Love In the Name of Christ is not just an organization—It is a faith-driven ministry. Our calling, empowerment, and hope are rooted in Him whose name we claim. Our mission is to mobilize His followers to show and share His love. Being Rooted in Christ is vital to our lives and work.
Join us for this year's Love INC National Gathering
September 20-21, 2023
This year’s Gathering will center around the theme of Rooted in Christ because we believe that being grounded in our faith is essential to our identity, purpose, and mission.
During the Gathering, you will have the opportunity to experience uplifting worship, insightful plenaries, in-depth training tracks, role-specific discussions, and meaningful connections with others in the Movement. We are excited to come together to deepen our faith, strengthen our relationships, and renew our commitment to living out the love of Christ in our communities.
We hope you will join us for this inspiring and transformative event. Together, we will continue to be Rooted in Christ and advance His Kingdom in our world.
Pre-Gathering Retreat - Now open to all
A Day of Courageous Honesty, Obsessive Truth-Telling, and Beautifully Ruthless Self-Discovery
This year, prior to digging into all of the amazing trainings we’ll be offering, all are invited to a one-day retreat! Join author, Jennifer Dukes Lee on Tuesday, September 19 for a day of Courageous Honesty, Obsessive Truth-Telling, and Beautifully Ruthless Self-Discovery. It’ll be just what we need to connect our whole selves to God so that we may work from a place of rest during our National Gathering.
Date/Time:
Monday, September 18—Welcome Dinner + Evening of Fun from 5-8pm
Tuesday, September 19—Retreat takes place from 8:30am-4pm
Cost: $100 for Retreat Only
SPECIAL GUEST LEADER: JENNIFER DUKES LEE
Jennifer Dukes Lee lives on the fifth-generation Lee family farm in Iowa, where she and her husband are raising crops, pigs, and two beautiful humans. Jennifer is the author of several books, including Stuff I’d Only Tell God, Growing Slow and It’s All Under Control. She loves queso, and enjoys singing too loudly to songs with great harmony. Once upon a time, she didn’t believe in Jesus; now he’s her CEO. Find Jennifer at JenniferDukesLee.com and on Instagram at @JenniferDukesLee.
2023 Training Tracks
At this year’s National Gathering, we’ll be featuring 6 full-conference tracks for you to choose from. You can explore Love INC Core principles, choose to learn more about working with Church Partners or how to develop a thriving transformational ministry, and more. Please note, however, that you must remain in your track’s sessions throughout the entirety of our time together.
Love INC Core
Audience: All Attendees
Let’s stay on mission! This track is relevant to everyone; those just beginning or long-timers. We will dive into who we are, who we help, how we help, why we help, who Love INC National is, and who Leads. Topics include: missional integrity, core values, ministry modes, mobilizing church volunteers, Redemptive Compassion®, healthy leadership, Love INC resources, and more.
Trainers:
Katie Popp, Director of Affiliates, Love INC National
Jennifer Lund, Developing New Affiliates Specialist, Love INC National
Judy Edwards, Church and Public Relations, Love INC of Treasure Valley, ID
Kim Wittel, Affiliate Resource Specialist, Love INC National
Joey Spiegel, Developing New Affiliates + Board Resource Specialist, Love INC National
Pathway for Affiliate Renewal
Audience: Executive Director and minimum of one board member
Affiliates go through various seasons of ministry. An extended season of struggle can weigh heavy on one’s heart and mind. We’ll walk along you in this track, beginning by sitting with the Lord, then exploring the following topics: the mission and vision of Love INC, stabilizing the board of directors, assessing current affiliate health, and laying out next steps. Note: this track has limited space. If interested in learning more or if you have additional questions, please email kim.wittel@loveinc.org.
Trainers:
James Austin, Executive Director, Love INC of Greater Cushing, OK
Kirk Vander Molen, Executive Director, Love INC National
Katie Popp, Director of Affiliates, Love INC National
John Cochrane, IT & Data Specialist, Love INC National
Joey Spiegel, Developing New Affiliates + Board Resource Specialist, Love INC National
Lois Tupyi, author of Redemptive Compassion and Compassion with Redemptive Power
Thriving Church Partners
Audience: Executive Directors, Affiliate Leadership, Board Members
Partner churches are the lifeblood of a local Love INC affiliate. Love INC cannot exist or thrive without vital partner churches. In this training track, participants will explore theory and praxis-oriented strategies for strengthening church connections, developing church partners, broadening the partnership reach, and contributing to the flourishing of their partners.
Trainers:
Daniel Walker, DMin Candidate, Camino Road
Ronnie Farmer, Director of Strengthening Ministry with Children Coordination Program at IWU
Enhancing Transformational Ministries
Audience: Comp TM/TM Coordinators
This track is for affiliates that have gone through Vision and Reality Training and are interested in enhancing their Transformational Ministry Classes and Program. In this track you will go deeper in Understanding Poverty by Ruby Payne, learn more about assessing neighbors, have time to share about your local Transformational Ministry Classes and receive collaborative input, engage in Equipping Allies Mentor Training, and even experience some soul care for yourself, as well!
Trainers:
Sharon Owens, Love INC of Allegan County, MI
Jean Eding, Director of Life Skills & Homes of Hope, Love INC of Allegan County, MI
Hilary Ford, Transformational Ministries Manager, Love INC of Treasure Valley, ID
Becky Staal, Certified Facilitator, People Developer, Event Coordinator, Volunteer Mobilizer
David Staal, Nonprofit Consultant, Team Dev Pastor, and former CEO of Kids Hope USA
Seeking Transformative Relationships
Audience: Gap Ministry Coordinators, Volunteer Coordinators, Clearinghouse Coordinators, Board
Love INC’s goal is not to meet needs transactionally, but transformationally through relationships. When Love INC flourishes in a community, healthy relationships grow, Christian love thrives, and mutual respect is experienced. This track will explore modeling excellence in healthy relationships with oneself, neighbors, volunteers, and the community. Track topics include sessions on incorporating prayer throughout your ministries, utilizing effective communication and technology to mobilize volunteers, going deeper in Gap Ministries, collaborating within your community and having a healthy relationship with oneself.
Trainers:
Becky Staal, Certified Facilitator, People Developer, Event Coordinator, Volunteer Mobilizer
David Staal, Nonprofit Consultant, Team Dev Pastor, and former CEO of Kids Hope USA
Vicki Conn, Executive Director, Love INC of Greater Holmes County, OH
Stuart Smith, Executive Director, Love INC of Clackamas County,
Catherine Vlieger, Director of Marketing and Communications, Love INC National
Debbi Miller, Clearinghouse Coordinator, Love INC of Greater Holmes County, OH
Relational Skills that Empower People to “Get Upstream of Conflict”
Audience: All Attendees
This seminar will provide guidance on how Love INC chapters can teach, model, and practice the principles of relational wisdom, biblical peacemaking, and servant leadership. Join us to learn how to equip your staff, boards, volunteers and neighbors with relational skills that will enable them to reduce conflict, experience stronger and more productive ministry and client relationships, and turn conflict into an opportunity to demonstrate the transforming power of the gospel.
In addition to studying self-awareness and self-discipline, empathy, communication, anger management, conflict resolution, problem solving, negotiation and emotional resilience together—all workshop attendees will receive free access to RW360’s more extensive 10-hour online course on relational wisdom.
Trainers:
Ken Sande, Founder of Peacemaker Ministries and RW360
Plenary Speakers + Worship Leaders
Eliza Cortés Bast
Vice president of outreach, STONECROFT
Eliza Cortés Bast is responsible for the development and multiplication of established and emerging leaders at Stonecroft, as well as the ministry’s outreach-based programs. She also supervises the innovation and continuous improvement work of the ministry, including the New Product Development process. She is passionate about facilitating strategic processes that help individuals and organizations ask good questions, release talent, and amplify the good. Eliza is an adjunct faculty member and has designed curricula for Cornerstone University and Northpoint Bible College, teaching at the intersection of leadership, business, and ministry. She is an Ed.D. candidate at Cornerstone University in Organizational Leadership. She resides in Michigan with her amazing family.
Ronnie Farmer
Artist, DIRECTOR OF STRENGTHENING MINISTRY WITH CHILDREN COORDINATION PROGRAM AT INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
Ronnie Farmer Jr. is the director for Strengthening Ministry with Children Coordination Program at Indiana Wesleyan University. Farmer is also the founding director of the I Have A Dream Preschool Academy, which is a dual language immersion preschool that champions racial reconciliation among children. Farmer received his M.A. from Asbury Theological Seminary where he studied Christian Ministries and Worship and the Arts. An incredible visual artist, during his plenary, Ronnie will be painting live. Don’t miss this incredible experience.
Russ Parrish
WORSHIP LEADER
Stylishly fusing the delicacy of acoustic guitar play with breathy, expressive and increasingly powerful vocals, Russ Parrish’s naturally compelling sound has graced our Love INC National Gathering for many years. Join him and his band for soulful worship songs throughout our Gathering, and if you want to continue listening at home.
David Staal
NONPROFIT CONSULTANT, TEAM DEVELOPMENT PASTOR, AND FORMER CEO OF KIDS HOPE USA
David Staal brings passion, leadership, and experience to any role in which he serves. Currently, he consults for select nonprofit organizations, serves as a team development pastor, and writes. Prior to these positions, he led the fundraising team for Bethany Christian Services after he re-engineered a small nonprofit organization as the Interim Executive Director / Consultant to the Board. He served for 11 years as CEO of Kids Hope USA, a national organization with a Michigan headquarters. While there, Kids Hope USA experienced tremendous national growth, opened five regional offices, and added a customer support center.
Kirk Vander Molen
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LOVE INC NATIONAL
Workshop Leaders
James Austin
Executive Director of Love INC of Greater Cushing, OK
John Cochrane
IT & Data Specialist,
Love INC National
Vicki Conn
Executive Director, Love INC of Greater Holmes County, Ohio
Jean Eding
Director of Life Skills & Homes of Hope, Love INC of Allegan County, MI
Judy Edwards
Church + Public Relations, Love INC of Treasure Valley, ID
Hillary Ford
Transformational Ministries Manager, Love INC of Treasure Valley, ID
Jennifer Lund
Developing New Affiliates Specialist, Love INC National
Debbi Miller
Clearinghouse Coordinator, Love INC of Greater Holmes County, OH
Sharon Owens
Love INC of Allegan County, MI
Katie Popp
Director of Affiliates, Love INC National
Ken Sande
Founder of Peacemaker Ministries and RW360
Stuart Smith
Executive Director of Love INC of Clackamas County, OR
Joey Spiegel
Developing New Affiliates + Board Resource Specialist, Love INC National
Becky Staal
Certified Facilitator, People Developer, Event Coordinator, Volunteer Mobilizer
Lois Tupyi
Previously, Executive Director of Love INC of Treasure Valley
Catherine Vlieger
Director of Marketing and Communications, Love INC National
Daniel Walker
Camino Road
Day 1
Wednesday, September 20
- 8am | Welcome + Hot Breakfast
- 9:30am-10:30am | Plenary #1
- 10:30am-10:45am | Break
- 10:45am-12:15pm | Training Session 1
- 12:15pm–1:15pm | Lunch
- 1:30pm-2:30pm | Plenary #2
- 2:30pm-2:45pm | Snack
- 2:45-4:45pm | Training Session 2
Day 2
Thursday, September 21
- 8am-8:30am | Coffee
- 8:30am-9:30am | Plenary #3
- 9:30-9:45am | Snacks
- 9:45 am-11:30am | Training Session 3
- 11:30am-12:30pm | Lunch
- 12:30pm-1:30pm | Plenary #4
- 1:45pm-3pm | Training Session 4
- 3:15 pm-4:45 pm | Training Session 5
- 5:30pm | Refreshments
- 6pm | Final Plenary and Award Dinner at Hotel
Village Church of Gurnee
1319 N Hunt Club Road
Gurnee, IL 60031
Great Wolf Lodge of Gurnee
We’ve taken your feedback to heart, and moved our hotel for 2023! Join us this year at the Great Wolf Lodge of Gurnee, Illinois. Simply visit their website and enter the group code—2309LOVE—to make your reservation by August 18, 2023. Our discounted nightly guest room rate is $125.00 + $9.99 Resort Fee and tax for a $153.09 total. (Includes 4 Water Park Wristbands per room so come ready for some evening fun!)
If you prefer to speak to a customer service representative, you can call their Central Reservation Line at 1-844-485-9653.
Registration is now closed for our 2023 National Gathering, but you can still catch four of our plenary sessions online!
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
9:30am-10:30am CENTRAL
Rooted in Christ – The Head of the Body: Kirk Vander Molen
1:30pm-2:30pm CENTRAL
Biblical Neighboring: Ronnie Farmer
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
8:30am-9:30am CENTRAL
Interdependence: Eliza Cortes Bast
12:30pm-1:30pm CENTRAL
Love INC Movement Update
