Jer Swigart & Jon Huckins state in their book Mending the Divides “peacemaking isn’t a reaction to conflict; it’s a way of life. That said, conflict is an everyday reality that requires everyday peace… Our discipleship invitation is to be everyday...
Wendy had just gotten clean. Shortly after moving across the country with her 4-year-old daughter’s dad, he began using again, got caught, and Wendy lost everything. “And I did not know God.” “I didn’t pray. I knew of God, and I always had a thought in the back of my...
When Kristal began the program, she was ready to file for bankruptcy after a rough separation and divorce. Finding out about the Life Skills Program from her sister’s employee resource department, she took the courageous first step and began attending with her family....
Where better to start than the beginning. My name is Sarah and I am married to Nate and together we have 3 kids. We started the Life Skills Program in March of 2015. In January, before starting the program, we bought a house for the first time and had no idea what we...
Yesterdays story was from someone directly impacted by a dear friend of Love, Sondra Ten Clay. Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His godly ones. – Psalm 116:15 I’m honored to contribute memory of one of our most dedicated volunteers. Sondra Ten...
In 2015 I was serving as a church deacon, sometimes helping folks navigate financial struggles, occasionally I’d make a referral to Love… then, in an unforeseeable whirlwind my marriage fractured and I became a single-mom of 2 living on <50% of our previous...
An outsider looking in may think Hudsonville is a well-off community with not a lot of financial hardship. But that’s not what poverty looks like - at least here. Hidden poverty is tucked away, with 25% of Ottawa County - that’s over 27,000 households - struggling to...
Shania was new to the Hudsonville community after being adopted out of foster care as a teenager. Her first connection to Love Your Neighbor was while volunteering. As an individual with special needs, she would come regularly with a job coach while in high school to...
In 2023 Love Your Neighbor was donated a 2011 Yukon to give to a family that was in the Life Skills Program. Unfortunately, due to the cost of gas and the vehicles average mile per gallon, the vehicle was not a suitable fit for the family. The Yukon sat for sale on...
"What leads someone to volunteer? Every path is different. We all have our reasons to give back, but here is my story. During my 16 years of marriage, my husband and I made horrible financial decisions with repercussions that followed me for years. When the marriage...
Yesterday’s story was originally in 2015. Since then, Amber and I are still friends. It was such a learning journey for both of us. For me personally, I entered the journey with Amber willing to support her and willing to be her champion, but I also gained so much...
Amber, what initially brought you to Love? I was behind on my bills, mostly medical debt and I was really learning how limiting a bad credit score can be. I had been in an abusive marriage and I was trying to raise my two toddlers alone. Stress was getting...
Ruth was a retired Nurse Tech who missed the interaction with people she so much enjoyed, so she began searching for what was next. She knew she wanted to connect with others where there was a Christian focus to follow Jesus’ call to “Love your neighbor as yourself,”...
We love looking back at how God used every relationship and story to further His Kingdom at Love Your Neighbor. In 2016, back when we were still Love INC, we sat down with a pastor from Evergreen Ministries and talked about how we can participate in changing the...
“In a quaint neighborhood teaming with life my family and I found ourselves grappling with an unwelcome reality. We were like most other families. My husband, Steven and I were both holding stable jobs, our children were thriving, our home was filled with laughter and...