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| Christian Love Link: A Network of City Churches Helping The needy A seminar on 'Ministry to the Poor' was the catalyst that began Christian Love Link in New Zealand. Jeannie Hay, wife of the then Mayor of Mt. Roskill, had attended and wanted to initiate some work for the poor in her city. From ringing the World Vision office she found out about Love Inc., that operates in U.S.A. Using this idea she set about establishing Love Link among the churches in Mt. Roskill, Auckland. In the five years since it was set up, it has expanded to 24 affiliates throughout New Zealand, involving almost 400 churches. What Is Christian Love Link? Love Link does not in itself provide direct services to people in need. Rather, it links people willing to help with those who are in need. Needs are referred to Love Link by pastors, community agencies and by direct client contact. Next Love Link analyzes the nature and extent of the need, and whether it is legitimate. It then identifies the helping resources. These helping resources do not just include the churches. Love Link is aware that there are already many agencies operating for specific needs, such as the Department of Social Welfare, Meals On Wheels, church foodbanks, legal, medical, psychiatric and spouse/child abuse agencies. So rather than doubling up on services, they use them. Church Involvement Help that can be provided by church members is passed on to a church coordinator in the vicinity of the person in need. The coordinator then allots one of the members to help the person. Church members find the tasks they are called on to do are -
e.g. 1) A family rang needing two comfortable single beds as sore backs were a real problem in the household. Almost immediately, someone living in very close proximity to the needy family rang in donating two single beds. e.g. 2) When a missionary family moved base back to N.Z. they were in dire need of household furniture. Love Link swiftly provided much of what they needed (including a T.V. which Love Link subsequently provided someone to fix when it broke down!). In this way, Christian Love Link mobilizes the Body of Christ to help those in need in their neighborhood. In the secular context of New Zealand, this gives a major opportunity to break through social barriers which are the biggest hindrance to effective communication of the gospel.
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