Churches unite to help those in need
LYNNETTE HINTZE | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 12 months AGO
<p>Gayle Reeves and Bev York, two of the volunteers at Love INC, prepare training materials Nov. 12 at their office in Columbia Falls. Both women attribute their reason for serving at Love INC to Executive Director Lennie Eaton. York, who is a board member, said, "As soon as I met Lennie I knew this is where I wanted to be doing God's work."</p>
<p>One of the walls at Love INC is decorated with photos of the local churches who are participating. They include, clockwise from top left, St. Richard's Church, First Presbyterian Church, Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Christ Lutheran Church, Hungry Horse Chapel, St. Peter Lutheran Church, Whitefish Assembly of God, United Methodist Church, Journey Church and the final spot on the wall is still waiting for a photo from Fellowship Alliance.</p>
<p>Executive Director of Love INC Lennie Eaton in her office on Nov. 12 in Columbia Falls. In the background the sign reads: "The mission of Love In the Name of Christ is to Mobilize Local Churches to transform lives and communities in the name of Christ."</p>
Ten area churches have joined hands to weave a tapestry of services that are wrapped in Christian love as they’re offered to some of the Flathead Valley’s neediest citizens.
Love INC, a national outreach ministry that stands for Love In the Name of Christ, now has an affiliate organization based in Columbia Falls.
“This came about through prayer and tremendous support” from the churches involved in the ministry, Love INC Executive Director Lennie Eaton said.
Bringing many churches together to create a network of free services, from help with minor auto repairs to child care, housecleaning and respite care, allows Love INC to coordinate a broad pool of resources and place volunteers where they’re needed the most.
The first step in the process for anyone needing assistance is to call the local Love INC office at 892-3544.
Gayle Reeves, the clearinghouse coordinator, verifies the requests before volunteers are matched with the required service.
“We do a solid intake to see if it’s a legitimate need,” Eaton explained. “We don’t give people money, but we can free up other commitments,” such as providing extra food or giving someone a ride to the doctor.
The assistance runs the gamut. Volunteers help with painting, plumbing and shoveling snow or can also provide financial planning, computer help or meal delivery to homes.
“The person in need has to call,” Eaton said. “And they have to invest something, so they know they’re part of their own solution ... We learn about their circumstances. We get to the core of what’s going on.”
The personal contribution from the person asking for help can be as simple as buying the nails for a home repair.
One of the biggest needs, Eaton has discovered, is caring for people’s pets while they undergo medical treatment.
“So many won’t go to the hospital because they won’t leave their pets behind,” she said.
Some of the 100 volunteers in the local Love INC database give cancer patients rides to chemotherapy sessions. Others help out if there’s an over-stressed single mother who simply needs some time to herself.
Church volunteers are matched with people in need to form Christ-like relationships that foster transformation and sustainable life change. Volunteers don’t “lecture” those they’re serving, Eaton said, but rather they “demonstrate Christ’s love.”
Reeves, a recently retired certified nurse’s aide who worked for 27 years at the Montana Veterans Home, said the minute she heard about Love INC, she was inspired to get involved.
“When I talked to Lennie I said, ‘Put me where you need me,’” she said. “I think the Lord’s hand was placed on all of us. To watch all these churches work together is amazing.”
The idea for a local Love INC was guided by Judy Delgatty of the Whitefish Assembly of God Church, who had helped with Montana’s other Love INC affiliate in Bozeman.
“She carried the vision here,” Eaton said.
Organizers needed six churches to officially form the group, and gradually nine churches came together to kick off the effort in February.
Those churches include Journey Church, St. Richard’s Catholic Church, United Methodist Church, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, all of Columbia Falls; St. Peter Lutheran Church, Christ Lutheran Church, Whitefish Assembly of God and First Presbyterian Church, all of Whitefish; and Hungry Horse Chapel of Hungry Horse.
A 10th church, Fellowship Alliance of Columbia Falls, recently joined the group.
Each church handed out time-and-talent surveys to create an ongoing database of volunteers.
Requests for assistance are taken by phone at the Columbia Falls office from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, but the office doesn’t handle walk-ins. Some clients are referred through social service organizations.
Randy Butikofer, a church leader at Christ Lutheran Church, is chairman of the Love INC board of directors.
Bev York, another board member, is planning a Valentine’s Day fundraiser at St. Richard’s Church.
Donations to the nonprofit group can be sent to Love INC, 2130 Ninth St. W., Suite 197, Columbia Falls, MT 59912.
Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.