Moving out of isolation and into healthy interdependence with LoveINC

By Robin Fleming

After reading the previous couple of posts, are you thinking more deeply about the damaging impact of individualism on community and wondering how you might respond to what God’s Word says about this? Are you also asking how Love INC is addressing people’s deep need for connection?

Love INC cares deeply about connection and community. This is apparent in its mission and structure, core values, and interactions with neighbors in need, and in the efforts of those in our LoveINC network to learn and grow as followers of Jesus.

First, the stated mission of Love INC and its structure is all about community. On the website at clackamasloveinc.org, you will read that the mission is to “mobilize local churches to transform lives and communities…”, not just individuals. Individual affiliates are described as “a partnership of local Christian churches,” where at least six churches have joined to do work in a “coordinated,” “cohesive,” and “collaborative” way.¹ With the continued encouragement and equipping of Love INC National, Christians are working together in healthy communities in the style of Jesus.

Undergirding and flowing from this are several core values that have “community” or “relationship” written all over them. First of all, we value people in need, allowing us to draw close to them regardless of circumstances, failures, personalities, or beliefs. Second, we value unity in the body of Christ, so we set aside theological, doctrinal, and liturgical differences in order to meet needs together in Jesus’ name. Third, we value the call for churches to love people, and so we minimize barriers and open doors so churches can reach and love people better. Fourth, we value Christlike relationships by promoting and practicing connection, encouragement, and helpfulness. And finally, we value connection within the Love INC movement: the support and guidance of Love INC National, affiliates learning from and encouraging each other, and churches dreaming, praying, and working together. All of it, all of it is about community.

More practically with our clients, we encourage and facilitate their connection with others – community – in support of the journey toward greater stability and health. In an environment of listening, compassion, understanding, and respect, we explore the health of clients’ current relationships, ask them to draw on those that are supportive, and encourage them to move toward interdependence, rather than absolute independence. We also promote and facilitate increased connection with their local church. Lastly, we offer ways for clients to move out of isolation and into community through classes, prayer calls, and other connection points.

In all of this, our effectiveness in ministry requires us, too, to move out of isolation and into healthy interdependence. We need and value the wide variety of gifts in the body of Christ; the strength of dreaming, praying, and growing together; and mutual encouragement. If you are part of this community, we are so glad. If you have not joined yet, we would love to have you!

¹loveinc.org