“Imagine…the impact of the Church upon the lives of those in need if it cares for the people, not just their needs.”

This was the challenge presented to our guests by executive director, Pat Schwartz, at our Annual Dinner & Auction in October. This kicked off an evening of learning about the ministry, fellowship among our churches, and (of course) bidding on all kinds of wonderful auction items.

The “Fund-a-Need” portion of the night created much energy in the room. Board chair Steve Whittington and volunteer David Enquist “auctioned” opportunities to donate to the ministry through our basic operating needs. As a shared resource of the church, items such as truck maintenance, purchasing beds, phones in the Help Center, and warehouse rent all become means to connect with those in need in Lake County. People were moved and paddles were raised high!

More importantly, almost 300 guests heard stories from our neighbors and how Love INC is helping the churches truly connect and serve in ways that transform. All night, we asked them to “Imagine…”

 

Imagine…our Neighbor’s Reality

Volunteer Sherry H. serves through Love INC doing many things, including as an Intake Minister. Intake Ministers spend time on the phone with each of our neighbors seeking help to learn about their situation in depth so we can learn the best way to serve them.

Just imagine if you were this woman whose story she recently heard, referred to us through A Safe Place:

“I am 54 and have two children living at home and one in college who I am trying to support as best I can. My 18 year old son living with me is autistic. My daughter is 17. I work as a registered nurse.

My husband is an alcoholic who regularly beat me and the kids when he got drunk. One night I couldn’t take it anymore and we left. All we could take is 3 blankets and the clothes we were wearing. We eventually found our way to the shelter at A Safe Place. After being there for several months, I was able to rent home in Gurnee but we don’t have anything in it. No beds, no furniture, clothes–nothing. We are all sleeping on the floor and have to sit in the dark at night. I really need a microwave so my son can feed himself when I am working.”

The critical issues

Our Intake volunteers come from a number of Love INC partner churches. They hear stories like these every day. People asking for the “things” they need to get by – but two critical issues lay beneath the request that are often not voiced when our neighbors are sharing their heart-wrenching situations.

Even if they are hiding it, there is pain. People in poverty will tell you the hardest thing about being in poverty is not the lack of things, it is the emotional pain. Pain that comes from a feeling of isolation – who cares about us? Why are we alone in all this? Pain comes in the shame of not being able to buy clothes for your kids or of having to live in a home that comes alive when the lights go out and roaches & mice run around the rooms.

And for many, there is a lack of hope. People in poverty are just trying to get by. They cannot think about the future because dealing with the present is all-consuming. There is no reason to think that things are ever going to get better. That is an exhausting way to live!

Imagine this reality

It exists for many people right here in Lake County. The volunteers from Love INC’s churches see it regularly. While it may be difficult for us to imagine life like that, we invite you to imagine how God can use His Church can change that reality…

(stay tuned for part two!)