cause to celebrate! When those in need are able to work with us and churches are there to be God's hands and feet, needs are met in wonderful ways. Only a fraction of those stories make it to the newsletter. Everyone who calls in receives prayer right there on the line, if they are willing. Every week staff and volunteers come together and pray for the needs of neighbors and the ministry. Sometimes Love INC doesn't need to facilitate the solution to their problem directly. In some cases, we can refer them to another resource and they are able to help themselves. Sometimes friends and relatives come through for them. In these cases, we find out when we make contact with the neighbor again and have the chance to celebrate with them. At times like this, Love INC has been able to offer emotional support and encouragement and that is no small thing when you are in distress.

And yes, there are many times when everything has fallen into place and neighbors are blessed by having every one of their needs met. In the past few months alone, those who have come to us have been blessed by bathroom and kitchen baskets, linens, bus passes, clothing (including career wear), furniture (including a crib), food, auto repairs, and even a roof over someone's head. In addition to the many hours put in by people at the Call Center and Annex, almost 60 volunteers put in over 120 hours directly meeting the needs of people who called in asking for help. For this we thank the Lord and for you who have labored with us.