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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Jan 17, 2025
1 Kings 19:11-13
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
As I reflect on 2024 for Love INC Heartland, it was a year of blessings, challenges, lives touched and changed, and meaningful relationships.
In short, it was a year in ministry.
In life, in work, and in all things, it is easy to get caught up in what seems to demand the most attention. For example, in 2024, we operated with a vacancy in one ministry staff position. This placed an extra burden on other staff and volunteers to carry the load. We also spent significant time, energy, and effort conducting searches for a store manager at our Howard Lake Thrift Store—twice! Then there were the trials of relationships, processes, and other challenges Satan uses to undermine what God intends for good.
It’s easy to get caught up in it all. It’s easy to get distracted. It’s easy to miss or even forget what God is doing and where He truly resides.
A while ago, I was sitting at my desk, contemplating an issue that required attention.
On my desk calendar, I wrote the word “Whisper.”
In 1 Kings 19, Elijah was on the run. He had just defeated the prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel, but now, fearing for his life, he was fleeing from King Ahab and Jezebel. Elijah was at the point of wanting to give up. Struggles in any area of life can drain our physical, emotional, and spiritual resources. But God didn’t let Elijah give up. He provided nourishment and sent Elijah on a journey—a journey that lasted 40 days.
Elijah arrived at a cave on Mt. Horeb, the Mountain of God, where he rested. I love what happens next: God says, “Elijah, what are you doing here?”—as if God didn’t already know.
Elijah poured out his heart, telling the Lord everything he had done for Him and how he now felt all alone, running for his life.
God instructed Elijah to stand on the mountain and wait for Him to pass by.
Sometimes it’s easy to see God in the big, dramatic moments. Elijah waited for God in a windstorm. He stood on the mountain through an earthquake. He searched for God in a raging fire. Yet, God was not in any of those moments.
Then Elijah heard a whisper.
Upon hearing it, he immediately pulled his cloak over his face.
I’m not sure what God’s exact intent was for Elijah as he waited through the storm, the earthquake, and the fire. But I do know it makes a powerful metaphor for us. The Lord of the Universe is not always in the storms, earthquakes, and fires of life—but He is ever present in the whispers of truth.
I am proud to say that Love INC Heartland is an organization of staff, board members, volunteers, and churches that earnestly seek the Lord in the whisper. Here are some ways God whispered His presence to us in 2024:
- Clients: We served 124 families, up from 93 families in 2023—an increase of 33%.
- Needs Met: With the increase in families served, we also saw an increase in needs met. In 2024, we met 6,633 needs—1,200 more than in 2023 and a 100% increase since 2022.
- GAP Ministries: Each need was met through one of our partner churches’ GAP Ministries. In 2024, we saw growth in our Prayer Ministry and the creation of a new Mattress Ministry.
- Volunteers: Volunteers contributed 9,700 hours, the highest number since before COVID. Thank you to all of our past and present volunteers. Our ministry would not be possible without you!!
- New Staff: At the end of 2024, God brought us Sabrina Gustafson as our new Family Advocate. A long-time volunteer, Mary Schlief, accepted the Store Manager position at our Howard Lake location.
- Financial Resources: To accomplish all these God-ordained tasks, we needed financial resources. In 2024, we saw a 37% increase in support from individuals, along with a significant memorial gift.
God’s whisper is powerful. His message to Elijah was clear. Elijah knew what he had to do next—he had to get back to work. He couldn’t run anymore.
We are confident in our mission and know what God has called Love In the Name of Christ Heartland to do.
We are here to serve people, serve churches, and serve each other.
We believe there are great things happening in the whispers of God.
Come be involved:
Since the fall of humankind, God’s plan has been one of redemption and restoration amidst the winds, earthquakes, and fires of life. Join an organization that seeks to be part of God’s plan.
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Oct 14, 2024
Jim Holmlund, Executive Director of Love INC Heartland
“And on receiving it, they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’” (Matthew 20:11-15, ESV)
Have you ever felt like the workers in the vineyard? These verses come at the end of one of Jesus’ parables in which a master hires people at different times during the day. Some he hired in the morning, some later in the morning, some in the early afternoon, and some late in the day. In the parable, the master pays each of them the same.
I know that from time to time, I have felt like one of the workers who was hired early in the day. It is easy to look at these verses and feel like Jesus is saying, You get what you agree to, and you should not worry about what others get. If you have ever been taught, or even thought, that this is why Jesus told this parable, you are mistaken. That is an earthly problem—it is an issue of our sinful nature.
In my work at Love INC Heartland, I see this many times as we serve our neighbors in need. It is easy for the givers to feel taken advantage of when the ‘ask’ for their help seems questionable. For example, when a giver hands out an item the neighbor really needs, and then finds out that the receiver has a 60-inch TV, it naturally creates mistrust in the giver.
Love INC affiliates were started to mediate this mistrust. We believe the local church is God’s answer to community brokenness and a part of His plan for redemption and restoration. We exist to be the bridge between the calling of churches and the struggles of the community. All of our church partners are asked to refer neighbors in need to Love INC Heartland, no matter at what stage of the church partnership.
When a neighbor calls us, we begin to build a relationship with them. We listen to their story, clarify questions, and verify their information. Through this relationship, we can help the giver understand the real needs of the person. Our Redemptive Compassion® philosophy helps us maintain a healthier relationship between the giver and the receiver.
Now, I share all of that to share this: this parable has nothing to do with how we feel about what we give or get in this world. This parable is about the Kingdom of Heaven. Some of us have been believers for as long as we can remember. Some of us became believers in our adult lives, and still others became believers later in life. Yet all of us who have faith in Jesus Christ, no matter when we give our hearts to Him, receive the same gift of eternal life. I find it best to let the Master of the vineyard, Jesus, use His generosity to give this gift to whoever He desires.
Our role is to be the workers in the vineyard. Our role is to bring this transformational relationship to everyone we can. Part of the Love INC mission is to transform communities. What better transformation can happen than for people to fully understand the love and grace of the God of the universe and the gifts He has to give?
From the first call a neighbor makes to Love INC Heartland, they know we are about Jesus. We connect them to Jesus people who want to share what they have and be Jesus to those who are in need. Jesus is an integral part of our classes offered in our Fresh Start program, and He is in the hearts of everyone who serves on our staff and as volunteers.
I invite you to be part of this transformational ministry. Help us give hope to people who do not have hope. The hope I speak of is not financial hope; the only true hope we can give is the hope of Jesus and the gifts He has for us all.
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Jul 15, 2024
There’s a verse in the Bible that’s often joked about for being the shortest. People say, “I know the Bible; I have a verse memorized,” and then state, “Jesus wept.” Perhaps even in my younger years, I told that joke one too many times.
It’s true, John 11:35—”Jesus wept”—is indeed the shortest verse in the Bible. However, its significance and meaning run deep. To understand why Jesus showed emotion, we must first grasp the reason behind his tears. Many think Jesus wept out of love for Lazarus (John 11:36).
But let’s dive deeper into John 11. This chapter reveals profound truths about the Lord of the Universe. Early on, Jesus hears that Lazarus is gravely ill. Despite this, when informed, he declares that Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death but will serve to glorify God’s Son, Jesus (John 11:4).
Jesus delays his journey by two days, then tells his disciples plainly that Lazarus has died and that he intends to go to him. When Jesus arrives at Bethany, where Lazarus is entombed, Lazarus has been dead for four days—a time significant in Jewish belief, as it was thought that the soul lingered for three days after death.
One of the most poignant moments in Jesus’ earthly ministry follows. Bethany is close to Jerusalem, akin to a suburb bustling with mourners. Martha approaches Jesus, and John recounts their exchange poignantly in John 11:21-27. Martha initially laments that if Jesus had been there, her brother would not have died, but she also expresses faith that God will grant Jesus whatever he asks. Jesus reveals his purpose to her, proclaiming in verses 25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Later, Mary and others join them, weeping in sorrow. Witnessing their grief deeply moves Jesus. Verse 33 tells us, “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.”
As they lead Jesus to the tomb, his compassion and love for humanity are evident—he weeps, despite knowing his plan from the outset. He knew Lazarus would live again, yet his empathy for our pain is profound.
The Lord of the Universe, the Lord of Life, feels compassion for us. Do you believe this? He doesn’t remove all our struggles; due to sin, we live in a broken world. Yet Jesus sees the bigger picture. Ultimately, his plan is life. This story ends with Lazarus being raised to life, showcasing Jesus’ power over death.
At Love INC Heartland, our mission is to extend this compassion and empathy to those stuck in life’s struggles. Our role isn’t to eliminate these struggles but to reveal hope in Jesus amid them. This partnership between Love INC and the Church—God’s people—is crucial. Through it, we reflect Jesus’ deep compassion and love to those in need.
Here’s how you can help us embody Jesus to others:
Together, let’s show that life—God’s plan from creation—is what we offer through Jesus. Thank you for being part of this mission with us.
Apr 17, 2024
“And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God!'” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20 NET)
Our mission at Love INC is to mobilize local churches to transform lives and communities In the Name of Christ. Our goal, the reason why we have that mission, is poverty alleviation. Our work is rooted in helping people grow out of a cycle of poverty to a place where they see their self-worth and understand that they have gifts, talents, and the ability to succeed in life. We know all people have worth because our Creator, God the Father, has given each person a unique purpose for their life. We find minimal comfort in providing temporary relief for someone stuck in a cycle of poverty. Giving someone a handout only offers temporary relief and keeps them stuck in their cycle of need, which is why we help people through the lens of the Redemptive Compassion® philosophy.
The philosophy of Redemptive Compassion® is based on many principles from a book called When Helping Hurts. In the book, the authors express, “Poverty alleviation is the ministry of reconciliation: moving people closer to God by living in a right relationship with God, with self, with others and with the rest of creation. (When Helping Hurts p74)”
Our ministry walks alongside our neighbors in need and helps them understand their value and know they have salvation through Jesus Christ. The authors continue to say, “Rather, the goal is to restore people to a full expression of humanness, to being what God created us all to be, people who glorify God by living in, right relationship with God, with self, with others and with the rest of creation. One of the many manifestations of these relationships being reconciled is material poverty alleviation. (When Helping Hurts p74)”
To truly understand the ministry of reconciliation that Paul refers to in his letter to the Corinthians, we must understand what reconciliation means. Merriam-Webster defines the action of reconciling as “to restore to friendship or harmony. To settle, to resolve.” (Wednesday, April 17, 2024, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconcile )
This means reconciliation is the act of putting things back together, to bring balance. For something to be reconciled, something must be out of balance. As Christians, we know that our relationship with God became broken. We also know that Jesus’ death and resurrection restored this broken relationship. We are all broken and need the grace of Jesus.
Most people either don’t admit it or dislike speaking about how they may play a part in their broken relationships. It is difficult to recognize when we hurt people with our actions. This principle is also true for people stuck in generational poverty. One of the harsh realities of people stuck in this cycle of poverty is they do not have strong relationships with their family, friends, spouse, children, education systems, faith, jobs, or any other type of relationship.
This reality is why we partner with our local church partners to offer our Fresh Start Program. Through this program, one of our goals is to help people learn how to have better relationships. We firmly believe that to restore our relationships with others, we must have a relationship with Jesus. Jesus is a part of all of our classes. It is difficult for us to have strong relationships with others if we don’t think Jesus wants a relationship with us. Being a Christian, or becoming a Christian, is not a requirement to participate in Fresh Start, but Jesus is there. His Word is present in the curriculum. He is among the people who greet, serve meals, lead/co-lead classes, and mentor one-on-one. Reconciling relationships with Jesus is what we are about. We desire to model Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:20, “Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God!'” (2 Corinthians 5:20 NET)
Have you experienced this reconciliation with God in your life? Are you passionate about your church community? Does the Love INC ministry excite you? Then, please consider becoming involved and using the God-given skills, talents, and gifts that are unique to you.
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We understand that the philosophy of Redemptive Compassion® may be new to you. We welcome you to learn more by attending our six-week group study I will lead during our Fresh Start Program starting May 6. We will watch a video in each session, followed by a group discussion. A small fee of $10 is required to cover the cost of the book.
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I conclude by asking everyone who reads this to pray for this ministry. Specific things you can pray for are for people to come to know Jesus through our work, the staff/volunteers who walk closely with our clients, and the wisdom of the board, myself, and the staff who lead this ministry.
Jan 15, 2024
Jim Holmlund Executive Director, Love INC Heartland
A Note From Our Executive Director
Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:16-17 NIV
Every day, I receive a daily Bible verse emailed to me from BibleGateway. This verse was sent to me the morning I was preparing to write to all of you, our supporters of Love In the Name of Christ Heartland.
These are the words Isaiah wrote as he received a vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. The vision is a call from our Lord for his people to change their ways. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, our nature as people has been to look inward and not upward.
Verse 16 spoke to me about our work at Love INC Heartland.
Every day, I talk to the oppressed, the fatherless, the widowed, the divorced, the homeless, the confused, the hurting, and, most part, the material poor of the world. We often talk about the abandonment the people we work with feel in their lives. They feel abandoned by family, friends, and God. The people I speak to live in our communities. They are people who live amongst us. In most cases, you might never know who they are, but they are people you come across daily as you move about your community. In 2023, Love INC Heartland has grown in our capacity to serve those very same people.
As I read these two verses, looking through the lens of how we serve our neighbors in need, I am encouraged.
Redemptive Compassion® is the philosophy we use as we serve people who are struggling. This philosophy touches on two types of compassion necessary when serving the material poor. The first is charity compassion; the other is development compassion. In simple terms, charity compassion is a handout, and developmental compassion is a hand-up. Please don’t get me wrong–there is a place and a need for charity. However, charity compassion often becomes more about what we do than helping those receiving the charity. Sometimes, charity compassion to the material poor becomes a crutch that is more self-serving than it is a help for those who receive the charity. Charity compassion never really changes the status quo for the fatherless, the widowed, the divorced, etc., for anyone stuck in a cycle of generational poverty.
We often struggle to balance charity and developmental compassion at Love INC Heartland. We do our best to focus on developmental compassion. We use charity compassion to open the door to developing a relationship with our neighbors in need. We focus on working with people who have a desire to grow. They want to use the charity they receive to get to a place where they no longer need to rely on handouts. Most of that development comes through our neighbors in need attending our Fresh Start Program. In 2023, we saw our Fresh Start Program take a step forward. Here are some stats from Fresh Start this past year.
In closing, Isaiah is not just addressing Judah and the rest of Israel. He is speaking to all of God’s people. We, God’s people, are Israel.
In our broken nature, we fall into the same traps people have succumbed to since the fall of man into sin. We focus on us. It is our nature. I call on you to reflect upon ways you can be a part of developmental compassion in someone’s life. I know developmental compassion is difficult. It can get messy and consume one of our most precious resources: time. It takes a relationship with that person. Charity compassion is appealing to us because, in most cases, it requires very little on our behalf. Ask God to help you see where you can meet them where they are and help them become who God has called them to be. Yes, this speaks to more than just the material needs of people. It is about the whole person. We will continue to be about the entire person at Love INC Heartland.
In the coming weeks, we will send out our Annual Report. Our Annual Meeting is scheduled for February 20, 2024, at Delano United Methodist Church at 6:30pm. Thank you to one of our Abundant Church Partners for hosting this meeting, please mark your calendars to attend.
Thank you for being so supportive, whether financially, in volunteering, or through prayer; it has blessed us in 2023. May God continue to bless you as you answer the call to serve God’s people in 2024.
In Christ,
Jim Holmlund
Executive Director
Love INC Heartland
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You can make hope and transformation possible for our neighbors in need by becoming involved through financial giving, volunteering at Fresh Start, volunteering in our Connection Center, praying, and more.
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