"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:
to care for orphans and widows in their distress,
and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
– James 1:27
our story
about
Love Him Love Them began as a non-profit social services organization in 1998 by David and Linda Gunter in the fifth worst crime ridden neighborhood in America, Vine City, Atlanta, Georgia. As real estate investors at that time they had homelessness, drugs and prostitution thrown in their face on a daily basis. They wanted to make a difference so they took one of their rental properties and “turned it into” a homeless shelter. Because funding came from friends and family and not government grants they were free to operate and share Jesus on a daily basis. The shelter and the non-profit was named George’s Place in honor of Linda’s daddy.
As years passed, they moved out of the Atlanta area and closed the shelter in 2003. Love Him Love Them became our new name and our Ministry in Northeast Georgia included an after-school program, jail ministry, providing for foster children and Special Needs Adults and our Annual Thanksgiving Meal for Homeless and Homebound. In 2004, a tragic event occurred that left 5 children who just happened to be Haitians without a mom and dad. On the 17th day of the 7th month of the year 2007, the family living in the Gunter home grew from 2 to 7 with these children who were then the ages of 7 to 17. Because of their new Haitian children, the Gunters and Love Him Love Them increased their focus to include Haiti.
The first trip to Haiti was in 2011, which was the year after the devastating earthquake. They took gifts that first year for 17 girls in an orphanage named HUG. What they saw, smelled and experienced completely wrecked them. They knew something had to be done. They have been back every Christmas since. This past Christmas providing gifts and food for over 1700 children and families in the local community. AND much, much more!
Today, Love Him Love Them continues to grow and minister to the families of Northeast Georgia and Haiti.
pastor maxeau
valley of hope ministries
We have been partnering with Pastor Maxeau Antoine since 2011. We are so blessed to call him our “man on the ground” in Haiti. He oversees all operations of the Valley of Hope Ministries and makes every decision based on what God would have us do to glorify him. Pastor Maxeau has a beautiful wife Ann and they have 4 biological children, Fred, Alicia, Samuel and Chloe. They have also raised 2 other children Mita and Linsley. Pastor Maxeau is fluent in French, English and Haitian Creole. He could easily be in the United States serving God under much “easier” circumstances. However, he clearly heard God in 2004 tell him He had a job for him in Haiti. Even though EVERYTHING in Haiti is difficult Maxeau has chosen to obey and stay in Haiti to serve God.
