The Tragedy of Lost Potential
by Staff
December 20, 2010
MINNEAPOLIS, (christiansunite.com) -- As Christians around the world celebrate the miracle of the birth of the Christ child this December, one Christian non-profit is hoping for a Christmas miracle of its own. This December may very well mark the closing of the Love INC headquarters, which assists communities that want to mobilize their local churches to help the poor, if it does not receive immediate funding from its Christian constituents. While the Minneapolis-based Love INC headquarters has supported its 157 affiliates in communities in 30 states across America to meet more than one million needs in 2010, the potential of the movement that is meeting the needs of neighbors will be lost.The organization needs to raise $1 million by the end of the year due to unprecedented growth which includes the opening of 17 new affiliates. Unfortunately, donor support has not kept pace with demand.
Love INC's mission is to mobilize the church to transform lives and communities in the name of Christ. The organization works across denominational lines to serve the poor in areas of food, clothing, shelter, life skills, health care and family support services. Love INC is unique in its approach in that it strives to bring the poor out of poverty through caring relationships that transform lives in the name of Christ.
"These unprecedented economic times have created an influx of people who are struggling. They are the new poor and they need the help," said Robert Odom, president of Love INC. "We need Christians to step in and give generously so that we can help meet the needs of the poor in communities across the United States."
Love INC was spun off from World Vision in 2003 and has been a separate nonprofit based in Minneapolis since that time. Each Love INC affiliate is its own 501c3 and is self-funded. Love INC's headquarters starts new affiliates and provides affiliate support, training and program best practices throughout the life of the affiliate. It relies primarily on individual givers to meet its annual budget of $1.6 million.
Founded in 1977, Love In the Name of Christ brings churches together across denominational lines to help the poor with immediate needs such as food and clothing, to longer-term responses such as transitional housing programs, health care and life skills training. Love INC meets more than one million needs each year through 157 affiliates in 30 states, representing a network of more than 9,000 churches, 7,000 community-based organizations, and 300,000 volunteers working to serve the poor. For more information visit www.loveinc.org
