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Founder and president Millard Fuller recognizes the importance of a strong foundation-and of innovations that help further Habitat for Humanity's work around the world. |
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by Millard Fuller
"According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it."
--1 Corinthians 3:10
Habitat for Humanity has a methodology that has proven to be effective by building and renovating more than 160,000 houses for 800,000 people since 1976. Today, Habitat's work has spread to more than 3,500 locations in 92 nations.
The methodology that has brought such good results includes "sweat equity"--a concept that requires prospective homeowners to invest hours of labor helping build their own Habitat houses and the houses of others. It also includes a non-discriminatory policy on family selection. Future homeowners are chosen on the basis of need and willingness to partner with Habitat. Simple, decent houses are built and sold to homeowner families with no profit added and no interest charged, in keeping with the biblical admonition not to profiteer on the poor.
House payments are then returned to a revolving fund that is used to build more houses.
Further, Habitat for Humanity--a Christian ministry--is neither denominational nor doctrinal. The door is open to all who want to contribute financially, as a volunteer or otherwise.
I rejoice because of what has been accomplished during the past 27 years, but I cannot be content. Millions of families languish in pitiful conditions. We must accelerate the pace of building. That's why Habitat for Humanity is exploring innovations as reported in articles in this issue of Habitat World. But we are careful and we "take heed" as to how we build, just as we are cautioned to do in Corinthians. We hold to the Habitat basics even as we "build in stages," organize "Save and Build" programs and launch "First Shelter" initiatives.
When I was a boy growing up in rural east Alabama, I was a member of a 4-H Club. Our slogan was to "make the best better." That's what Habitat is trying to do through innovations in this venture of hammering out God's love.
Stay with us. Ask God to guide us faithfully and continuously as we move forward. Next year Habitat for Humanity will complete its 200,000th house. That means we will have housed a million people. Rejoice with us. Help us keep building, innovating and delivering more good news to families urgently in need of a good place to live.
