BRUNSWICK

The Times Record: What is the mission of Love This Much?

Love This Much: Love This Much is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing the gospel of Christ throughout our nation, fostering a sense of community, encouraging discipleship and mobilizing the church to community outreach. The goals of the organization include encouraging the youth in the community to serve others.

For this year’s program, called “Ignite 2015,” the organization partnered with Maine Street Baptist Church in Brunswick to help local teens serve the community this summer. Last year, we partnered with Small Point Church in Phippsburg.

TR: How do you fulfill that mission?

LTM: We partner with local church bodies in Maine and work with teens to reach out to the community. These acts of love are generally an offering of service to an elderly, disabled, or needy person in some way.

Some of the service projects this summer included helping the Redneck Regatta at the Hill House and the Winship Green Center for Health and Rehabilitation in Bath, completing yard work, roof repairs, stacking firewood and other projects for local community members and neighbors.

The community has also gotten involved with our efforts, as nearly 20 local businesses have stepped up this summer to support the youth through cash donations and other services or by providing lunches after a service project.

As God stirs the hearts of the youth, generation gaps are bridged in an instant. The elderly are able to remember the vibrancy of youth, while teens learn compassion and see how little gestures become great investments. Once the fire has sparked, there is no telling how God will work and lead us.

TR: What are the biggest challenges that Love This Much faces?

LTM: Our main challenge thus far is website design and implementation. God has given us ideas galore, but getting them online is quite another story. And looking ahead financially, we’ve operated on a private budget thus far, but are seeking God’s provision for future operations. We are currently funded through 2015.

However, our biggest challenge to date is trying to direct the Holy Spirit. We work hard to carve out our niche in ministry, believing that we’re being obedient, when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, God redirects our path.

We are learning to hear God’s call versus our call out to God, which takes quiet prayer and supplication. God has been teaching us to recognize when he answers our prayers and to respond accordingly.

TR: What is something people do not know about Love This Much?

LTM: Love This Much is a ministry of Christian outreach by Christians, but everyone is free to join the movement and encourage others to do the same. It is our mission to meet the needs of the lost, to establish that we do care and love them. Then we are able to share our faith, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

TR: How can people best support your mission?

LTM: Visit “count me in” on lovethismuch.org or be a LTM representative in your church. Also support LTM financially to fund outreach and ministerial projects by the youth in our local churches.

We have a perpetual bottle drive, and those interested in donating bottles can drop them off at the entrance of Maine Street Baptist Church or at a local redemption center for Love This Much. For more information about the organization or to get involved, visit lovethismuch.org.