A Radical Impacting
Journey
Love INC of Treasure Valley held a Celebration Night on Thursday, July 30th for people in the New Hope Relational Program at the Nampa First Christian Church. Every fifth Thursday is reserved for clients to share their stories in an open microphone setting to encourage others who have just started the year-long program. It also serves to spur on the dedicated volunteers and to enlighten outsiders who may want to get involved.
Quietly and methodically lives are being transformed in our community by the structured, accountable and Biblically-based program made possible by an army of church volunteers and the staff of Love INC (Love In the Name of Christ). One client described it as a radical journey that requires discipline. Another told how he has experienced no other organization where volunteers and staff greet him with smiles and genuine concern every week - “they are a gift to hurting and desperate people.”
Learning the difference between wants and needs can be the turning point for families whose lives have been crushed by the weight of medical bills, collection agency calls, pay cuts, lay-offs and student loans. It can be a hard decision to commit to a program that feels like you are losing control of your finances.
However, many testified to the freedom, relief and peace they experienced as they confronted their debt and started to get a handle on their money. One couple shared that “it revolutionized our finances and we were able to save for the first time in our lives.” Instead of fighting with his wife and sinking into depression, one man learned that budgeting with the help of his personal mentor could also help his relationships. Another family said they can now fund financial emergencies and no longer fear unexpected “rainy day” expenses.
With the help of earned vouchers, one couple was able to manage the expense of a new baby and still pay down debt. Interestingly, someone suggested that “if the Church had started a program like this back in the 1930’s, we might not have needed the welfare system today.” One after another client thanked the volunteers for praying with them on the phone, for caring for people they didn’t know, for urging them on when they wanted to quit and for giving them wise counsel after they had made bad decisions.
“You are the embodiment and extended hand of God’s provision in our lives,” said one. “We have learned to be better stewards of our money – every cent is from God,” said another. “We have the tools to make it work now; you have helped us achieve our goals,” said a lady in the New Day program (for those who don’t qualify for the New Hope program.) “Spending only what’s left in the envelope is hard but debt won’t go away, you have to face it first.”
Many were referred by family members who had already seen their own lives transformed through their relationship with Love INC. If you want to find out more about becoming a client or volunteering, call (208) 466-7810 or check out www.loveinctv.org. You can also support the ministry by shopping in the resale shop, The Grace Place (16470 N. Franklin Blvd, Nampa, Wed-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm).
