First, Love INC's 13th annual Back to school give away for Teachers is coming on Sept. 4th! If you'd like to volunteer, call Kathleen at our office. This is always a time of JOY as teachers are happy and blessed to receive needed supplies.
The teachers then are able to pass these on to students in need. A teacher we know often has kids coming into her room and asking for items, because she is known for her empathy. Sometimes these same kids are in need of nourishment and she also provides little snacks. THANKS for giving to this Gap Ministry. You truly impact many lives.
This year, Love INC is also being asked to help with some other needs. A call from 509J asked if we could help with backpacks of supplies for families that are identified as being homeless. This can mean their kids are coming to school without much of what they need. We are happy to do this! We are putting together some backpacks to be able to give the first day of school...and hope to have some for families who arrive later in the year. If YOU would like to help with this, please bring us nice backpacks for ages K through12 and we will fill them up! This is TIME URGENT as school begins early Sept. THANKS so much!
Another NEW thing GOD is doing is "Restorative Care Affinity Groups." This is a networking of non-profits, counselors, support groups, Listening Prayer and Conciliation. Carey Penner and Dave Jackson are coordinating this. What a WONDERFUL idea to have all of our resources interconnected so w can all work wisely and well together! More to follow on this. Plus, Love INC will be putting together an on line resource for access. We are a community rich in resources. Thank GOD that there is love and unity and desire to work together.
SEPT. 12th please JOIN US at "Equipped to Serve" is at Suburban! Thee are 14 workshops offered that are amazing. You get to choose three! This event is FREE and begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m. Love INC is sponsoring three of the workshops. "Breaking the Cycle" this is about changing poverty, ways to help.. We are also also, hosting Josh Hall, a Parole Officer, who will be speaking on "The Three C's: Change, Christ and Crime." and then I will be speaking on "Wake up! Let's Talk!" this will include our personality styles and communication, plus awareness, or lack of :) and listening well. Every workshop is open to all, choose where God leads you.
Sept. 17th we have invited Prison Fellowship to Corvallis! We will confirm the time, but it is likely to be 6:30p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Location to be announced! This non profit has a mission to serve and equip The Church to fulfill the Great Commission among prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families. This well known Ministry has many wonderful stories of Hope and Redemption and Reconciliation. Please come and find out more! "PF recruits and equips thousands of volunteers, churches, and partner organizations to help reconcile prisoners to God, their families, and society, AND to advocate for Biblical principles of Restorative Justice!" Exciting. Please rsvp to our office if you are planning to be there.
AND this week, met a Gentleman in our Community who is already doing some of this! Very knowledgeable and has connections already established in our 13 prisons in the State of Oregon. His heart and experience are here. GOD is bringing things together. "Rise up, O Church!" Let's boldly ask for revivals in our jails and prisons. Let us ask GOD for RESTORATIVE Justice versus punitive 'justice.' More to come! Several different ways to get involved.
Also, our Love INC E.D. Corrie, is speaking with our Mayor and Chief of Police about churches helping people who are homeless. On Sept. 10th our Chief of Police will be sharing with COV during Pastor's Prayer time about the issue of homelessness in our community. It is a conversation to explore possibilities. Thanks for praying into this. Again, it is awesome that so many want to work side by side and make a real, vital difference in Benton County.
Hope I haven't forgotten anything! Please forgive me if I have. GOD is doing many new things in this Season. Let us join Him and move 'into the flow' enjoying watching Him bring some important things to fruition. And we have the honor of helping.
Be BLESSED~
LaCheri