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/
Volunteer
Volunteer with us loveincheartland.org/volunteer/
Together, may we seek His will and follow where He leads.
With gratitude,
Jim Holmlund
Executive Director, Love INC Heartland