Jan 13, 2026
Director’s Note: As For Me And My House
Written by Jim Holmlund, Executive Director of Love INC Heartland
Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
“Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” – Joshua 5:13–14 (NIV)
One of my favorite people in the Old Testament is Joshua. One of the things I respect most about him is how he stood before the nation of Israel after God had given them the Promised Land and their years of wandering had come to an end. They finally had a home. The land had been divided among the tribes, and God had been faithful in every way.
Yet even after all the Lord had done, some of the people still clung to idols from the lands they had left behind—and even from the new lands they now possessed. In Joshua’s final address to the people, he makes this clear: “If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Another favorite moment in Joshua’s story takes place on the plains near Jericho. Joshua stands before a well-defended city with massive walls, knowing the task ahead has been given to him by the Lord. I imagine his very human side looking out at the city and thinking, How are we going to do this, God? Not out of doubt, but out of human understanding.
Then a mighty figure appears—a warrior with a drawn sword. I imagine there must have been a moment of fear. Joshua asks a very natural question: “Are you for us or against us?” It’s a normal question—but was it the right one? The answer Joshua receives is not what he expects: “Neither. I am the commander of the army of the Lord, and I have now come.”
It is then that Joshua asks the right question: “What will the Lord have me do?”
I have been in that place. Have you? Standing in the middle of a trial or a task you know God has given you. In our hearts, we know the God of the universe is for us—but He is also the God of the universe, even for those we see as our enemies. That can be hard to wrap our minds around.
Often our prayers center on what we want, need, desire, or hope God will do for us. Our human nature, fear, and uncertainty about the future can drive those prayers. That isn’t wrong. Even Jesus prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me,” and then followed it with, “Yet not my will, but yours be done.”
I am compelled to be more like Joshua—to ask the Lord, “What will You have me do?”
The year 2025 was a season of growth and transition for Love INC Heartland. As an organization, we welcomed three new people into key leadership roles. I saw growth across every area of our ministry, and I believe our neighbors in need and our volunteers are being cared for in new and exciting ways. I truly believe God has big plans for Love INC Heartland in 2026.
Our prayer as we move into the new year is not a question of whether God is for us or against us. Our prayer is simply th is:
“Lord, what will You have us do?”
Celebrating 2025
Join us in celebrating all that God has done through Love INC Heartland in 2025!
Overall Love INC Heartland Stats
As of January 2025-December 31, 2025
- 2,143 Requests
- 3,850 Needs Met
- 8,367 Volunteer Hours
- $89,335 Gifts Given
Love INC Heartland is now serving 153 families and just 3 years ago we were serving less than 100.
Requests: Asks for help made to the Connection Center or Fresh Start Program.
Needs Met: The number of people helped from requests made to the Connection Center or Fresh Start Program. For example, one request could meet the needs of four people in a family.
Gifts Given: The value of gifts given to families and individuals active with Love INC Heartland. Gifts are given through Gap Ministries or Fresh Start Program. A few examples of Gifts are gas cards, diapers, and clothing/furniture vouchers.
Volunteer Hours: Logged time of volunteers from all areas of the Love INC Heartland ministry– Connection Center, Fresh Start Program, Board of Directors, Gap Ministries, Thrift Store, fundraising events, bookkeeping, and more.
Fresh Start Program: January-December
As of December 31, 2025
- 18 Fresh Start Program Mentor Meetings
- 1,973 Fresh Start Program Volunteer Hours
- 126 Fresh Start Program Class Sessions
53 people took classes in 2025!
Fresh Start Mentor Meetings: One-on-one meetings with a volunteer.
Fresh Start Volunteer Hours: Amount of time a volunteer has donated to Fresh Start Program.
Fresh Start Class Sessions: Each individual class.
Lord, What Will You Have Us Do?
Join us in praying this question as we look ahead to 2026.
If God is calling you to be part of this ministry, there are three simple ways to get involved:
Pray
Please pray for our staff, volunteers, and neighbors in need as we continue to follow God’s leading.
Donate
Consider becoming a monthly giving partner! Give online www.loveincheartland.org/donate/
Give A Gift
Volunteer
Volunteer with us loveincheartland.org/volunteer/
Volunteer
Together, may we seek His will and follow where He leads.
With gratitude,
Jim Holmlund
Executive Director, Love INC Heartland
Oct 10, 2025
Director’s Note: Our Daily Prayer
Written by Jim Holmlund, Executive Director of Love INC Heartland
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9–11 NIV
These verses come at the end of Paul’s message in Philippians 1, where he expresses his deep affection for the believers in Philippi. What compels me to share them with you today is that this is the same prayer we pray at Love INC Heartland every day. We pray that our love would abound, and that our knowledge and depth of insight would grow—so that we may clearly discern how and where the Lord is leading us.
This pursuit of knowledge and insight is vital to our mission. Whether we are walking alongside a neighbor in need, strengthening a relationship with a local church, or engaging a community partner, we must take the time to understand how to best serve in each unique relationship.
Our mission states that we mobilize local churches to transform lives and communities In the Name of Christ (INC). There can be no transformation, no mobilization, and no healthy relationships if our focus is only inward. Every neighbor, every church, every volunteer, and every organization we work with is different and special in their own way. Engaging these relationships “pure and blameless” requires deep discernment—discernment that only comes through prayer and a humble reliance on Jesus.
One of the characteristics of Jesus that continually draws me closer to Him is the way He met people where they were. He entered into people’s brokenness with compassion and truth. His presence brought comfort because His love was genuine and overflowing. Can you imagine what it will feel like to stand in His presence one day?
We know that, in our brokenness, we will never know all that Jesus knows. We make mistakes and fall short. Yet I am confident that the people of Love INC Heartland seek to be like Christ—to meet people where they are and offer them a glimpse of the hope that only Jesus can truly give.
We know only Jesus transforms.
We know only Jesus mobilizes.
And we invite you to be part of this work that He is doing through Love INC Heartland.
- Consider *Iris. After completing a 12-week Fresh Start Program session, she shared how important the weekly meals were. Those meals—provided by local churches—created space for fellowship, laughter, and encouragement.
- Or *Hank. He had a checkered past and had spent time in prison. When his car broke down, he called Love INC. After speaking with our Family Advocate and praying together, Hank called back a few days later. He’d found a way to fix his car himself. What he really needed was someone to listen—and to remind him that God still cares.
- Then there’s *Betty, who came to us feeling sad and hopeless. Her family was worried about her. After several weeks in Affirming Potential, one of our Fresh Start Program classes, her family noticed a difference. “They said I looked happier,” she shared. “I’m so glad they noticed.”
- And *Susie. At first, she wanted nothing to do with Fresh Start Program. “It’s not for me,” she said. But the Lord had other plans. Just before classes began, she felt led to enroll—and now she shares how much it’s helping her grow.
These are just a few of the stories we see God writing every week.
Would you consider joining us in this ministry—through your prayers, your time, or your financial support—so that more lives can be touched and transformed by the love of Jesus? Together, we can continue to see love abound, insight deepen, and hearts renewed.
With gratitude,
Jim Holmlund
Executive Director, Love INC Heartland
*Name has been changed to maintain confidentiality.
Walk Our Daily Prayer
We Need Your Prayer
Please pray for our staff, volunteers, and neighbors in need as we continue to follow God’s leading.
We Need Your Financial Support
Give online www.loveincheartland.org/donate/ or send a check to:
Love INC Heartland
PO Box 143
Delano, MN 55328
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We Need Your Time
Volunteer with us loveincheartland.org/volunteer/
Volunteer
Acts of Love: January-September
As of September 30, 2025
- 1,684 Requests
- 2,425 Needs Met
- 5,536 Volunteer Hours
- $45,700 Gifts Given
Requests: Asks for help made to the Connection Center or Fresh Start Program.
Needs Met: The number of people helped from requests made to the Connection Center or Fresh Start Program. For example, one request could meet the needs of four people in a family.
Gifts Given: The value of gifts given to families and individuals active with Love INC Heartland. Gifts are given through Gap Ministries or Fresh Start Program. A few examples of Gifts are gas cards, diapers, and clothing/furniture vouchers.
Volunteer Hours: Logged time of volunteers from all areas of the Love INC Heartland ministry– Connection Center, Fresh Start Program, Board of Directors, Gap Ministries, Thrift Store, fundraising events, bookkeeping, and more.
Fresh Start Program: January-September
As of September 30, 2025
- 12 Fresh Start Program Mentor Meetings
- 1,381 Fresh Start Program Volunteer Hours
- 90 Fresh Start Program Class Sessions
Fresh Start Mentor Meetings: One-on-one meetings with a volunteer.
Fresh Start Volunteer Hours: Amount of time a volunteer has donated to Fresh Start Program.
Fresh Start Class Sessions: Each individual class.
Jul 15, 2025
By Jim Holmlund, Executive Director | Love INC Heartland
Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas (Tabitha) had made while she was still with them. Acts 9:39 NIV
There’s a woman in the Bible named Tabitha. Her story is found at the end of Acts 9—just a few short verses among many miracles God performed through Peter. But what happened in those verses is remarkable: Tabitha died, and Peter, through the power of our risen Lord, raised her back to life.
Recently, at our local Love INC Converge event we listened to a message by Pastor Jeff Manion about this very passage. He introduced something he called The Tabitha Factor—the idea of doing something seemingly ordinary, with amazing consistency, to accomplish extraordinary things.
The Bible tells us that Tabitha spent her days making clothes for widows in her community.
These weren’t store-bought garments. They were hand-stitched—carefully, lovingly crafted.
When she died, the widows were devastated. They stood beside her body, holding the garments she had made for them, weeping.
These clothes were more than just fabric. In that time and place, they represented warmth, dignity, and hope—especially for widows, who were often left with nothing. Tabitha didn’t make headlines, but her daily acts of love left a legacy that impacted lives.
That message deeply encouraged me—and it reminded me so much of what we do here at Love INC Heartland.
We don’t always have flashy statistics to share. We’re not distributing thousands of meals or paying off mountains of bills.
But what we are doing, day in and day out, is investing in people the way Tabitha did.
We offer spiritual warmth through relationships rooted in Christ. We help restore dignity by walking alongside people with compassion and respect. Most of all, we help renew hope—the eternal hope found in Jesus.
The work we do may seem ordinary at times. But in the hands of our extraordinary God, it becomes transformational. Thank you for partnering with us in this quiet but powerful ministry.
Let’s keep doing the ordinary, with amazing regularity. Who knows how many lives it might raise back to hope?
Here are some ways you be a part of the ordinary actions that us make an extraordinary difference in the lives of the people we serve:
Pray — We need your continued prayers for this ministry and the people we serve.
Volunteer — Sign up to serve in our Connection Center, Fresh Start Program, Thrift Stores, or as office support.
Donate — You can be a part of this vital ministry by donating a financial gift to our General Fund
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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