Sep 9, 2025
Thank you for your faithful support and ongoing partnership with our ministry!
Because of you, Love INC Heartland is able to unite local churches to meet real needs and share Christ’s love with our neighbors. As the warmth of summer gives way to the cooler, cozier days of autumn, we’re reminded of the natural rhythm of change and new beginnings. Just as the seasons shift, we have opportunities to step into fresh ways of serving and growing together. This fall, we invite you to fall into action with Love INC Heartland by joining us in practical and meaningful ways—whether through prayer, volunteering, financial giving, or simply spreading the word about our mission in your community.
Pray For Love In the Name of Christ National Gathering
At this year’s Gathering, we’ll explore how God’s grace shows up at these intersections of life—through the cross, our calling, everyday encounters, and in life’s challenges. Together, we’ll turn to Scripture, reflection, and testimony to see how Christ meets us where we are, invites us into deeper relationship, and calls us to be present in the lives of others right where our paths meet. Because these moments are where the Church shines brightest: leaning in, walking alongside, and reflecting the love of Christ in tangible ways.
Love INC affiliates will unite together on September 23-25, 2025, to worship, be inspired by insightful keynote speakers, explore dozens of in-depth workshops, and experience meaningful connections with others in the Movement. Please pray for the Love INC Heartland team as we get ready to attend.
Gratitude For Back To School Bash Gap Ministry
Through partnership with WestPointe Church, over 50 students are beginning their school year with new backpacks and supplies—special thanks to everyone who donated financially to support this community effort.
Would you like to partner with us as a church, individual, or local business? Let us know at info@loveincheartland.org or call our main office 763-972-6547
Meaningful Meals At Fresh Start Program
Over 35 adults and 15 children are part of our Fresh Start Program! Mealtime offers a meaningful way to connect and grow together as a community. Will you support this growing community? You can serve a meal or pray for the Fresh Start Program today: bit.ly/fsmealtrain
Shop Weekly Sales In Our Love INC Heartland Thrift Stores
We have two Love INC Heartland Thrift Stores! One is located in Delano, Minnesota, and one is located in Howard Lake, Minnesota. Sales from our thrift stores support our mission and ministry and allow us to provide services, programs, and resources (like clothing or furniture vouchers) to those in need.
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Jun 16, 2025
Bethany* had just left an abusive marriage—for the third and final time. She had prayed earnestly for God to save their relationship, holding onto the promises they once made to each other. But after five long years marked by pain and instability, she knew it was time to walk away for good.
A stay-at-home mom of four, and now pregnant with her fifth child, Bethany left the only life she had known. She moved in with her parents and began a new chapter. With no income to support her family, she reached out to the County for help. That’s when she was connected with community resources—including Love INC Heartland.
When Bethany called us, we began a relationship by helping her meet basic needs for her family. We also invited her to join our Fresh Start Program. She started attending classes while our team lovingly cared for her children in childcare. Week after week, Bethany cried as she grieved the loss of the life she once dreamed of. While the program provided essentials like clothing, diapers, and food, she told us the greatest gift was being surrounded by people who reminded her that God has a plan—and she didn’t have to walk through this alone.
Through Fresh Start, Bethany began to realize that she wasn’t the only one. In her marriage, she had lived in secrecy, believing it wasn’t okay to reach out for help. The Fresh Start Program broke through that lie. What she truly needed was community—intentional community—where her family could begin to heal and thrive.
Bethany has started reading her Bible again. She’s praying more. She’s working hard to stop believing the lies about herself. Now, she’s sharing her story, hoping it gives other women the courage to step away from unsafe situations and know they are not alone. She understands now that unless someone has lived it, it’s hard to grasp the weight of such experiences. Today, she’s choosing to focus on what God is doing in her life and how she might help others walking a similar road.
Fresh Start is the opportunity Love INC Heartland provides for people to grow in practical skills while experiencing the power of a loving, Christ-centered community. Many who join the program have lived in what feels like a desert land. As they take classes and we build a relationship with them, their desert land begins to be tilled and a fertile soil is laid for the seed of the Gospel of Jesus to be planted. Our prayer at Love INC Heartland is for this seed of Jesus to germinate and bloom by the power of the Holy Spirit. 
“Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When He said this, He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” —Luke 8:8 (NIV)
Will you support this program? A gift of $1,500 supports one participant for one year.
*Name has been changed to maintain confidentiality.
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:
