What does it mean to be a Christian Housing Ministry?
by: Kevin Pelkey
There are many things that surprise people as information of the Habitat For Humanity program is shared.
One such topic is the fact that we are a world-wide Christian Housing Ministry. What does it mean to be a Christian Housing Ministry and how are those principles applied to our work?
It begins with our Mission and Vision statements:
“We believe in a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat For Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.”
These overarching statements are supported by our Mission Principles:
- Demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ. We undertake our work to demonstrate the love and teachings of Jesus, acting in all ways in accord with the belief that God’s love and grace abound for all, and that we must be the hands and feet of that love and grace in our world. We believe that, through faith, the miniscule can be multiplied to accomplish the magnificent, and that, in faith, respectful relationships can grow among people.
- Focus on shelter. We have chosen, as our means of manifesting God’s love, to create opportunities for all people to live in decent, durable shelter. We put faith into action by helping to build, renovate or preserve homes, and by partnering with others to accelerate and broaden access to affordable housing as a foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty.
- Advocate for affordable housing. In response to the prophet Micah’s call to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God, we promote decent, affordable housing for all, and we support the global community’s commitments to housing as a basic human right.
- Promote dignity and hope. We believe that no one lives in dignity until everyone can live n dignity. We believe that every person has something to contribute and something to gain form creating communities in which all people have decent, affordable places to live.
- Support sustainable and transformational development. We view our work as successful when it transforms lives and promotes positive and lasting social, economic and spiritual change within a community; when it is based on mutual trust and fully shared accomplishment; and when it demonstrates stewardship of all resources entrusted to us.
How, then, are the principles applied to our work?
First and foremost: we welcome all regardless of faith or no faith; we do not proselytize but share our witness through our work. Second, and foundational to HFH, our primary mortgage tool in serving families is a no-interest mortgage. Even in today’s historically low interest rates, zero interest is still better than anything on the market. Third, we bless all sites before we begin construction and dedicate all homes and present gifts the most important of which is a family bible. Fourth, we tithe. Our tithe serving Habitat Guatemala, Habitat Dominican Republic and Habitat Haiti has served an additional 206 families.
And, finally, as my favorite poster in our building calls out and we answer hammers in hand (we call this Theology of the Hammer!), “Once again, God’s people can use a good Carpenter.” So, join us by picking up a hammer on a build site, volunteering in our ReStore, or donating to our mission.
- To volunteer, contact us at 218-454-7021 or visit Volunteer – Lakes Area Habitat
- To donate, contact Lori at 218-454-7019 or visit Donate – Lakes Area Habitat
Together we can lift up HFH and work for the day when everyone, everywhere has at least a decent place to call home.
In peace,
Kevin Pelkey, Executive Director
