Love Story

Love Story: God Listens…and Still Does Miracles

Love Story: God Listens…and Still Does Miracles

It is good to know that God is in control and knows what is best for each of us.

One of our clients (I’ll call her Sandy) called in 2013 asking for help with transportation to some medical appointments and for prayer for her double pneumonia. She also asked if Love INC would send someone to her residence to pray for their new home, which Sandy shared with a friend. We were able to send some intercessors from a local church to pray for them.

A week later Sandy called, very excited, and she told us that things were going very, very well. She got a good night’s sleep and things were going better at their house. She was extremely thankful for our prayers.

Sandy called other times, when she needed help with getting some ID after her purse was stolen, when she needed some furniture and linens, and when she needed prayer.

Several months ago Sandy called to tell us she was on hospice and was using oxygen. She had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Our volunteer prayed for her lungs and breathing. A good friend of Sandy’s called several times after that asking for prayer for Sandy.

A few of months later Sandy’s friend called to update us on Sandy’s situation. Sandy had been dying of lung cancer and the doctors had given her 6 months to live. One day last week, Sandy woke up and could breathe without the oxygen and felt much better. When the doctors examined her, they found no trace of cancer.

God graciously listened to the prayers of His children and responded with mercy and power.

Thank You God!

Many Blessings in 2017

Many Blessings in 2017

Thank you for being a vital part of Love In the Name of Christ of Linn County! So far this year phone volunteers have received 6,079 calls for help from people in our community. Church volunteers have responded by providing clothing, transportation, yard work, visitation, firewood, medical equipment, diapers, furniture, moving crews, school supplies, household and hygiene products, linens, holiday meals, by fixing cars, and building ramps. Each need met is a life touched by the Love of Christ shown through a practical act of service.

Let me share with you a few snap shots from 2017…

  • Our medical ministry has delivered 682 hospital beds, wheel chairs, commodes, shower benches, Hoyer lifts and other durable medical equipment to our neighbors in need.
  • This year in partnership with God’s Heart we gave backpacks containing both the gospel and school supplies to 253 children, winter coats to 89 families and Christmas gifts to over 400 children!
  • Two dozen people found clothing in our new career closet for both interviews and new jobs.

Thank you for your prayers, time, and generous financial support this past year. January will see our first Faith & Finances class being offered with more life skills classes to follow.

Please prayerfully consider giving a generous year end gift and together we can join the Lord in transforming lives and our community throughout 2018 and beyond.

If you are interested in learning more about Love INC please call us at 541-924-LOVE.

Please keep our volunteers, clients and staff in your prayers.

God Bless You,
Deb Powell
Executive Director

School Supply Giveaway A Huge Success!

School Supply Giveaway a huge success!

This year our joint venture on August 19th with God’s Heart to bless children heading back to school was again a great success.

We were able to give backpacks containing both the gospel and school supplies to 253 children!  Six of those children prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior when getting their backpack!!!!!

In addition, eighty nine 6th through 12th graders shopped for clothing and shoes in our special room filled with items from OSU dorms.  Some things were brand new!  This shopping spree is the most commented on when we do our follow up calls.

Many thanks go to the churches, agencies, businesses and individuals who donated supplies and money to purchase the school supplies.  Thank you also to Mike Silva organization for donating the backpacks.  Thank you to the Gideons for blessing the children with a New Testament. AND thank you to the faithful volunteers who spent many hours sorting school supplies and serving the families that attended.

Love Story: Giving Back

Years ago a couple contacted us when the husband was in need of some medical equipment as well as a ramp built.  We were able to bring him the equipment as well as build the ramp but unfortunately he did not live very much longer to enjoy them.  His wife however did end up needing the ramp and some of the equipment shortly after his passing.

Over the years since she has requested various home repairs which for the most part volunteers were able to provide.  Recently, her insurance company hired a contractor to do some major repairs which required replacing her floors.  She has taken this opportunity to downsize and Love INC has been the recipient of the majority of her donations.  It has been so fun to report back to her the many people her generosity has touched…a woman going to visit her mother’s grave had a beautiful basket of flowers to take, a mother going to visit her son in jail received a beautiful bible,  an elderly woman we recently moved found a Christmas angel for her new home… giving back to Love INC multiplied the blessings.

How delightful that Love INC can be that connective piece for them all!

Love Story: It’s Like Christmas

A woman called the Clearinghouse in need of assistance.  She had heard about us through Senior and Disability services.  She suffers with a degenerative bone disease for which doctors have no cure.  Through a series of unfortunate circumstances including domestic violence and rehab she found herself needing to start all over.

We had her fill out the Adult Services Team application (AST) and at her staffing spoke more to her about other needs she may have.  Love INC delivered household and hygiene items and then a new four wheeled walker with a seat.  She left a message after receiving it that she thought it must be Christmas as she was so excited.  She also wanted to attend a church but had no way to get there.  A call from the office followed by an email was all it took for a lovely couple to come by and introduce her to her new church family.

What a blessing to be that connective piece that our neighbors in need may feel the Love of Christ.

A Love In The Name Of Christ Experience (Part 2)

Read Part 1

By Barbara Thayer

You see, the sole financial provider for this family was the man who is now permanently disabled.  I shall call him Ted, though that is not his real name.  Love INC of Benton County was able to provide a donated car to this family, as they needed reliable transportation to get back and forth from Portland, where Ted would receive most of his medical care.  Every Thursday, the Love INC Prayer Team in Benton County would pray for this family.

As time passed, the financial burden left this family homeless.  They lived in a camp trailer for a period of time, in the Portland area, close to the doctors.  Recently, the moved back to Albany and Love INC of Benton County again received a phone call.  This time the call was for prayer for Ted, as he would be having his 41st surgery and there was question of his ability to survive.  Love INC of Benton County contacted me to reach out to this family, to offer prayer.  I thanked God for such an opportunity.  Having been at the scene in the beginning of this family’s journey with trauma and heartache, it would seem almost surreal that the Lord would let me meet them and pray with them, now years later.

I was able to connect with Ted and his girlfriend, whom I shall refer to as Diane, though that is not her real name.  Diane and I spoke on the phone the day before Ted’s surgery.  I asked her if she would want me to come to their home (they now live in a duplex) and pray for them.  I explained to her that I was there when Ted was struggling to live in the initial moments after the accident.  I also shared with her that it was God who was merciful and gracious in answering my prayer that Ted would survive.  She was amazed, you see, she had heard about this crazy blonde woman down on her knees praying for Ted, but never thought we would meet.  She invited me to come over that evening and I gladly accepted the opportunity.

I showed up to meet Ted and Diane that evening.  The Lord put on my heart to do more than just show up.  Before arriving at their home, I looked in my closet for something I could give to Diane.  I found a beautiful handbag that, shamefully I tell you this, had not ever been used.  You see, I was saving this bag for a special time.  Well, the special time was now and the handbag was never meant for me.  Not only did the Lord want me to give something of mine away that evening, but He also wanted me to provide dinner for Ted and Diane.  I showed up with a pizza, which was received by Ted and Diane with much gratitude.  Everything we have is really not ours anyways, right?  It all comes from God’s hands and belongs to Him.

As I reached my destination that evening, there was Diane, standing on the front porch, crying.  She embraced me.  We hugged and she invited me in to meet Ted.  I could not contain the love that God put in my heart for this man.  I immediately approached him with a hug, which he gladly received.  Then, wanting to bring a little joy and laughter into this heartfelt encounter, I told Ted, “You sure look a lot better now than you did when we met.”  We all laughed, then we sat down and talked.  I mostly listened, but I also had the opportunity to speak about God’s love and His mercy and what Jesus had done in my life.  As my visit neared an end, I asked if I could pray for them.  They said, “Yes.”  It was a beautiful encounter, arranged by our loving Lord.

Ted’s surgery was the following day and the doctor determined that Ted wasn’t strong enough to have the complete, fourteen hour surgery he needed.  A partial surgery was done and two days later, Ted and Diane returned to Albany from Portland.  Diane called me after they returned and told me she is really in need of a friend.  I told her that works out well, because I too am in need of a friend.  She invited me back over and I will gladly go.  She and I had a lengthy phone conversation in which she shared much of her heart with me.  She told me that both she and Ted had accepted Jesus into their hearts.  Clearly, this was the result of many encounters and interactions with Christians, Love INC of Benton County being the catalyst by which these interactions were successfully carried out.  God, in His infinite wisdom put just the right people in just the right places at just the right time because He loves Ted and Diane just as much as He loves you and I.  It is no one person who gets credit or glory for this couple saying, “Yes,” to Jesus.  The glory belongs to God.

As time goes on, this couple is going to need much love, support and prayers.  Lord willing, I will be able to continue to offer friendship and support.  Hopefully, what I bring with me when I visit Ted and Diane is the loving, healing presence of Jesus Christ, who lives in my heart.  I have a feeling that they will be more of a blessing to me than I am to them.  For now, I encourage Diane to take good care of herself.  She longs to give back to community, having a goal of giving Trauma Talks to others in hopes of educating and inspiring.  There is no doubt in my mind that she will, one day, in God’s timing, do just that.

So, how does a Love INC work?  My answer is simple….. God uses His people to meet needs that go above and beyond our wildest dreams and expectations.  To bring Jesus into the homes and hearts of people who need to feel His unconditional love and presence is the very element that produces life changing transformation and saves souls.  Meeting physical needs is important and we must not neglect to do so, but perhaps even more important is to, as my friend, Curtis Miller would say, “Walk where Jesus walks,” which is into the lives of those who need to know His love.

Calls will come in to Love INC of Linn County from desperate, in-need people who do not know Christ’s love.  There are many people in our community who are in need of experiencing God’s love through His people.  Please purpose in your heart to join me and others who follow Jesus to give of yourself and share His amazing grace with those who call Love INC for help.  Together, we can not only meet the physical needs of our community, but we can also meet the spiritual needs as we minister to people’s hearts through unconditional love.

As I close in sharing this Love INC experience, may I just remind each one that it should never be to our credit that a life is changed or transformed or that a need is met.  We are only the instruments of love by which the Lord may choose to use.  Let us be willing and available to reach out, together, to a community of people in need.  All the glory and honor and praise be to our mighty Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

May God’s grace bless you in a special way today.

 

A Love In The Name Of Christ Experience (Part 1)

By Barbara Thayer

The mission of Love INC of Linn County is to transform lives and communities in the name of Christ.  What does that look like?  How does that work?  Many people ask the question and it is sometimes hard to articulate.  I hope my experience will offer a snap shot of what can happen through Love In the Name of Christ.  May each one who hears of this story give all the glory to God.

My name is Barbara and I was privileged to be a part of the development team for Love INC of Linn County.  One warm evening in May of 2005, my husband, Jarred and I decided to go grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant on Pacific Boulevard.  As we waited in line to place our orders, a woman suddenly burst through the doors and screamed, “Somebody call 911, there’s been a terrible accident out front!”  Jarred and I gave each other a quick glance and without words, we both headed toward the scene, not knowing what we would find.  I don’t recall which one of us made the call to 911 but evidently others had also called in because the dispatcher knew what accident we were referring to.

As we approached the scene, there were many people standing around but nobody seemed to know what to do.  My eyes could hardly believe what I was seeing.  I had never seen the results of a motorcycle and car collision but this was my introduction to the damage that can occur when such a tragedy takes place.  A man lie on the pavement, bleeding, struggling to take a breath, his face was unrecognizable.  The impact of the collision caused his helmet to leave his once-protected head.  While Jarred tended to the couple in the car, I ran to the man who lie on the pavement.  I remember praying, “Lord, what can I do?  Help me to help him.”  It seemed there was nothing physically I could do that was going to help this man survive.  I felt very inadequate and ill-equipped for such a situation.  The Lord spoke to my heart in an instant, saying, “Pray.  Barbara, you get down on your knees, lay your hands on his body and pray for this man.”  I did just that.  By this time, there were probably over thirty bystanders, just watching.  I was not concerned at the time with getting contaminated with blood.  The only thing that mattered at that very moment was crying out to God to spare this man’s life.  In my heart, I felt a sense of urgency regarding this man’s very soul.

There I was, on the pavement with a dying man.  One other man came to the aid of the man on the pavement.  He spoke words of encouragement, as did I, saying, “Come on buddy, keep breathing, hang in there, help is on the way.”  In between encouraging this critically injured man to keep breathing, I prayed, asking that God would spare this man’s life.  Though I don’t recall my prayer in it’s entirety, I do remember asking that the Lord would give this man a second chance to accept Him into his heart if he hadn’t done so already.  Time seemed to stand still and it felt like forever before the ambulance would arrive, though it was probably only minutes.

Soon, the ambulance arrived and I walked away, searching for my husband, who was still helping with the couple in the car.  A woman approached me as I walked away from the scene.  She said to me, “He’s not going to make it, is he?”  I responded by saying, “God can do ANYTHING.”  The intriguing aspect of her question and my response was that I really knew God could save that man’s life but the evidence wasn’t in his favor.  I believe that is what we call faith.  Hebrews 11:1 tells us Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

After Jarred was done with what God had called him to do at the scene, we went home and prayed and prayed and prayed.  A couple days later, I read in the newspaper that this man had survived, though was life-flighted to Portland, in critical condition.  Every day on my way to work, I drove over the very spot where this man had fought for his life in the moments following the accident.  I prayed every day as I passed that place.

A couple of years after the accident, the Love INC of Linn County development team invited Wilma Van Schelven, the executive director of Love INC of Benton County to come and speak about how Love In the Name of Christ changes lives.  As she began telling the story of a man who had been in a motorcycle accident, it became clear that she was talking about the very man whom the Lord had me pray for as he lie on the pavement, dying.  Wilma told us that Love INC had received a call from this man’s girlfriend, requesting that someone come and visit the couple.  This couple did not have a church family and yet were reaching out for fellowship and unconditional love.  Love INC of Benton County was able to connect this couple and their children with one of their volunteers who would go and spend time and pray with them.  Through Love INC partnering churches, some tangible, physical needs were also met.

The initial trauma of the accident was only the beginning for this family…

Continue to Part 2

A Week of Thanks…

Most of us celebrate Thanksgiving one day a year, but here are some people who celebrated most of a week.  Early in the week an 88 yr old client let our Love INC office know that she had some yard work and repair that needed to be done.  After learning of this need, one of our volunteers agreed to help.  He and two teen boys (who consider him their “adopted” Grandpa) caulked a window, cleaned her gutters, and raked and collected leaves in her yard.  In addition they came over one evening during the weekend to play Yahtzee and Bunco with her and listen to her stories.

Thanks to God for good health and strength for our volunteers plus the benefits of needed work completed and the gift of companionship for our senior neighbor!

(From a Love INC volunteer)

Love Story: Firewood Ministry Helps 40 Families

We met with our Firewood Ministry Coordinator last week and he shared with us the following stories:

  • An uninsured couple in east Linn County had experienced some major surgeries leaving them financially bereft. When David pulled up with his dump truck full of wood they asked, “How much of that is mine?” When he replied, “All of it” the tears flowed.
  • An elderly gentleman recovering from open heart surgery eagerly helped David unload and stack by carrying one log at a time
  • Up in the Canyon area there are two couples in their late 60’s living on a piece of land. One couple is in an older trailer and the other in a shed with little insulation. David was able to deliver two double loads to them this year.

Altogether our firewood ministry was able to help 40 families stay warm this winter. Thank you Lord for allowing us to warm bodies as you warm their hearts.

Love Story: Looking for Furniture

Our Medical Ministry Coordinator, Ron, shared another story with me today that particularly touched his heart and when I looked up her file this is what I found:

A woman called looking for furniture as her husband had left her about a month ago taking most of it. A neighbor had given her a rocker recliner but as she was recovering from a recent hip surgery her doctor told her she could not use it as she wouldn’t be able to get up. She was sleeping on a love seat using a lawn chair and pillows for her legs. Our medical coordinator delivered a hospital bed, shower bench and cane the very next day praying for her speedy recovery as he did so. One week later someone donated a table and chair which this client was eager to receive. When Ron delivered it she was up walking around.

God is so good to include us as He ministers His love!