Our mission and vision

Love INC of Yakima is one of more than a hundred Love INC locations across the United States and Kenya, who partner with over 7,800 Christian churches to serve hundreds of thousands of people in need.

Love INC helps connect the calling of local churches to the struggles of the community to bring transformation. Here is why that works:
Without Love INC

Churches serve their communities in different ways. One area may have a financial literacy program, while another has housing assistance. Yet, when care is not coordinated, needs can be overlooked or duplicated, and people are not served in a holistic manner.

With Love INC

Love INC fosters collaboration and organizes holistic care to help churches serve their neighbors through resources and relationships. By networking churches together, each church is able to lean into their strengths, knowing that their neighbors will be cared for by the body of Christ within their community.

Our Church Partners

Christian churches from across at least six denominations partner together to form a Love INC. Within these partnerships, Love INC serves as the scaffolding upon which greater growth is possible. However, it is the Christians in these churches who model Christ’s love and answer God’s call to serve. Working together as the body of Christ, we can best love and serve our community.

Don’t see your church here? Ask your church leadership to contact our office to find out how to join this network of God’s people working together to bring transformation to our community.

Email Us Today
Call us at 509.453.2942

Bethlehem Lutheran

Calvary Selah

Central Assembly of God

Central WA. Seventh Day Baptist

Christian Life Center

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

Living Faith Victory Center

Memorial Bible Church

Naches Church of the Nazarene

Peace of Christ Church, Naches

Restoration Church

Selah Covenant Church

Spirit Alive Wesleyan Church

Summit View Church of Christ

Sun Valley Church

Tieton Drive Bible Chapel

Terrace Heights Assembly of God

Terrace Heights Evangelical Presbyterian Church

The Alliance Church

West Side Church

West Valley Church

West Valley Foursquare

West Valley Missionary Church

Wiley Heights Covenant Church

Yakima Covenant Church

Yakima Valley Church

Yakima Foursquare

Our Staff

Dan Brown

Executive Director

Larena Mills

Emerge Ministries Director
(T.H. Evangelical Presbyterian Church)

Sandy Hagstrand

Connection Center Coordinator
(Calvary Selah)

Lori 2024 (1)
Lori Baxter

Volunteer Coordinator
(Breakthrough Church)

Melea 2024 (1)
Melea Brown

Executive Assistant

Board of Directors

Buzz Rowe

Chairman
(Yakima Covenant Church)

Gwen Brown

Vice Chair
(Terrace Heights Evangelical Presbyterian Church)

loveincyakima
Ellie Navarrete

Treasurer
(Yakima Alliance Church)

IMG 1180
Derek Sutton

Board Member
(Restoration Church)

Ken Willms

Board Member
(Restoration Church)

Don Jameson

Secretary
(West Side Church)

Jim Page

Board Member
(West Side)

loveincyakima
Ellie Navarrete

Treasurer
(Yakima Alliance Church)

IMG 1180
Derek Sutton

Board Member
(Restoration Church)

Our History

Nationally, Love INC was founded 45 years ago by Virgil Gulker and has grown to over 110 affiliates. Love INC of Yakima officially became a part of the Love INC movement in 2007. Brian Hetzer, our first Executive Director, had a heart for those who were often overlooked and needed transformation in their lives. God used him to bring together seven churches to launch the ministry and Love INC received its first phone call from someone needing assistance on November 12, 2007. From there the ministry has grown under the leadership of past Executive Directors Dawn Golladay and Elizabeth Benefiel.

Over the last 17 years, Love INC of Yakima has grown to a network of 27 church partners from across the Upper Yakima Valley. These local churches and Love INC volunteers have answered over 10,000 phone calls for assistance and met the needs of over 5,000 individuals and families. Today Love INC is still committed to helping connect the calling of local churches to the struggles of the community to bring transformation.