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Overview of our Network of
Services
Background on the LOVE Christian Clearinghouse
Organization
LOVE Christian Clearinghouse has existed since
1985 to work in partnership with local churches to help needy
families/households in DuPage County. We are affiliated with a National
Office of Love, Inc in Minnesota. (www.loveinc.org)
Our anchor ministry, the Clearinghouse, links
people in need with helpful DuPage County resources and provides church
benevolence funds for verified emergency rents, utilities, and car
repairs.
We have found, though, that some families need more
in-depth help, beyond just short-term emergency assistance, to break out of
their crisis-to-crisis mode. We also know, from our work with 93
churches from 25 different denominations, that church members have a vast array
of talents/gifts but need encouragement, support, and training to use them
effectively in assisting others.
“Let us consider how to stir up one another
to love and good works." Hebrews
10:24
Why Should Churches Join LOVE?
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Helps generate untapped
volunteer resources that already exist in local churches to meet needs both
within and outside the church.
- Screens requests for help as to nature, extent, and
legitimacy.
- Helps prevent church duplication of existing services already
available in the community.
- Discovers if those requesting assistance are already receiving
help from other churches or agencies. The LOVE Inc screening process ensures
legitimate needs are met.
- Provides long-term, self-help solutions for those who are
chronically in need or have multiple needs.
- Enables churches to assist those outside of their own
congregation and be good stewards of church resources.
- Helps prevent churches from building dependency in those they
assist by discovering and solving problems at the root level.
- Helps the church to “own” its ministry to those in need, since
Love INC is a Clearinghouse to assist churches to reach out.
- Helps provide specific, manageable opportunities for churches
to reach out with God’s love to people in need.
- Lessens the burden of any one church by increasing the use of
volunteers to meet legitimate needs and rotating assistance among network
churches. LOVE Inc is very
cost-effective.
- Offers a unified witness of God’s love to the community as
Christian churches work together in the name of Christ.
- Offers a proven, replicable model that can be easily translated in new
communities. LOVE Inc has an
established track record in cities of all sizes.
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