March/April 2017 Transforming lives In the Name of Christ through the church
A bi-monthly publication of Love In the Name of Christ—Muskegon County—2735 E. Apple Avenue Suite A
L VE LETTERS
We have the most generous restaurants and stores in the Muskegon/Grand Haven areas. Please visit these fine places that donated the soup, bread and cheese trays to make our
1st annual soup luncheon a great success!
Montague Foods Seasons @ The Muskegon Country Club Hank’s Tavern
Laughing Tree Brick Oven Hab’s Good Eats N Treats Applebee’s Joe Chan’s
Fatty Lumpkin’s Herbie’s Café Sweet Traditions Whitlow’s Forerunner
Lakeside Café Northside Pub Logan’s Texas Roadhouse
Olive Garden Toasted Pickle Toast & Jams Turk’s Mr. B’s
Teddy Spaghetti’s The Hearthstone Hennessey’s Steak ‘n Egger
Boer’s Belly Hobo’s Tavern Lipka’s Soda Fountain 750 Grill
Red Rooster Tavern Orchard Markets Goobers Bakery Brann’s
Our amazing soup servers! Nothing like a little friendly banter from
our Law Enforcement Professionals showing
the lighter side of ... service with a smile!
THANK YOU!
Love Letters March/April 2017
We are expanding our services…
Our main office location is in the center of our county so we are located neutrally for easy access for our neighbors. However, Muskegon County is quite large with many communities in the outlying areas. The bus system has heard the cries and finally broadened their scheduled pick ups but navigating the bus system can be difficult when you are living in
the country areas. To assist our neighbors with all the services Muskegon County has to offer, we are expanding to those outlying areas. Each area will have food, personal care, cleaning and baby supplies. The Ravenna location also has a
clothing ministry. If you are interested in volunteering at our off site locations, please call Paula to get signed up!
Ravenna: First Reformed Church of Ravenna - 3327 Mortimer - Mondays - 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Montague: St. James Catholic Church - 5149 Dowling St. - Tuesdays - 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Whitehall: Evangelical Covenant of Whitehall - 900 Warner St - Thursdays - 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
The phone number for ALL the off site locations is 231-767-3445 and will be answered M-F 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Love In the Name of Christ of Muskegon
is ready to help you find your place to serve!
Volunteer Fair
Monday April 24th at the Love INC office
2735 East Apple Ave.
5:00-7:00 pm Open House Style- stop in when you can!
Enjoy a complimentary white chicken chili & regular chili dinner and learn
about our Clearinghouse and New Directions Programming (the classes).
1 Peter 4:10 tells us; “God has given each of you
a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts.
Use them well to serve one another.”
Love Letters March/April 2017
Teams now forming...
Sunday, June 11,
2017
1:30 tee off
Games, Dinner and Prizes
$75.00 per golfer
In loving memory of Bill Wright - from Margaret Burman
In memory of Mary Mahoney, Clarence &
Bertha Ransom, Walter & Mary Sparrow, Hattie Naghtin, and Gay Lynn Sircher -
from Gary & Sharon Ransom In loving memory of Dianne Visch -
from Thomas & Jane Hendershot, Bob & Dottie Borgeld, Barb Grahs, Unique Model Inc, John & Heather Grahs, Earl & Marie Starling, Gary Grahs & Kirby Shotwell
In Memory of Ruth Gurn - from Thelma Bergman
made EASY
MUSKEGON
91999
Always on the go? Always have your cell phone nearby? Donating to Love INC is now easier than ever, using Mobile
Cause! Using your cell phone, simply text the word MUSKEGON (in the message area of your text) to the
number 91999 (in place of the phone number) to make a donation to Love In the Name of Christ.
Other more specific donation / text options include: RampItUp to 41444 for donations to Project Ramp
LOVE35 to 41444 for donations to our Events It really is that easy!
Looking forward...
Keep your eyes peeled for some
exciting partnerships and
awesome fundraising activities
coming this summer and fall!
You won’t want to miss out
on the fun!
Love Letters March/April 2017
We are blessed with some of the most kind,
caring, compassionate, energetic, grace filled,
warm hearted, selfless volunteers who give so
freely of their time to assist their fellow
neighbors by volunteering with us. To say
THANK YOU just doesn’t seem enough, they are
the heart and soul of our Love INC ministry and
are the true servants, bringing Jesus to the
lost and lonely.
Here are a few quotes from our class participants telling what it is like to be involved with Love INC and the volunteers that cross their paths. Remember...Love INC only has 3 fulltime and 3 part time staff, our
neighbors in need interact with our volunteers who extend the hand and love of Jesus to them.
“The great people who were put in my path and the great biblical information that I received.” “A community of people who help with my family needs and the feeling of belonging I get there.”
“The people and hearing about how God cares about me, even though it is still hard for me to believe.” “The staff, everyone is so nice and take time to listen.” (“staff” meaning volunteers!)
“The people make you feel comfortable.” “Learning how to control my fears and other issues with the help of the Lord.”
“Yes, I do feel better having a community feeling of belonging and people who care!” “Please keep doing what you’re doing.”
“You are a blessing.”
When asked how they were treated? “Very kind and respectful.” “Excellent!” “Very good” “Amazing! Love you all!”
“Just Like Family:” “Amazing, friendly and caring.” “Always good, fun, friendly and loving.” “Respectfully, with care and concern.” “With respect and an honest attempt at helping me when possible.”
“Very well, maybe confused at times between both but who isn’t at times?” “They treated me with love”
Thank You...Thank You...Thank You
Love Letters March/April 2017
What a blessing the years volunteering at Love INC. have been. Having face to face contact serving those in need has been a particular blessing. You get to understand a little of their needs, fears, and reasons they need help on a personal basis. We have volunteered in many aspects of the ministry over the years, including phone, pantries, teaching classes, training, mentors, and many other associated tasks. Volunteering at Love has given purpose to our retirement years. Join us, you can be blessed as we have been. ~Gary and Margaret Tidball
Over the years I have been blessed to be able to meet so many different people, from so many different backgrounds, yet all part of God’s church. I feel good knowing that through what I do I have made a positive impact to those around me. To me, volunteering makes a difference in my community - not just in the lives of others but in my own life too! It’s who I am! ~Margo DeHaan
My family and I worked through Love INC budgeting class in 2005, I say family because it was a family affair. That journey forever changed us and the way we approach life and finances. Since that time I have volunteered for a number of years teaching all I learned to several budgeting classes through Love INC and with high school students as well. Today I am on staff with 70x7 Life Recovery Muskegon as the Employment Readiness Director, assisting returning citizens in the tools needed to reintegrate into society. I am using all that we learned through our journey and using New Image and New Directions in the partnership between 70 x 7 Life Recovery Muskegon and Love INC. Amazing things are happening with the men and women returning from a couple of months to years in prison or jail. ~Davine Calkins
Heaven’s Gate Church is excited about working with “Love in the name of Christ” as volunteers. We serve “without a title.” As God’s servants, we look at volunteering as a way of sharing the love of Christ with anyone in need. We thank God for his grace and mercy towards his people. The mentoring program has provided us with many opportunities to minister, support and encourage God’s people to move forward in life, grow in faith and develop positive mindsets. We worked with the New Direction Program which provided our participants many opportunities for change. Heaven’s Gate Church view this as an opening to serve and support others to have better lives. We volunteer to extend a “helping hand” to those who need it. We are grateful for the many skills and talents we have as a body to share with others, and by doing so, we are fulfilling the plan of God. Volunteering inspires us to: V - Value others and share “Victories” in their lives O - Open opportunities for growth and development L - Love and Lend a happy hand to those in need U - Undertake a service N - Never give up on their dreams T - Take time out of our busy schedules to serve E - Experience lives of other cultures and needs E - Explore options for others R - Respond to the call and take responsibility to serve others ~Pastor James L. Harmon & Gloria Barnett
Our Volunteers don’t have lot’s of extra time They just have an extra big
Love Letters March/April 2017
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www.loveincofmuskegon.com
YOU make a difference in the lives of people in need.
Each need brought to Love INC represents an opportunity to connect with one of God’s children,
We always urge everyone to give to their home church first.
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Love INC of Muskegon County 2735 E. Apple Ave. Suite A Muskegon, MI 49442 231-773-3448
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Board of Directors
Joe Singerling, President
First Congregational Church Muskegon
Casonda Brown-Oakes, V.P. Friendship Missionary Baptist
Bruce Duiser, Treasurer
Unity Reformed Church
Maureen Mussman, Secretary Laketon Bethel Church
Matt McKinnon
Fellowship Reformed Church
Fred Nicles
First Congregational Church Muskegon
Velma Shea Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Leroy Lockhart New Birth Ministries
Executive Director: Matthew Kaley,
St. James Catholic Church [email protected]
Clearinghouse Coordinator/Office Manager: Paula Scott-Stewart
Laketon Bethel Church [email protected]
Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper: Tammy Woodring
Dayton Center Wesleyan Church [email protected]
Relational Ministries Coordinator: Melissa Brooks
Kentwood Community Church [email protected]
Clearinghouse Assistant: Jeannie Tourchette
Fifth Reformed Church [email protected]
Transformational Ministries Assistant: Joy Lyle
Evanston Avenue Baptist [email protected]
Our Staff
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