Organization to host kick-off event on Saturday in Perham

After almost two years of gradual baby steps, the Love INC (Love In the Name of Christ) chapter of Greater East Otter Tail is close to becoming a visibly active organization.

The desire to establish a Love INC chapter in East Otter Tail County originated with the Perham area Ministerial Association in the spring of 2020. Area clergy were concerned about how to unite the efforts of their churches to be able to more effectively serve people in need, and Love INC was proposed as a solution.  Love INC is a national Christian organization that has been in existence for 46 years. It has more than 155 affiliates in 30 states, representing a network of more than 9,000 churches from 60 different denominations.  

Love INC is a proven model that networks churches, church volunteers, and community organizations to help people in need. Through Love INC, churches are mobilized to work together, across denominational lines, to provide coordinated help to their neighbors in need. Love INC operates a local Clearinghouse which maintains information on resources available to people in need through individuals, church outreach ministries, and community organizations. 

Christian staff train and oversee church volunteers who prayerfully and kindly receive requests for help and screen them for legitimacy and extent of need. Volunteers seek to hear the person’s story and discover other needs and deeper issues fueling the problem. Each need is then referred to the appropriate network church, church volunteer, or community agency. (Information from Love INC printed brochure; 2011)

After that Spring discussion among the Ministerial Association, a small committee was formed to further investigate how Love INC might work in this area. That committee grew into the Love INC Development Team, which has continued to work through the various steps involved in establishing our county’s Love INC chapter. 

At long last, the Development Team is about ready to hand over the reins to the first Board of Directors for the Love INC chapter of Greater East Otter Tail.  These final steps will take place as the Board of Directors is trained during the weekend of January 13-14, 2023.  That same weekend, the Development Team and Board of Directors will be hosting a Love INC Vision Casting Event for local clergy and community leaders on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 9 a.m. at Crosspoint Alliance Church in Perham.  

Once the Board of Directors is trained, there is much work ahead. The Board of Directors will be finding and securing a physical location for the Love INC offices, establishing a bank account and developing a budget, hiring and training a site director, seeking and training volunteers, and much more.  Even so, the goal is for Love INC of Greater East Otter Tail to be up and running within the first three months of 2023. 

For more information on Love INC,  go to www.loveinc.org