Love, INC of Nacogdoches, Texas

Getting Involved

Everybody needs love. Wherever they are- in a restaurant, beside the road, in a hospital, or on the job- they pop into our lives and suddenly need love. . .our love. It may be someone we know, or someone we have never seen before. Love is more than humanitarian aid or a random act of kindness. It is intentional, but not always planned. It is active, but not always tangible. It is a natural response for a mature Christian who sees another person in need.

Some of our best experiences of getting involved have happened with people we do not know. Often we don't have time to debate or prepare. We see someone having a problem where we could help. We stop. . .or we pass on by. If we stop, we usually feel good afterward. If we don't, we only have explanations and regrets. Such is the wise example Jesus gave of loving neighbors as ourselves- the wounded man and the Samaritan were strangers to each other, yet love was exchanged between them. The injured man's situation aroused compassion in the Samaritan traveler.

Jesus encouraged- commanded- us to get involved with others. . .to love our neighbors. Our compassion for others compels us to find ways to love them. Through phone calls, newsletters, and local media stories, Love INC helps Christian people know when and how to love people in need. Here are some ways to get involved and be able respond to a variety of opportunities.

Hometown Missionaries
Hometown Missionary Coordinators
Office Missionaries
Love INC Donors
Encouragers
Caregivers
Crew Love

Hometown Missionaries
"Hometown Missionary" is the name Love INC uses to identify Christians who love their neighbors in whatever way they are able. They are the hands and feet of Christ and the bearer of God's love in situations where the need for that love is great. Each Hometown Missionary is a person who understands, agrees, and obeys the command of Christ for us to love our neighbors.

Hometown Missionaries help meet immediate needs by giving their time, and sometimes their skills or money as well. Hometown Missionaries from local churches offer something needed desperately by people who live close to the edge of life. They provide care that goes beyond tangible needs. Missionaries love people because they are motivated by the desire to share God's love and they are inspired by Jesus' example of selfless giving.

Hometown Missionaries are people who want a vital connection with Christ by responding to His call to love our neighbors. Love INC provides opportunities for rewarding, even life-changing, experiences. Many have a strong desire to pass along what they have received. These may be lessons learned during difficult circumstances or the fond memory of help that was given in such a time. Get involved in Love INC as a Hometown Missionary.

Hometown Missionary Coordinators
Hometown Missionary Coordinator is the title we use for people who serve their own church by being a liaison with Love INC. They select members of their church for a variety of opportunities to be involved in a lively and active expression of their faith. The Hometown Missionary Coordinators are people who realistically know that members will sometimes decline to participate. But they also know that many are waiting to be called so they can get involved and make a difference in the world through their lives. So, they keep calling on their fellow church members and continuing to offer opportunities of love and service.

As a vital link in the helping network, Hometown Missionary Coordinators are leaders in their congregations. They continually help identify people who are ready for opportunities to love their neighbors. The Hometown Missionary Coordinator is the main link between a church- its staff, committees, and membership- and Love INC. . .important information flows both ways through the Coordinator and the two partners.

Upon receiving a call from Love INC, Coordinators gather information about the request, listening carefully for the details about what needs to be done, and how to contact the Neighbor. More than factual information, the Coordinator gets involved with an ongoing story of need. . .a love story in the making. When the conversation ends with Love INC, the Coordinator carefully and prayerfully considers the selection of a Hometown Missionary in their church to meet the need and love the Neighbor. The contact is made and the story is retold to the Hometown Missionary.

Office Missionaries
One of the most valued parts of the network of Love INC is the work done by people at the Clearinghouse. These people are dedicated, hard-working people with good insight and compassionate hearts. They perform duties critical to the success of Love INC. They identify and pass along opportunities requiring the love of a Hometown Missionary. Most office missionaries work a three-hour shift once per week, but some have special schedules that fit their busy schedules.

Office Missionaries perform a number of tasks. . .interview Neighbors (callers in need) on the telephone, complete necessary paperwork, enter information in a computer database, and verify information given by Neighbors by contacting relevant businesses or references. All work is done in the office, and all contacts are by telephone. It is a safe, Christian environment to help others by working together with Christian laborers. Learn more about the Clearinghouse Program.

Love INC Donors
People of Nacogdoches County have generously supported the work of Love INC financially. They believe in the idea that Love INC represents: people can work together to compassionately love people in need, just like the Samaritan did. They agree that many opportunities are lost because of inadequate preparation and organization. Donors who help the work of Love INC have a desire for everyone in need to have a place they can call. . .a place where they can explain their situation. . .a place where they will be listened to compassionately. . .and know that a discerning decision will be made about the best way for people to receive help.

Gifts to Love INC are tax-deductable. Perhaps more important, gifts to Love INC are a cost-effective way of helping many people live better lives. In our monthly newsletter, we enjoy recognizing our friends whose faithfulness to God and loyalty to Love INC through giving helps sustain our program. View our monthly newsletters.

Many people who help Love INC financially like to make their gift as a memorial or honorarium of someone who is important to them. Some of the ones being recognized are family, others are friends. Often these recognitions are made to celebrate birthdays, wedding anniversaries, gratitude, or special memories of those who live with the Lord. In our monthly newsletter, we are pleased to celebrate the special people who are cherished by their friends and family. View our monthly newsletters.

A number of local churches are partners with Love INC and provide regular funding assistance to Love INC. Each gift is used to operate the Clearinghouse so more people can be loved by your church. By supporting Love INC, churches support local missionary work, help provide ministry to our own citizens, and involve their own members in Christian work in our own community. For a listing of contributing churches, see our monthly newsletter.

Encouragers
An Encourager is a friend who cares about a Neighbor in need and supports him or her through a dark and difficult time. An Encourager prays for a Neighbor, loves and listens to a Neighbor, and encourages a Neighbor to be strong and persistent to attain goals that lead to getting resettled. A short orientation helps Encouragers prepare for a new Neighbor before they are matched. More training is available following being matched with a Neighbor to equip the Encourager to work effectively.

Encouragers are not necessarily skilled or experienced in helping others. They are all kinds of people and any age. But they all have one thing in common- Encouragers are people who care and want to "come alongside" another person or family and be a good friend for awhile. Encouragers are people who understand that love is expressed best in a personal relationship, one that lasts longer than a brief encounter. Helping another person "bear a burden" is an important task, and gives both people a basis for commitment to each other. An Encourager can be the very hope of God during a very gloomy, confusing time for a family. Learn more about our Encourager Program.

Caregivers
Love INC caregivers provide care and support for people who need help to maintain their personal independence. Caregivers are paid by the person for whom they work. Some work as little as a few hours per week, while others have a full-time job. Some Caregivers work for several people who need help, but other Caregivers work for only one person. This unique program allows a person the opportunity to earn a salary and serve their Lord at the same time.

There is a regular need for more Caregivers. Love INC has an application and screening process before Caregivers are linked to a person needing care. During the process, the particular skills, preferences, and limitations of Caregivers are noted and later used in making the very best matches for both the Caregivers and those whom they serve. Caregiver duties may include provision of personal care (bathing, dressing, and grooming), light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, grocery shopping, errands, and companionship. Learn more about our Caregiver Program.

Crew Love
An enjoyable aspect of missionary work is that it is so often done as part of a group of people. Difficult or tedious tasks are more satisfying when we share in the work together. Whether we seek camaraderie, safety, emotional support, or supervision by those who are more experienced in the task at hand, working as a group has many advantages.

Even in a group of people, each person makes a contribution- a gift of love. The time and effort each crew member gives does not go unnoticed by our neighbor or unrewarded by our Father. Whether your crew is a regular group, an informal gathering of friends, or your own family, mission work we do together is a rich experience we share with others. As we work together, we learn the amazing power of love and that it truly has many hands, including our own. For specific areas of group work, see the Crew Love Program.

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