Love INC (in the name of Christ) held its grand re-opening beginning with a luncheon at Fourth Street Church, and ending with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new location in the old Teco building at 880 S. Pine Street.
At Tuesday’s luncheon, Love INC’s president Ryan McWherter of the Madera County Food Bank welcomed attendees and introduced the Executive Director of Love INC, Adrienne Alvarado, who in turn thanked McWherter for his own involvement in the community.
Mattie Mendez, Executive Director of Community Action Partnership of Madera County (CAPMC), is on the board of Love INC. She works in the community to aid low-income individuals and families to improve their economic opportunities and achieve independence.
She spoke of working with Love INC, and how this connection has been such a good partnership.
“I cannot do it without God,” she said. Her faith in God has given her the strength to help the people.
Alvarado spoke of how Love INC operates, helping individuals and families during tragic or otherwise difficult situations and working through networking with churches and other organizations to help.
She expressed her gratitude to all the individuals who have been so helpful and faithful in the efforts to revive Love INC to be fully operational today.
She ended her presentation with an introduction to the guest speaker and a short video that illustrated a family who had been helped by Love INC in furnishing their home.
The guest speaker was Dan Walker from Love INC’s national headquarters, who began with a short history of how Love INC started with one man who lived in a small town and had a vision for how his church and his community could help people in need.
The organization is now nationwide with more than 110 locations in 29 states, plus one in Kenya, networking with 5,500 churches and utilizing more than 13,000 volunteers.
Walker spoke of Love INC’s four Modes of Ministry, and explained each.
The first mode is a Connection Center, where relationships are built. This is the hub for resources. A person will call a church because there is a need. The church then connects with Love INC to see how that need can be fulfilled through its church network. Love INC then will call the person.
“It’s not the first call, but the calls back,” Walker said. “They just want to be connected.” When a person is in need, the most important feeling for them at that point is to know someone cares enough to help.
The second mode of ministry is the Gap Ministry, where Love INC helps fill the gaps of resources the churches cannot fulfill. Existing public agencies or local organizations can help fill these gaps.
The third mode of ministry is Transformational Ministry, during which other needs are met. The person or family needs a sense of community. They need guidance and mentorship, through their journey toward healing and growing in faith.
The fourth mode of ministry, as Walker explains, is Community Transformational Ministry. It is in this mode where Love INC mobilizes churches to change lives.
“Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself,” Walker said, as he quoted scripture. This is the core of the Love INC ministry.
“Be who you are, and serve your way. Do your part,” he said.
He explained that God gives each of us ways to serve, and together we can fill the gaps of needs for others.
He ended with a quote from the Bible, the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, verse 12, “There is nothing better for people than to be happy and do good while they live.”
Following the luncheon, the event was moved to the old Teco building, where a ceremony was held to “re-open” Love INC in its new location.
In the front of the building, Debi Bray, president and CEO of Madera Chamber of Commerce, introduced Alvarado, who in turn introduced her officers and board members and asked each to come forward — McWherter, president, Pastor Jim Garrison, secretary, and board members Mendez, Heather Betts, Pastor Josh Blair from Central Valley Church, and Pastor Lance Leach from Valley West.
Alvarado asked Deborah Cole to come forward to stand with her and the board. Cole is the Connection Center Coordinator. Alvarado also thanked and introduced the volunteers present.
Pastor Leach gave a prayer of blessing before recognitions and certificates were given by Mayor Cece Gallegos, the Madera County Board of Supervisors, and The Madera Tribune.
Mayor Gallegos and Walker joined Alvarado and the Love INC board, and the ribbon was cut on the grand re-opening of Love INC.
At the end of the ceremony, Alvarado invited all guests to come into the building to tour the thrift store and the office.