Made Royal For a Time Such as This

A Night of Stories, Gratitude, and God-Sized Vision

At the 2025 Love INC Lake County Dinner & Auction, more than 200 guests—representing at least 34 churches across our community—filled the room with conversation, laughter, and quiet expectancy. They had come to celebrate what God has done this past year, to witness stories of real transformation, and to imagine what might be possible in the years ahead. From the start, the evening carried a sense of holy purpose, the unmistakable feeling that no one was there by accident. As opening host and board president, Cora Buckner, reminded us, we were gathered “by divine appointment… for a time such as this.”

What made the night especially moving was how naturally the story of unity unfolded. People from different congregations, worship styles, and traditions stood shoulder to shoulder—one community with one mission: to see Lake County transformed by the love of Christ.

A Testimony That Lit Up the Room

The heart of the evening came through the powerful voice of Barbara Poynter-Jenkins—known affectionately in her story as “Lightbulb.”

Born in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, Barb shared her journey through poverty, loss, homelessness, trauma, teen motherhood, and countless obstacles no child should ever face. She learned to survive with resourcefulness—turning coffee filters into tissues, dish soap into shampoo, and cardboard into shoe soles. She also learned the aching reality of generational brokenness.

And yet, this Lightbulb refused to burn out.

She earned her GED. She graduated from college. She raised four children. She became a ministry leader, a wife, a grandmother, a published author, a homeowner—and a Stage 3 cancer survivor.

“My story is not rare,” she shared. “It’s just rarely told. And tonight, we honor it—not with pity, but with purpose.”

Today, Barb serves through Love INC, pouring into neighbors walking paths she knows intimately, “running into the darkness of poverty and being light… for a time such as this.”

Her story still echoes in the hearts of those who heard it.

A Call to Remember, and a Call to Action

Love INC’s Executive Director, Gary Garland, brought the evening’s theme full circle—drawing from Scripture, the Book of Esther, and even his unexpected love for reading obituaries.

Obituaries, he explained, remind him of two truths:

Our time is limited.
We all leave behind a final story.

And the question he posed was simple and sobering: What will our story be?

Just like Esther, we are invited to step into risky, courageous, God-assigned purpose—because the world is aching for hope. And as we weigh that calling, Gary reminded us of the world’s harsh realities: rising suicide rates, declining belief in God, children exposed to pornography as young as age 10, and a sharp rise in loneliness across generations.

“This,” he said with conviction, “is the darkness we are called to walk into.”

But he also reminded us of what becomes possible when the Church unites and acts together: last year, over 80 churches shared almost 25,000 volunteer hours to serve almost 500 households—including 54 participants who graduated from New Hope’s life-skills classes.

Lives have been forever changed because of the unique collaboration of the Church in Lake County. And yet, this is only the beginning.

Gary challenged the room to pursue something unprecedented among all Love INC affiliates nationwide:

A Radically Transformed Lake County: A community where marriages are restored, deaths of despair decline, crime decreases, churches fill back up, and neighboring counties begin to ask, “What is going on in Lake County?”

His challenge was simple and clear:

Pray for revival.
Prepare by staying anchored in Scripture.
Participate by serving, giving, and helping others serve.

Because, as he reminded us, “God will bring His Kingdom here… with or without our participation. But what a joy to join Him.”

Walking Forward—Together

The night closed as it began—with prayer from partner churches who represent Love INC’s past, present, and future. Pastor Juan Carlos Brito, whose congregation Nueva Vida joined the Love INC network this year, opened the evening in prayer. Long-time partner Pastor Paul Fowler from Christ Church later closed the night with a blessing.

Every moment—every testimony, every prayer, every word—echoed the same unifying truth:

God has placed His people in Lake County “for a time such as this.”

And as Love INC looks toward 2026 and far beyond, we do so with gratitude, hope, and a community ready to say yes to the work ahead.

Join Us in 2026: Be the Light That Helps Transform Lake County

As we step into a new year, we invite you to join us in bringing hope and transformation to our neighbors.

Whether you volunteer your time, give financially, or donate items, your contribution becomes part of someone’s story of renewal. Together, we can shine the light of Christ into places longing for hope—for a time such as this.