Apr 14, 2025
Jim Holmlund, Executive Director of Love INC Heartland
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
— Psalm 139:13–14 (NIV)
As a follower of Christ, I speak with certainty that I am a child of God. I can say it with confidence, just like the Psalmist did: “I know that full well.” There’s no doubt in my heart that God has a purpose for me. And it’s not some mysterious, one-of-a-kind mission. It’s actually simple and beautiful: take the gifts He gave me and use them to share the love of Jesus.
Right now, that purpose has brought me to Love In the Name of Christ Heartland. That’s where I’ve chosen to use my gifts. And honestly, if you’re reading this, I want to remind you that your purpose looks a lot like mine. You’ve been handcrafted by God—the One who knit you together before you took your first breath—and He’s calling you to do the same. Use what you’ve been given to spread the love of Jesus, right where you are.
This beautiful image of God knitting us together makes me think of a song:
“There is a thread,
Running between,
The first and the last,
Breath that we breathe.
And in this strand
Of flesh and bone,
Resides the hopes
And dreams we call our own.
There’s a hand
That sews the threads together,
Around one strand
Of saving scarlet thread.”
— “Threads” by Geoff Moore & The Distance
In “Threads,” Geoff Moore sings about how we’re all woven together by the Father. We each carry our own hopes and dreams, and yet, we’re stitched together by the same scarlet thread—Jesus. That’s the heart of Easter, isn’t it? Jesus, God in flesh, lived among us and gave His life so that we could walk in forgiveness and unshakable hope. Hope that one day, we’ll live in a world without sin that entangles us to brokenness and separation from God—a world we were actually made for.
But what happens when we lose those hopes and dreams?
Life has a way of stealing them sometimes. Maybe you’ve felt that. I know I have. When I’m feeling worn down or like I’ve lost my way, this song brings me back. And more than anything, the love of Jesus and the promises He made keep me going.
A lot of the Neighbors we meet at Love INC Heartland come to us feeling like they’ve lost all hope. They’re fighting to make ends meet and lost in isolation with no support. They aren’t dreaming big—they’re just trying to get through the day. And that’s exactly where our mission starts: helping restore hope.
Because real transformation begins with Jesus. He is the hope we all need.
“Come as you are, weary, worn, and tattered.
Come and take your place among the threads.”
— “Threads” by Geoff Moore & The Distance
That’s the message of Jesus. In Luke 5:32 (NIV), He says, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” He didn’t show up for the people who believe they are right with God. He came for the broken ones, the lost, the ones who know they need help. That’s you. That’s me. That’s every single person who walks through our doors.
At Love INC Heartland, we carry that message into every conversation—with neighbors in need, volunteers, church partners, and supporters. Everything we do is grounded in the love of Christ. And we want you to be a part of it.
God is on the move here. He’s bringing families to us who are desperate for hope.
And we believe He’s calling people—maybe even you—to join in what He’s doing. Bring your time, your gifts, your energy. Come be part of something that’s changing lives through Jesus.
The song ends with this:
“There is a thread,
Sometimes unseen,
Moving through life’s tapestry.
And when this strand
Enters a soul,
It’s woven to the One that makes
Us whole.”
— “Threads” by Geoff Moore & The Distance
Only Jesus can truly make us whole. Without Him, our dreams are often hollow and fleeting. But when we’re connected to that scarlet thread, everything changes.
So come—if you’re feeling weary, worn, or unsure.
Take your place among the threads. Join us in this beautiful work of bringing hope and healing In the Name of Christ.
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Mar 31, 2025
For over 20 years, Love In the Name of Christ Heartland (Love INC Heartland) has been dedicated to transforming lives and communities In the Name of Christ.
We have grown to partner with 30 local churches to serve 15 Minnesota communities, including Delano, Howard Lake, Montrose, and Rockford. Through our impactful initiatives, we operate two thrift stores, provide assistance through our Connection Center helpline, and offer free life skills classes via our Fresh Start Program—helping individuals and families break free from hardship and build a brighter future.
Expanding Our Mission + Impact
Over the past three years, we’ve taken strategic steps to increase our brand awareness and expand our outreach efforts:
- Installed new exterior store and office signage featuring our updated logo.
- Refreshed local news releases, business listings, and community partnerships.
- And much more!
As we continue spreading the word about Love INC Heartland, we see God’s work through our ministry. The impact has been extraordinary:
- Our Needs Met* has increased by 100% over the past two years.
- Our Fresh Start Program* class sessions have nearly doubled.
- More families and individuals are finding hope, restoration, and community support.
Be Part of the Growth—Support & Stay Connected!
We invite you to be part of this journey. Support our mission, volunteer, donate, and stay engaged with our growing community. Follow us on social media to stay updated on upcoming events, success stories, and ways to get involved:
*Read more success stories and statistics in our 2024 Annual Report.
Feb 20, 2025
In November 2024, Love In the Name of Christ Heartland welcomed Sabrina (Sam) Gustafson as the Family Advocate. This staff role is not only vital to our organization but also essential to the operation of our Connection Center (helpline).
As the first point of contact for neighbors in need, the Family Advocate plays a crucial role in listening to their stories, understanding their challenges, and building meaningful relationships. These initial conversations lay the foundation for providing support and guiding individuals toward life transformation opportunities, including the courses available in our Fresh Start Program.
In addition to leading the Connection Center, the Family Advocate collaborates closely with our Church Partners and supports the year-round Gap Ministries that serve neighbors active with Love INC Heartland. Sam has already demonstrated a remarkable ability to connect with others and make a difference in this role.
Welcome to the Love INC Heartland family, Sam!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and/or hobbies you enjoy:
I love to be outside all weather can be nice. I enjoy bicycle riding and reading. Time with grandkids, super fun!
Do you have a favorite Bible verse or worship song? Take a moment to share:
I do not have a particular favorite verse the Bible is so full. One that is hanging by my desk is Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, it’s builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stand guard in vain.
What is your favorite part about your job and why?
I like variety so choosing a particular part of my job as top is difficult. Opportunity to encourage others. I believe everyone needs encouragement along their life path. Pray it is encouragement In the Name of Christ.
It’s show-and-tell day! What’s in your work lunchbox or a special item on your desk?
I love children’s artwork. above my desk is this drawing by my 6 year old granddaughter.
How has God transformed you through the work you have been doing?
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
My job includes planting seeds of HOPE, VALUE, and WORTH. God is helping me to see the hope, value and worth of those he brings along my path.
Aug 14, 2024
Matthew 25:23 NIV His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
When writing this, 86 families have contacted Love In the Name of Christ Heartland for assistance this year (2024). People are referred to us by friends, churches, county offices, and other agencies. Sometimes people find us online and will email, text, call, or submit requests for help through our website.
At Love INC Heartland we practice Redemptive Compassion®, which is a Biblical philosophy on how we can offer wholistic help to those we serve. The first of the Six Core Principles is, “Everyone has value.” Which implores us to contact and speak to everyone who reaches out to us. Even in situations where we know we will not be able to help them, we still listen to their story, refer them to another agency, and ask to pray with them. Often, staff and volunteers see the softness of people come through when saying a short prayer for them. Just as Jesus has called us to be relational with others (not only in spirit but in a personal way), our Connection Center takes time to see the person not just the need.
Similar to the parable of the Talents Jesus tells in Matthew 25, if there is just one thing we can do for one person, we will do it. We will not bury even the smallest opportunity to connect with someone. We will be Jesus to that person, striving to be good and faithful servants.
For those reaching out to us for assistance or, as we say at Love INC, a neighbor in need (a client), there is much work to do. It begins with an initial contact where basic information is gathered and a brief description of the neighbor’s situation is clarified and held with confidence. Verifications (specific documents) are requested from each neighbor. Around the same time, an intake is scheduled to build the relationship and to have a deeper, detailed conversation about their life story.
Along the way whether Love INC staff or caring volunteers, we have the opportunity (and duty) to use all six core principles of the Redemptive Compassion® philosophy:
- Everyone has value.
- We are called to invest relationally in each other.
- Everyone has capacity and potential.
- Mutual participation is important.
- We must use wisdom and discernment.
- How we help should offer opportunities for transformation.
Once initial contact, verifications, and phone intake have all been completed, the Connection Center works to connect our neighbors to our Church Partners leading Gap Ministries that can help support them through the challenges they are facing.
Our role as Love INC Heartland is to provide the scaffolding, or the latticework so that our Church Partners to know they are helping people that have gone through a verification process and genuinely desire to move forward in their lives. Volunteers of the churches who run the Gap Ministries get the opportunity to be Jesus to our Neighbors.
Lastly, but most importantly, a critical piece of the Connection Center is to lead people to participate in our transformational ministry called the Fresh Start Program. In Fresh Start, our neighbors have the opportunity for Christ-centered fellowship every week. They have the opportunity to engage in biblically based life-skill teaching and coaching. They engage with volunteers on staff who can pray, listen, and assist them on their journey. I firmly believe each neighbor who participates in Fresh Start has the opportunity to use the talents God has given them.
This is truly the call of the Connection Center to connect people to the Love of Jesus. To connect our Neighbors to people who desire to be Jesus to them.
Be Jesus today in a small way with huge impact by supporting Watertown Evangelical Free’s gas card gap ministry! Many of our neighbors are facing financial hardship and having enough funds for gas is difficult. When you support this gap ministry, $25 gas cards are given to neighbors actively participating in our Fresh Start Program. A $25 gas card may not seem like much but it makes a huge impact for our neighbors to have designated funds for gas. Will you support this gap ministry? Give a gift of $25 (1 family) $50 (2 families) or $100 (4 families) today.
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May 8, 2024
About a year ago, a Spanish-speaking family was in one of our Love In the Name of Christ Heartland offices. They needed help for themselves and their little ones–specifically diapers. The mother didn’t know English, but the father did. Through shared language, we were able to begin forming a relationship with them. When we welcome neighbors to Love INC Heartland, there can be uncertainty about where the relationship will go once completing the intake process. But our heavenly Father knows, and we need to remain faithful.
We took the time to make referrals and get the family assistance. One of the places we connected the family to was a local church partner who leads a gap ministry to provide diapers and other baby items for families. Quickly, the family became involved in our Fresh Start Program. Again, we faced the barrier of speaking different languages. We rewrote the curriculum in Spanish using the tools available to us. The mother even used Google Translate to listen to the videos.
The family continued to need diapers. So, again, we connected them with more diapers. The family visited the church partner, and the church continued to build a relationship with them. Were our words about faith in Jesus sinking in? Did they understand that they are loved and valued by God? Again, we remained faithful to God that He would speak.
Recently, our Executive Director, Jim Holmlund, visited the same church partner to support the congregation and continue to build a stronger partnership with them. The people of the church also had been gathering food, which he was picking up to share with our neighbors involved in the Fresh Start Program. Little did he know how blessed he would be on that morning. During their worship service, there was an announcement that there would be a baptism. The pastor shared that the family sitting on the right side of the congregation would be bringing their youngest son forward for baptism. Jim was moved to see that the family baptizing their son was the same Spanish-speaking family that Love INC Heartland had been building a relationship with.
At first, they were a family needing diapers for their little ones. They were a family who needed someone to walk through the language barrier. They needed someone to take time and be with them. Love INC Heartland did that, and the church engaged them with the same attitude. Now, months later, their child was getting baptized into Christ Jesus and had a church to call home. The story of this family is one example of how God uses His people to make connections. It is also a model of what church partnership with Love In the Name of Christ is meant to be and is a real example of the Redemptive Compassion philosophy in action.
We believe that churches are called to see the image of God in others. Called to care about their neighbors. Called to share resources. Called to walk with those who are hurting. Called in invest in relationships. Called to transform lives and communities. We need your support to continue this ministry. We need people who will love them where they are and remind them how God sees them, regardless of the barriers. We invite you, your church, and even other groups you’re involved in to be part of this ministry!
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Feb 13, 2024
*Kendra had been with her children’s father since she was a teen, struggling with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder along the way. When he became abusive, she left with her children and filed a restraining order against him. Although Kendra left to improve her life, there was nowhere to go. She got in touch with her birth mother, whom she had barely known, and moved in, discovering that her mother was sick and needed a caretaker.
Kendra cared for her mother for a year, and when her mother passed, she found herself homeless. They moved in with a friend until she could find a job and a place to live. Working three jobs, trying to attend school, having no extended family to help, and not receiving child support—the bills kept piling up, and buying Christmas gifts for her children was impossible.
Then, a friend mentioned Love In the Name of Christ Heartland and how we could help. When Kendra called us, she was overwhelmed with gratitude. She appreciated the compassion of our Church Partner and their Gap Ministry of the Christmas Store. We shared our Fresh Start Program with her, and she wept over the idea that anyone would want to help her because she had felt abandoned by people all her life. Through attending church, she has realized that God never abandoned her and was led to Love INC Heartland for a reason. It was a divine connection. Kendra is overjoyed to begin classes at Fresh Start, further her relationship with God, and meet others to build a positive support system in her life.
Your story could be similar to Kendra’s. Your story could be different, too! We are here to listen and learn how to help you live the life God has planned for you. Caring staff and volunteers are available. Call the Love INC Heartland Connection Center at 763-999-7082 or visit loveincheartland.org/help
*Names have been changed to maintain confidentiality.
