There's power in prayer, and Love In the Name of Christ (INC) and the Manheim Ministerium want you to feel it.
"Through prayer, we seek wisdom to discern the needs of our communities, courage to address challenges and compassion to serve others well," said Katie Leaman, communications and donor development coordinator for Love INC. "We want to be able to hear, understand and pray for the needs of the Manheim community."
Love INC and local pastors will pray for community needs during a virtual National Day of Prayer event on Thursday, May 2. To participate, people may scan the QR code in the ad found in the May 1 issue of the Merchandiser or may send a prayer request to lauriecircleoflove@loveinclancaster.org. Prayer requests may also be submitted using a contact form at https://loveinclancaster.org/contact-us.
People are invited to share a prayer for Manheim as part of event. Prayer requests could be for something specific relating to food, housing or support, answering the question, "What is the one thing you think people in Manheim need prayer for?"
Love INC and the Manheim Ministerium have been working together since the fall of 2022 to respond quickly to the needs of people in the Manheim Central School District, Leaman shared. When people contact a church for assistance, they are referred to Love INC, where staff members and volunteers help connect people with the support they need.
Soon, the two organizations realized they could do even more. "Love INC began a more formal relationship vetting needs for the churches in Manheim," Leaman recalled. "As we began to hear and better understand the Manheim community, both Love INC and the ministerium shared a passion for expanding our effectiveness in serving the Manheim area more intentionally."
The organizations are working together to support various streams of countywide ministry.
"Our mobilization campaigns, The Metamorph, The Project and The Meal, are opportunities for churches to mobilize their church congregations to serve their neighbors," Leaman noted. "The Metamorph will be a pilot opportunity in 2025 for churches to serve a local life-transforming organization in their community." The Project campaign is currently underway, with 31 churches committed to serving homeowners in 10 school districts. Over the summer, church members will support their neighbors in need by providing essential home repairs. The Meal takes place in November and is a time when individuals and families connect with and bless their neighbors by providing the ingredients for a Thanksgiving meal. "In November of 2023, church families from four school districts served 60 families in need," Leaman said.
Additionally, Love INC partners with churches and community resources to assist families facing homelessness through the Homes of Hope program, and individuals in need are connected with resources for support through the Hope & Wholeness Center. The call center has been serving the community for more than 30 years, Leaman said, and the partnership with the Manheim Ministerium will help the service deepen its positive influence.
"Beginning in Manheim Central, we foresee additional impact in Hempfield and Manheim Township schools," Leaman commented. "A steering team is meeting monthly, working on a permanent home for the Hope & Wholeness Center."
Leave a Review