Becoming a Partner Church
We
invite Christian churches of Gallatin County, Montana, to become
involved with Gallatin County Love in the Name of
Christ (Love INC).
Love INC is
a network of 41 Christian churches in our area
that use our Clearinghouse and ministry resources, and participate in the
support of on-going Love INC "gap ministries", to help meet the needs
of local residents.
As a network
of Christian churches, we seek to serve the churches as much as we serve
the needy in our community.
Because
of this desire, and to help interested churches reap the benefits of
association with Love INC, we offer three levels of networking or
“partnership” with Love INC:
·
Associate
Church
H
(Level 1)
o
Receive our mailings, publish bulletin
announcements of upcoming ministry opportunities or events, may at
times offer service to Love INC clients or become involved in a special
project (as desired by the church or some of its members).
All Associate Churches agree with what is stated in the Apostles’
Creed.
·
Clearinghouse
Partner
Church
HH (Level 2)
o
Continue Associate Church activities, PLUS
sign a covenant agreement with Love INC and, as a result, designate a
church volunteer to serve as a Church Contact Person (trained by Love INC)
to connect the church’s volunteers (who have offered their services via
a “Talent Tithe Form”) with people who request help from Love INC,
hold an annual “Love INC Awareness Day” to alert the congregation of
ministry opportunities via Love INC, and support Love INC financially
(amount determined by the church).
·
Ministry
Partner
Church
HHH (Level 3)
o Continue
Associate
Church
and
Clearinghouse
Church
activities, PLUS take the lead in offering a special ministry project,
hosting a gap ministry, or a some type of relationship-building ministry (often the development of this ministry is
assisted by Love INC) for Love INC clients.
This is the fullest partnership a church can attain with Love INC.
As a Love
INC network church, involvement with Love INC will alert the church to potential
opportunities for the church’s members to serve people who have little
contact with a church.
And we
will learn of your ministry activities – activities that can help the people
who call us for help.
But
other benefits for the church occur as well:
·
Public promotion of
your church (on our website, in our publications, to local agencies,
organizations, businesses and government)
·
Ability to “tap
into” our large prayer request chain
·
Access to our
information resources (including insights into where to go for specific
kinds of assistance) and guidance in handling requests for help that the
church receives
·
Information passed
on to clients about your church and referrals to your church when clients
ask us to recommend a church
·
Invitation to
community-wide social events sponsored by Love INC that bring together
friends from many churches throughout the county
·
Arrangement for service
projects for your church’s youth and/or adult groups, if desired
In 2005, Love
INC made more than 3,900 referrals to local congregations to meet needs --
more than 3,900 opportunities for the members of local churches to
manifest Christ's love to their neighbors!
More than 2,400
volunteers from Love INC partner churches served more than 2,200 adults
and more than 1,500 children during 2005.
Please contact
us if you would like more information, and/or if your church would
like to become an
Associate
or Clearinghouse Church
in the Love INC network.
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