About Love INC
Montgomery Country
Love In The Name Of Christ Montgomery County Exists To Bring The Love And Power Of Jesus Christ To Those In Need By Connecting Churches, Resources, And Individuals.
Our Story
In the fall of 2021, Chip Grange, Claude Allen, and Doug Duberstein started meeting weekly regarding a shared burden of connecting churches for the purpose of meeting community needs. They had witnessed the success of GSA (Good Samaritan Advocates) in connecting churches through the shared ministry of providing free legal help to people in the communities where various churches ministered. However, in serving members of Montgomery County, they were regularly aware of the needs apart from legal that these individuals faced.
As they labored on developing the vision, structure, and heart of such a ministry, they were made aware of an existing organization in Montana by their friend Ken Sande. They connected with the organization and started to learn about Love INC (Love In the Name of Christ). The more they learned, the more excited they became, as they recognized incredible alignment with all they had envisioned. As Doug shared – “It was like they were reading our notes!”
It seemed to the team that the Holy Spirit was leading them to start a Love INC chapter in Montgomery County, MD. As they embarked on taking the steps to become a Love INC affiliate, sharing the vision with churches in the area, the response was amazing, thus this newsletter. We want to share the information more broadly, and coalesce churches more quickly, who desire to be part of this work of meeting the needs of our neighbors, and through addressing practical needs, bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to our county one person, one family at a time.
Just imagine… what if, a person looking for a handout, received a hand-up, as well as community, and potential for further transformation?
Above all, please pray… yes, right now.
Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
– Psalms 127:1
A man named Virgil Gulker founded Love INC. in Holland, Michigan in 1977. Today there are more than 110 Love INC affiliates in 30 states, representing a network of more than 9,000 churches.
The Love INC National Story
Virgil Gulker shares how Love INC started. In it he also articulates a vision of the potential impact (revival?) that a multitude of churches working together can have on communities and the nation.
What does Love INC do?
Love INC acts as a liaison between the social ministries of churches to meet the needs of an individual in the community more completely, while simultaneously caring for that person holistically – body and soul. Much more than a dispenser of material needs, Love INC assists churches to come alongside people to engage them and provide opportunities for self advancement.
Love in the Name of Christ Montgomery County exists to bring the love and power of Jesus Christ to those in need by connecting churches, resources, and individuals.
Our Mission
Love in the Name of Christ Montgomery County exists to bring the love and power of Jesus Christ to those in need by connecting churches, resources, and individuals.
Our Vision
Our Model
Our collaborative model mobilizes churches to serve those in need in holistic, relational ways.
When care is not coordinated, needs can be overlooked or duplicated, and people are not served in a holistic manner.
Love INC fosters collaboration and organizes holistic care to help churches serve their neighbors through resources and relationships.
- Chinese Bible Church of Maryland
- Christ is the Answer Ministries
- Covenant Life Church
- Faith Presbyterian Church
- House of Grace & Restoration
- Iglesia Gracia Soberana
- Montgomery Baptist Church
- Montgomery Chinese Baptist Church
- Montgomery Faith Fellowship
- Monument Church
- New Life Seventh-Day Adventist
- Oakdale Church
- Redeemer Lutheran Church
- Redland Baptist Church
- Silver Spring Christian Reformed Church
- St. Mark Orthodox Church
Our Leadership
Claude
Executive Director & President
“Enthused is an understatement.”
Claude Allen has been appointed as the founding CEO and President of Love in the Name of Christ (Love INC) Montgomery County. With over two decades of leadership in domestic and foreign policy, the private sector, and government contracts, Claude brings a wealth of experience to this role. However, it’s his deep commitment to gospel justice and community transformation that truly inspires us.
Claude and his wife, Jannesse, have long felt called by God to Montgomery County for a greater purpose: to serve their neighbors through love, compassion, and practical support. For the past 15 years, Claude has been deeply involved in Good Samaritan Advocates, a Christian legal aid ministry, offering legal services to those in need. He also co-founded a prison legal aid clinic providing vital legal support to inmates at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, sharing the hope of the gospel alongside legal aid.
Claude and Jann’s personal Redemption Story is one of beauty from ashes, reflecting the transformative power of God’s grace. Together, they are committed to leading Love INC Montgomery County with a shared vision of faith-driven transformation—believing that God is at work in a mighty way in Montgomery County. We look forward to sharing more of their journey and the powerful ways God is using them to bring hope and healing to this community.
Staff & Essential Volunteers
Assistant Treasurer
Chip
Legal Counsel &
Development Director
Chip co-founded Gammon & Grange, P.C., bringing 50 years of legal expertise. He specializes in advising entrepreneurial ventures, nonprofit organizations, religious ministries, churches, and closely held businesses. Over the years, Chip has guided numerous startups and nonprofits in strategy, financing, and management. He has also served as General Counsel or special counsel to a wide range of faith-based organizations and held leadership roles in the Christian Legal Society, Christian Leadership Alliance, and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), where he served as Chairman of the Board. In 2005, Chip co-founded Good Samaritan Advocates (GSA), training lawyers to provide free Christian legal aid. He joined the development team to launch Love INC MoCo in 2022.
Chip's legal career was shaped by a Rockefeller Fellowship at Yale Divinity School, where he felt called to law school to minister the gospel freely. His volunteer service spans decades, working with hundreds of churches through organizations like CLS, CLA, ECFA, and now GSA and Love INC. This broad experience has deepened his faith in the Spirit's work through the diverse body of Christ, united by the gospel of the resurrected Lord Jesus, expressed in the Apostle's Creed.
Chip and his wife Kathy have lived in MoCo since their marriage at Fourth Presbyterian Church in 1971. After law school, they returned to raise their four children and now enjoy their 12 grandchildren. Active members of Covenant Life Church, which Chip incorporated in 1977, continue to serve their community by helping churches link to love God and neighbors better.
Legal Counsel &
Development Director
Elizabeth
Development Associate
Elizabeth Sardelli has been the Development Associate at Love In the Name of Christ (Love INC) since June 2024. With a diverse background in grant management, wellness coaching, and public speaking, she brings a wealth of experience to her community development and outreach role. Previously, she interned at the BioTechnical Institute of Maryland, focusing on grant writing and preparation for two years.
Elizabeth was previously a certified health coach. She spent seven years sharing her redemptive personal health journey and speaking at events for audiences of up to 200 people. Her professional journey also includes serving as a personal and administrative assistant for nearly five years, utilizing her strong multitasking and analytical skills.
In addition to her professional roles, Elizabeth has been an active board member for Love INC Montgomery County since October 2022, contributing to social services and grant development initiatives. She also held a leadership role as Co-Chair of the Membership and Hospitality Committee for the Junior Women's Club of Chevy Chase from 2014 to 2017.
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the University of Baltimore and an Associate of Arts (AA) from Montgomery College. She was recognized in several honor societies throughout her academic career, including Beta Gamma Sigma and Sigma Iota Epsilon.
She currently lives in Montgomery Village.
Development Associate
Human Resources
Church Ambassador
Nataly
Church Ambassador &
Ambassador Assistant
Nataly serves as an Administrative Associate at Love INC MoCo. She grew up in Central Africa, where a passion for missions and languages first took root. These interests grew as she and her family engaged in missionary work across Spain, Cuba, and France. After graduating high school in Bogota, Colombia, Nataly spent nearly four years in Chile and Argentina, working with Youth With A Mission as an interpreter and volunteering in humanitarian aid within some of the region’s most impoverished communities. This early work laid a strong foundation for future cross-cultural endeavors.
Continuing to pursue a love for language, Nataly attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, where she worked as a Spanish tutor at the university's Foreign Language Lab. Over the years, Nataly has taken on roles with various mission and aid organizations, including the Global European Mission in England, Euro Relief and Mission Mahlak in a refugee camp in Lesbos, Greece, and Wycliffe International. Her experience includes customer service work with SITEL Colombia and teaching English as a substitute at Nogales County School.
Since June 2023, Naraly has served as an administrator and project manager with CMA, managing projects in India, Thailand, Laos, and the U.S. In Maryland, she partners with Chinese American churches like REM and CBCM, supporting programs for youth camps and missions training. Nataly’s extensive work across cultures has instilled in her cultural intelligence, adaptability, and fluency in English, enabling her to connect meaningfully with communities worldwide.
Church Ambassador &
Ambassador Assistant
Sandra
Administrator
Sandra is a dedicated and highly organized professional with extensive experience in administrative support, database management, and office management. Known for being detail-orientated, adaptable, and a team player, she has a strong ability to implement systems that streamline operations. She serves as our Administrator, managing all aspects of Love INC Montgomery County office functions. Previously, Sandra served as an Administrator and Recruiter with Pembrooke Agency LLC. With proficiency in various platforms, she can efficiently manage diverse administrative needs.
In previous roles, Sandra served as a Functional Analyst and Database Administrator with ACS Federal Healthcare and Westat, working on a federal healthcare project. Here, she managed a database of project records for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment’s Targeted Capacity Expansion Project. Sandra also provided administrative support for trainings and annual events. Prior to those roles, she was an Office Manager for a top-producing real estate agent, where she provided administrative support, handled payroll, accounts payable, and client database management. Other experience includes administrative support to a successful attorney.
With a diverse background spanning legal support, childcare, and administrative roles, Sandra has cultivated a comprehensive skill set adaptable to various industries. Driven by a passion for continuous learning and process improvement, Sandra brings invaluable expertise and reliability to every role, ensuring efficiency and operational success.
Administrator
Board, Officers, and Development Team
CaitlinBoard Member
Caitlin Roberts is deeply committed to serving the community and empowering individuals to experience hope, dignity, and transformation. With a strong passion for ministry and a background in nonprofit leadership, team management, and communications, she brings a strategic and thoughtful approach to her work. Guided by her unwavering faith and dedication to reflecting God's love, Caitlin is focused on fostering meaningful relationships and supporting impactful initiatives that uplift and empower individuals in need within the local community. Her leadership and compassionate spirit are valuable to advancing the mission of Love INC and its efforts to create lasting, positive change.
ClaudeBoard President
Claude Allen is a distinguished attorney, public servant, and leader with a broad career spanning government service, legal advocacy, and humanitarian work. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Linguistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a JD, along with an LLM in International and Comparative Law, from Duke University School of Law.
Claude’s public service career includes roles such as Deputy Attorney General for the Civil Litigation Division of the Commonwealth of Virginia (1997–1998) and Secretary of Health and Human Resources for Virginia (1998–2001), where he managed statewide health services. From 2001 to 2005, he served as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), playing a key role in national health policy and reforms under President George W. Bush. He later served as Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy in 2005.
Currently, Claude Allen is the Executive Director of Love In the Name of Christ (Love INC) Montgomery County, where he leads faith-based initiatives to support community transformation through collaborations with local churches.
He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Good Samaritan Advocates, which recruits, trains, and deploys scores of Christian lawyers and other volunteers from 40+ churches to provide pro bono legal services through 7 clinics for neighbors in need in the DMV. In 2017, he co-founded the Montgomery County Correctional Facility Legal Aid Clinic, providing legal aid and spiritual support to incarcerated individuals.
In addition to his executive roles, Claude is a board member of Medicine for Peace, a humanitarian organization that provides medical care to victims of war and extreme poverty. Since 2018, he has helped expand their efforts, including opening a Health Center for Victims of Torture.
Claude and his equally gifted wife Jann have been married for 37 years, with 4 adult children, and celebrated their first grandson’s first birthday.
Elizabeth
Board Member
Elizabeth Sardelli has been the Development Associate at Love In the Name of Christ (Love INC) since June 2024. With a diverse background in grant management, wellness coaching, and public speaking, she brings a wealth of experience to her community development and outreach role. Previously, she interned at the BioTechnical Institute of Maryland, focusing on grant writing and preparation for two years.
Elizabeth was previously a certified health coach. She spent seven years sharing her redemptive personal health journey and speaking at events for audiences of up to 200 people. Her professional journey also includes serving as a personal and administrative assistant for nearly five years, utilizing her strong multitasking and analytical skills.
In addition to her professional roles, Elizabeth has been an active board member for Love INC Montgomery County since October 2022, contributing to social services and grant development initiatives. She also held a leadership role as Co-Chair of the Membership and Hospitality Committee for the Junior Women's Club of Chevy Chase from 2014 to 2017.
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the University of Baltimore and an Associate of Arts (AA) from Montgomery College. She was recognized in several honor societies throughout her academic career, including Beta Gamma Sigma and Sigma Iota Epsilon.
She currently lives in Montgomery Village.
Board Member
Development
Oscar Board Member
J. Oscar Ramirez is a Senior Realty Specialist at the Department of the Navy, where he has managed real estate acquisitions, management, and disposals for over six years. As the CEO of BEMA Consulting, he specializes in business leadership, project management, and EOS/Traction system implementation. Previously, he served as President/CEO of the Avenida Guadalupe Association, focusing on neighborhood revitalization and community development. Ramirez also has a legal background, working with organizations like the Southwest Key Program and the Texas Civil Rights Project to provide legal and economic development services.
His professional memberships include the District of Columbia, Oklahoma, Texas Bars, and the Economic Development Finance Professional Certification.
He currently lives in Clarksburg, Maryland, with his wife.