Local Organization Coordinates Compassion Project
On July 24, when Lora Brock led a team of eight volunteers from Ephrata Community Church (ECC) to work on a home on Maple Street in Lititz as part of Love INC's Compassion Project, she knew the church members would be removing insulation, weeding, and painting. Brock did not know, however, that she and other team members would be leading a neighbor to the Lord.
"This man came over and asked if we could work on his mother's house," said Brock, who told the man she would give him ECC's number to arrange for a future visit. "The next thing he said was, 'Will you pray for me?'" said Brock, who added that the team quickly surrounded the man and began lifting him in prayer. "He knew Jesus died on the cross for sins, so I asked, 'Would you like to pray to receive Jesus as your Savior?'" When the man did, the team celebrated with him.
Katie Leaman, communications and donor development coordinator for Love INC of Lancaster County, said the team that visited the home on Maple Street in Lititz that day was one of many working in the county, including those working in Ephrata and Manheim. "We have the following churches participating in projects at about 70 different sites," reported Leaman, who said that Chiques Church of the Brethren, Erbs Mennonite, Erisman Mennonite, Manheim Brethren in Christ, Newport Church, St. Paul's United Church of Christ of Manheim, and White Oak Church were also involved in projects during the mid-summer.
Leaman explained that Love INC's Compassion Project, coordinated by Nathan Minnich, helps empower churches to use their gifts in the community. "Love INC receives calls from people who have needs," explained Leaman, who noted that each spring Love INC advertises for homeowners in need of repairs to contact them. Most requests involve home repairs, landscaping, or painting. She added that those making the requests are often elderly and cannot do the work themselves or do not have the financial resources to hire someone to do it. Those who make requests complete an intake process with a Love INC volunteer, and then Minnich contacts churches connected with Love INC to see which ones would be able to meet those needs.
"Each church we are partnered with has a church ministry coordinator," said Leaman, who noted that about 170 Lancaster County churches are engaged with Love INC. Leaman explained that Love INC is educated in the gifts churches are ready to share. "We reach out saying, 'We have someone in the community with a particular need, and I know that your church has someone who is gifted in that area,'" she said. Churches usually respond with a date when a church group can visit a home to complete repairs.
Reflecting on the experience the ECC group had in Lititz, Leaman remarked, "Part of our hope in this is that the church community is connecting with the homeowners and the neighbors." Brock told Leaman that the man who asked for prayer also needed transportation to church, and that she was already working with him to help meet that need.
More information about Love INC may be found at https://loveinclancaster.org.
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