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BEACON is an affiliate of Love INC (Love In the
Name of Christ), a Christian-based organization with headquarters in Minneapolis
MN that provides a model for using church members to meet the needs of the poor,
elderly, families, and children of the community. Under the leadership of Rev.
Robert Smith, Senior Pastor of Union United Methodist Church, Belleville IL, a
group of church members from throughout the Belleville area were invited to a
presentation on Love INC in the Fall of 1993. Approximately 35 persons from
approximately 15 churches attended this overview presentation where Rev. Edward
Donley, Director, Manatee Religious Services, Bradenton FL, and the brother of a
member of
Progress was very slow at the beginning and it became apparent that more individuals would have to be involved if this was to be a viable ministry. In mid-1994, Rev. Smith approached the Ecumenical Laypersons United (ELU), an ecumenical group of laypersons that had been meeting together for several years to discuss religious issues. This group had established several ecumenical activities within the community, such as a massed choir concert, but they were looking for something more concrete on which to put their emphasis. When they heard the Love INC concept, they agreed they would join with the current group of individuals to try to bring a Love INC group into the community. On October 16, 1994, the first organizational meeting of the combined group was held at Westminster Presbyterian church. Over the next two and one half years, the group met to develop plans for the organization, developed incorporation papers necessary to be registered as a non-profit organization in the state of Illinois, provided briefings to many of the local churches to start gaining support for the endeavor, and began looking for a site from which to operate. Coincidentally, McKendree College had received, through a donation, a building on Main Street, Belleville, which had some office space that could be used and not interfere with the classes they were conducting in the evening. An agreement was signed between McKendree and BEACON that allowed BEACON to open its doors in March 1997. Although the facility provided sufficient office space, parking was at a premium due to other businesses in the vicinity. After several months of operation, BEACON decided to look for other space. A local business owner who owned a two-story office building in the west end of Belleville offered the use of a four-office suite if we paid utilities. BEACON accepted and moved into the facility in late 1997, the site from which we still operate. Since that time, the owner went into bankruptcy, but West Pointe Bank, which became the trustee of the building, allowed us to continue under the same terms of agreement. Deacon Bob Lippert, a founding member of the ELU, became the first Executive Director of BEACON. He served at the pleasure of the Archbishop of the Belleville Diocese until he was reassigned to a small church in Beckemeyer IL. Mr. Bob Gage, lay member of St. Nicholas Catholic in O'Fallon IL, became the second Executive Director and served for approximately one and one half years. BEACON then operated with an Acting Director for approximately one and one half years until Mr. Ken Bergo, a layman from Faith Lutheran in O’Fallon, assumed responsibilities for the operation. Ken served a little more than one year until he resigned to pursue other personal goals. The position of Clearinghouse Coordinator was filled by volunteer personnel during the first nine months of operation, but it became apparent a paid coordinator would be more credible to BEACON's operations. Arlene England was hired as the first coordinator and served for over two years, rapidly becoming the "voice of BEACON." Upon her retirement, the Board of Directors hired Maggie Daugherty, who still serves with us today. Due to Maggie's outstanding knowledge of the organization, networking abilities, and knowledge of church and social agency capabilities, she became the Clearinghouse Director in January 2005. |
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Union, explained the purpose of Love INC and how the clearinghouse
could work in the Belleville area. Following that presentation, Vera Held, a
member of Westminster Presbyterian, and Dianne Drovetta Kreeb, a member of St.
Augustine of Canterbury Catholic, agreed to serve as co-moderators for a group
that would look more deeply into the Love INC concept.