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.
Mar 14, 2025
Before Tiffany* learned about Love INC Heartland, her life was chaotic, unstable, and lost. She was homeless, living with her boyfriend and their brand-new baby girl in the basement of a relative while experiencing postpartum depression. She was changing career choices from fast food back to assisted living. During this time, she moved three times in six months into the homes of family members while trying to come up with the money to get an apartment. Shortly after this, she chose to become a single parent in an attempt to escape an unhealthy environment.
She lost everything.
It was still tough for her to wrap her head around all the struggles she was experiencing along the way. She was trying to maneuver through life blindly, not truly understanding how unsafe of a lifestyle she was creating. One night, she remembered her teacher asking, “Where do you see yourself in 5 – 10 years?” The Holy Spirit spoke to her, saying, “Be vulnerable, allow God to set the pace, instead of yourself. This is all temporary.” She realized she was trying to control her life and her own plans. She wasn’t open to what God’s plan was for her. She began searching for a helpful and safe community to guide her through this new season of life.
That’s when Tiffany was connected to the Fresh Start Program.
She began to share with Lisa, the Fresh Start Program Director, what she was experiencing. Lisa was so patient the entire time, helping Tiffany set some goals without her even realizing it in the moment. Lisa could see the positive impact of this program and knew it was exactly what God intended for her.
This program helped Tiffany learn about who she was, what her strengths and challenges were, and how to overcome them. She was not the same person she had been five years ago. The Bible says: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Without the Fresh Start Program, Tiffany wouldn’t have learned how to achieve her goals and dreams without their encouragement. By participating in this program, she transformed into someone who trusted God and gained better insight into how to take care of herself and her daughter physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially.
Because of Fresh Start, Tiffany’s life was forever changed for the better.
She was able to cultivate an optimistic outlook on life. It gave her a chance to dream again about what her future could look like.
We are seeing lives transformed In the Name of Christ through Fresh Start!
Fresh Start is our transformational program designed to help participants learn new skills, set goals and reduce stress in their home through weekly classes. Classes are offered throughout the year and topics include, Affirming Potential, Faith & Finances, Parenting, And more!
Will you support this program?
A gift of $1,500 supports one participant for one year.
*Name has been changed to maintain confidentiality.
Sep 13, 2024
Do you know about our Fresh Start Program?
Our Fresh Start Program is offered exclusively through Love INC Heartland. It’s a series of free, weekly classes that create opportunities to make positive life changes. While this is a core next step that we encourage neighbors in need to participate in, anyone is welcome to attend classes. Class topics include:
- Affirming Potential
- Faith & Finance
- Parenting
- And More
Lisa, our Fresh Start Program Director, shares, “We believe that as people [come to know] they are loved and valued by God, that they have God-given potential, and that God has a plan for their life. Their level of self-worth and hope increases and they become better equipped for life.”
*Kelly, at a very young age felt alone and struggled with her mental health. She was a single mom who had no confidence, no support system, and a lot of shame. For most of her life, she pictured blackness for her future as everything seemed so complicated. She met Lisa at a Gao Ministry event called Back to School Bash in 2019 and was asked to consider the Fresh Start program. She was not ready then, but in 2021 she reached an all-time low in her life and decided to reach out and join the Fresh Start Program. Kelly began to build a positive support system within Fresh Start. One of Kelly’s new friends was *Pamela, a single mom who had also walked a road of abuse and trauma much like Kelly. Pamela invited Kelly to a Christian single mom’s retreat and a trauma support group. This began a friendship, and with the support of each other, they are allowing God to heal their past. They now attend church together and believe God has good things in their future.
Both Kelly and Pamela’s ongoing stories are a real reminder that God has plans for both their lives.
Lisa reminds us that, “God sees us as human beings that He created with a special purpose. He does not see us as human doings where we are seen for what we have done or what we are doing.” A verse Lisa shares often is Psalm 139:14, I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. When we read this truth, we know that God has a special purpose for everyone.
Many of these relationships and support systems would not be possible without the Fresh Start Program. Will you help us continue to Love In the Name of Christ through our Fresh Start Program?
There are a variety of ways you can support this transformational ministry. A few ways are:
Jun 12, 2024
Marissa* first heard about Love In the Name of Christ Heartland when she met our Fresh Start Program Director, Lisa, at a church event a few months back. With two young children and the challenge of moving back in with her husband, who was recovering from alcoholism, Marissa was doing her best to navigate family life with God’s guidance. However, financial struggles were adding to their burden, and they needed support. Lisa shared her contact information with Marissa, urging her to reach out since she had shown interest in the Fresh Start Program.
As time passed, Marissa didn’t call Lisa. Lisa started to wonder about her and began praying that God would guide Marissa to them when the time was right, according to His plan.
“Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 CEB
The following day, Marissa finally made the call. It turned out that a friend of hers had been part of our Fresh Start Program and suggested Marissa give it a try. We were thrilled to reconnect with her and saw it as a sign of divine intervention prompting her call. Marissa and her husband joined Fresh Start, finding the classes valuable in their lives.
During one of the Fresh Start sessions, a volunteer returned after a long absence. Marissa recognized this volunteer from years ago. After the classes ended, Marissa confided that she believed God had placed that volunteer there that night to help her mend a relationship that had soured in the past. It was a powerful reminder to Marissa that God was guiding her towards forgiveness and reconciliation. She realized she needed to trust and follow His lead in her life. Clearly, God was at work in Marissa and her husband’s lives, and their participation in the Fresh Start program was evidence of that.
We eagerly anticipate witnessing what God has in store for them as they continue to trust Him for their future.
*Names have been changed to maintain confidentiality.
Mar 26, 2024
In August 2023, Love INC Heartland received a $4,500 grant from Delano Loretto Area United Way. This grant will fund our Fresh Start Program which encourages independence by helping people gain valuable life skills and see their self-worth. Volunteers from our partnership of churches provide community meals, lead classes, and mentor participants. Through this educational program, our neighbors in need are empowered to see their self-worth and take a Fresh Start towards self-sufficiency through a safe and loving environment. Thank you Delano Loretto Area United Way for supporting our ministry and mission to transform lives and communities In the Name of Christ (INC)!
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