The Love INC clearinghouse maintains a directory of existing local church ministries and also seeks to identify areas for new ministry development. In Love INC language we call these new ministries "gap" ministries. They are designed to respond to identified "gaps" in services offfered in the community. Some are offered by one church alone and others by groups of churches.
When we receive multiple calls for the same need, we present this information to our partner churches for their consideration. It is our hope that the unmet need will be a “good match” with the current gifts and talents within a particular church. It may also be that an existing ministry can be adapted or perhaps a multi-church coalition formed.
Since Love INC's inception in 2008, the following ongoing church gap ministries have been developed in response to identified needs in our clearinghouse:
- handcrafted bunk-bed frames- Evangelical Church Free Church, Columbia
- tot's clothing closet - Alive in Christ Luthern Church, Columbia
- hygiene products closet - Memorial Baptist Church, Columbia
- baby equipment closet - Columbia First Assembly of God, Columbia
- Sew You Know sewing instruction center - Community Methodist Church, Columbia
- job club (for job seekers) - Alive in Christ Luthern Church, Columbia
- Laundry Love project - First Christian Church and Memorial Baptist, Columbia
- The Caring People single mom support group network: First Presbyterian Church, The Crossing Church, Russell Chapel (multi-church), Columbia Square Apartments (multi-church)
- uMOja Refugee Support - Multi-church and community member coalition (http://refugeesupport.ning.com)
In Columbia some of the other ministries in local churches include:
- food pantries/free meals
- clothing
- home repairs
- summer children's lunch
- jail/prison ministries
- literacy/tutoring
- support/recovery groups
- money management instruction
- parenting instruction
- marriage enrichment
- refugee support
- holiday/food gifts
If you are interested in more information about these church programs, please contact the Love INC. office
