community builders

How Love INC Heals The Family Unit

By Stuart Smith

At Love INC of Clackamas County, we believe that the church of Jesus Christ is the solution to the challenges and struggles in our community. Our active partner churches are ready to help families experiencing the stress of poverty, no matter their circumstances. We are committed to providing assistance based on biblical principles that aim to restore the entire family unit in a comprehensive manner.

When working with neighbors in need, we aim to uphold several core principles that guide our efforts to create meaningful change. Two of these principles are “value” and “participation.” When individuals facing challenges recognize their worth and are able to take part in their solutions, everyone benefits, including their entire family.

Our first core principle is to see everyone’s value. Each person who draws breath has intrinsic value because they are created in the image of God. But over time, people struggling with poverty begin to associate their identity with their neediness. Their self-worth is reduced to the items they are requesting. They also unfortunately begin to believe that society, even some churches, see them solely as “the needy,” further eroding their God-given worth. The labels they identify with are hopeless, helpless, vulnerable, fearful, insignificant, worthless, embarrassed, rejected, unloved, powerless, incompetent, dependent, defeated, imprisoned, unimportant, humiliated… They feel like a failure and/or a mistake. They are often unaware that God has labeled them as “my beloved,” which is an intimate view of a person’s life.

Therefore, we begin each conversation by showing their value by using their name. Simply using their name begins to restore their dignity. From there, we ask more about who they are, their strengths and skills, and we see beyond just what needs they have and recognize their humanity. We insert more value during the conversation, and it is often reported by our callers that they felt human when they called Love INC. Showing value is the first step to restoring the family’s health.

Secondly, we require participation in a way that inspires personal growth and dignity. Participation should be done at the ability that offers success. We desire their growth more than tripping them up by standards that are too high. When they participate, it gives us all an opportunity to celebrate. When they are a participant in their restoration, it is something they did, not something we do for them. Participating in their future also decreases dependency and entitlement.

With these two principles, value and participation, the family finds its place and voice in the community. They also become active contributors to health within the community.

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Check out this special story!

Robin recently spoke with Angelica* who had been referred through a case worker. She contacted Love INC in hopes of finding some much needed furniture for her and her young daughter. They had recently left an unsafe living situation and were starting over in a new apartment.

As Angelica* talked with Robin on the phone, she shared that she had been shunned by most of her family because her child was mixed raced and they did not approve. Robin continued to hear Angelica’s* story and saw the opportunity to share with Angelica* that she was made in the image of God. Robin encouraged Angelica* telling her that her value came from God and there is nothing she could do to increase or decrease her value in God’s eyes.

There was silence for just a moment, and then Angelica* told Robin, “Thank you. I really needed to hear that.”

Robin then asked Angelica* if she would be interested in finding a good community of caring people in a local church, like a second family. She was very open to this, but she wasn’t quite sure where to start. She was sure that she wanted something that would provide playmates for her little girl and friendships for herself.

Robin suggested a nearby church partner that was filled with families her age where she would find plenty of friendships as well as playmates for her daughter. Angelica* was thrilled to hear that this church was what she was looking for and within walking distance from where she lived.

Robin then asked Angelica* if she would like a phone call from the church; someone that could tell her a little about the church and agree to visit her and introduce her to others in the church. Angelica* was surprised at the lengths a church was willing to go to help her feel welcomed and comfortable before she and her daughter visited.

As Robin brough the conversation to an end, she asked Angelica* if there were any of her needs that we had not been able to help her with. She responded “No, you’ve helped me in more ways than I was expecting. Thank you so much.”

Robin was able to be used by God in this conversation to encourage Angelica*, connect her to the resources she needed, and help make the connection to a supportive and encouraging community right by her.

This is just one example of how LoveINC works to not only heal and restore families, but ultimately, to bring healing in the family of God.

 

*Name changed to protect confidentiality

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