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...
Forty is a big birthday – for anyone! “The Big 4-0” is usually marked with a party, with cards proclaiming that you’re heading down the other side of the proverbial hill, and jokes about how old you are. What does it mean to be 40? As celebrated as 40 is in our...
Take a moment to sit and soak in a devotion for Holy Saturday written by Love's Executive Director, Jodi Cole Meyer. Holy Saturday The Christian calendar is full at the beginning of every year. We move quickly from Epiphany to the long observance of Lent, with Holy...
We continue on into a season of advent. A season of waiting. A season of expectation. A season of Hope. A season of Emmanuel, God with us. We continue to press inward to try to begin to understand the nearness of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The true depth at which He...
Dear Father God, Prayer. What is it? Prayer is when we converse or communicate with You, God about whatever is on our hearts and minds. We must believe in You first, and then with humility, and...
How many of you feel like you are stuck in the waiting? Stuck not knowing where to go and not feeling led anywhere inspiring. You are not alone. You are not going to be here forever either. God is still working in the waiting. He is here with us! The song “Seasons” by...
A Reflection on the Good Samaritan Who is your neighbor? Where is your neighborhood? Who are you called to serve? Where are you called to seek justice, show mercy and walk in humility? I recently listened to Pastor Nate Gangwer speak about the story of the Good...
The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. John 1:14 (The Message) Our neighborhood has been hurting. For three months, partner churches have worked through Love INC to actively respond to the community’s need for food and get it into the hands...
Our hearts are heavy with grief over the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Almost on top of each other, the scenes and stories of violence brought our community’s attention back to the sin of racism, and forced a conversation that we are...
"I took this picture as cars filled up the parking lot for a drive-in church service on Easter morning." A guest blog from Caleb Horjus, Youth Ministry Intern at Bauer Christian Reformed Church. Easter this year was a bit different, wasn’t it? I’m not sure what...
We are honored to welcome Rev. Rich Visser, College and Young Adult Director at Alive Ministries to share his thoughts on lament on the blog today! Just about everyone these days is grieving some sort of loss right now. COVID-19 has forced all of us to change...
What is it like to be a volunteer in Sorting? According to Tim Buist, who has been sorting for almost one year, “You are the first impression to donors!” After a smiling greeting, unloading, and shaking hands, the sorting team unpacks the donations and decides if the...
Highlights: The Interim Lead Task Force requests prayer as we fill the Executive Director roll for the time being. The Executive Director search is underway and the job should be posted this week. If you have any direct questions or concerns, you may contact our board...
The Executive Director Selection Process Has Begun: The process started with Board, Staff and some volunteers reviewing the job description and giving input into key attributes each feel is most important. It is planned that the week after labor day a Search Team will...
“Sell everything you have, give it to the poor… then come, follow me.” (Luke 18:22, NIV) These are troubling words from Jesus. It’s difficult to know what to do with them. Should we sell off whatever we have to follow Jesus? Are we being disobedient if we refuse? The...