Faith

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. So even though we are deeply rooted in Christian ideals and beliefs, Habitat for Humanity welcomes all people regardless of religion or race to build with us in partnership.
It is difficult to fully outline what a partnership entails as it varies based on the unique resources each individual faith community can provide and the talents and skill sets each is comprised of. We can only offer suggestions as to how a partnership can begin. Please keep in mind involvement is not limited to our suggestions. We encourage each congregation to be creative and incorporate the individuality of their community in how they decide to support Habitat. For those starting out, partnering with Habitat can be explained in three simple steps: Pray. Donate. Serve. Please contact faith@habitat-mc.org for more information.

PRAY

Pray for the families, volunteers, donors, and staff working towards Habitat’s mission independently or as a congregation
Include written prayers in the bulletin each week
Lead a devotion and prayer at a construction build site, homeowner workshop, or house ceremony

DONATE

Have your church perform a second collection to benefit HFH-MC
Encourage members of your congregation to donate their gently-used furniture and appliances to our ReStore
Donate space on an information table that will display Habitat’s brochures and pamphlets
Involve your Youth Groups by engaging them in fundraisers such as a car wash, spaghetti dinner, or bake sale
Directly following the service, have a staff member, member of the congregation, or homeowner speak to educate your congregation about the need for decent housing

SERVE

Volunteer on a worksite with members of your congregation. No experience necessary!
Be an active participant in one of our many committees
Volunteer in our office or ReStore
Refer a homeowner candidate
Show your support to a new Habitat homeowner in your community by attending a house ceremony
If you or any of your fellow members are skilled in construction, have them donate their talents as a crew leader on a build site

Like most things, success certainly doesn’t happen overnight. We understand that good things take time so we have developed tiers of involvement. It can be difficult for congregations of any size to jump right into sponsoring a house on their own, which is why we suggest working your way from Prayer Partners, up to Faith Partners, and before you know it you’ll be a full Faith Sponsor! Below are explanations of each level of involvement:

Level One—Prayer Partners

Offer special intentions for the mission and ministry of Habitat, provide education and advocacy opportunities for congregation, collect offering once/year.

Level Two—Faith in Action Partners

Offer $500/year, volunteer once/year, recognize partner in HFH-MC quarterly Faith e-newsletter and congregation listed on HFH-MC website

Level Three—Inter-Faith Builders

Offer significant gift toward Inter-Faith House, provide volunteer labor throughout build, be major part of home dedication ceremony, HFH-MC will recognize partner in
quarterly Faith e-newsletter & website.

Level Four– Inter-Faith Champions

Motivate other faith groups by matching dollar for dollar of the amount they raise for the Inter-Faith House up to a certain amount, provide steady volunteer labor, be major part of home dedication ceremony, HFH-MC will promote partnership on build site and in other various ways.

Level Five– Faith House Sponsors

Provide full funding of a home ($50,000-$100,000), supply volunteer labor for duration of build, contribute items for dedication ceremony, HFH-MC will promote partnership on build site and in other various ways

Benefits of Partnership:

As much as we rely on YOUR support, we want to see how we support your community as well. Here are some examples of how partnering with Habitat will benefit your faith community:

Helps people see God at work outside the four walls of the church
Builds unity within AND outside of the church community
Individuals can experience spiritual growth through their service to others
Puts FAITH into ACTION

“It is the wonderful connectional experience of knowing that we are capable of working together to make something happen. It also provides us with a sense of missional identity. Building this house has allowed us to be a proactive player in God’s justice raining down in this community in the form of affordable housing.”
--The Rev. Greg Cruice
New Covenant Presbyterian Church, Mandeville, Louisiana

“I think the number one benefit for our congregation is spiritual. Working with Habitat helps us create a deeper relationship with God. For large churches like ours, projects like Habitat help us get new members more mainstreamed in the congregation. It gives people a chance to find a ministry they can be involved in. It also allows us good experiences for fellowship and group building.”
--Dr. Paul Clayton, First United Methodist Church, Jackson, Tennessee