Church Partnerships 123 Julia Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 334.832.9313 • www.habitatmontal.org Building Homes • Building Hope • Building Community “Our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.” 1 John 3:18
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Church Partnerships
123 Julia Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 334.832.9313 • www.habitatmontal.org
Building Homes • Building Hope • Building Community
“Our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.” 1 John 3:18
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MISSION VISION
A world where everyone has a decent place to live.
MISSION STATEMENT
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to
build homes, communities and hope.
MISSION PRINCIPLES
1. 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 “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 all people.
2. 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.
3. 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 commitment to housing as a basic
human right. We will advocate for just and fair housing policy to eliminate the constraints that contribute to
poverty housing. And, in all of our work, we will seek to put shelter on hearts and minds in such powerful ways
that poverty housing becomes socially, politically and religiously unacceptable.
4. Promote dignity and hope.
We believe that no one lives in dignity until everyone can live in dignity. We
believe that every person has something to contribute and something to gain from
creating communities in which all people have decent, affordable places to live.
We believe that dignity and hope are best achieved through equitable,
accountable partnerships.
5. 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 responsible stewardship of all resources entrusted to us.
Habitat for Humanity’s Mission
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Every house Montgomery Habitat for Humanity builds is a sermon of God’s love. Our Christian faith motivates
us and enables our mission. Like any ministry that must raise money, promote itself to the community, adhere to
schedules and depend upon volunteers, we have many tasks to do. However, as servants of the Lord who are
called to minister to real people in real need, we are empowered by a mighty and merciful God. We witness to
the power and love of Jesus Christ each time we build a house, strengthen communities and make people aware.
It is appropriate that the church – Christ’s body in the world – is Habitat’s primary partner in its work.
Benefits of a Habitat Partnership
Many churches begin their partnership with Habitat for Humanity out of a desire to help other people. They are
delighted to discover how working with Habitat benefits them. Being a Habitat partner:
Provides a way for churches to engage in ministry with an established Christian housing organization and
come to a new understanding of poverty housing and people in need.
Provides church members with a tangible opportunity to put faith into action both locally and globally through
our tithing program.
Allows a church to participate in a ministry that has a beginning and an end.
Leads many people to grow in their faith and desire to serve God and others. Giving time and talent makes
faith come alive!
Builds community within the congregation and among all who work on a Habitat project, providing important
and meaningful connections among congregations.
Gives people with a variety of skills the chance to respond to the needs of others.
Often attracts new members and involves inactive members by providing people with an opportunity to see
tangible results of their faith efforts as they work side by side with others.
Communicates the message of being a caring and compassionate congregation called to action.
Allows a congregation to step out in faith and rely on God when inevitable and unforeseen challenges arise.
Quotes from Pastors
A Sign of a Healthy Congregation I think people have an expectation that Christianity needs to have depth—
words are not enough. It is almost catching when a few people in a
congregation have the opportunity to do something good in Jesus’ name.
Habitat helps novices find ways of doing good.
—Bishop Gary Hansen, North/West Lower Michigan Synod of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America
Working Together to Make Something Happen Working with Habitat 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, LA
Creating a Deeper Relationship with God 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, TN
The Church and Habitat for Humanity
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send?
And who will go for us? And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
– Isaiah 6:8
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Congregations of all sizes can partner with Habitat for Humanity in a variety of ways. That partnership works
best when we can help your church carry out its goals for ministry.
Volunteering on the job site and on committees is one way to help.
Another way is to raise awareness of the need for adequate housing.
What is God calling your church to do? Consider these possibilities:
Pray
Without the continuing prayers of millions of people, Habitat's
work could not continue.
Support Habitat Financially
Encourage your congregation to include Habitat for Humanity in its mission work.
Make regular donations to Montgomery Habitat for Humanity or collect special Habitat for
Humanity offerings.
Provide in-kind goods and services. (For example, a plumber in your congregation might
volunteer to do the plumbing work on a Habitat house.)
Raise funds to build all or part of a house. A congregation may sponsor a house individually or
join with another congregation to raise funds and build a house together.
Tithe. Set aside one-tenth of regular donations for local Habitat projects. The tithe funds can be
used to build Habitat houses in other countries, where construction costs are often much lower.
Volunteer
Build strength and unity within your congregation as you work toward the common goal of
helping others.
Organize volunteers for a house that your congregation funds or helps fund.
Serve on local Habitat committees. Individuals are always needed to help with acquiring land,
finding and selecting qualified homeowner applicants, nurturing family partners, recruiting
church support and more.
Provide lunch, snacks, or drinks to volunteers to give them the energy to work through the day
and a break for fellowship. Meals can be as simple or fancy as you like.
Engage Your Community
Continue to be a voice for those in need even after construction is complete.
Host speakers on housing issues (such as a representative from Montgomery Habitat for
Humanity) to raise awareness of the need for decent housing.
Make the commitment to become advocates for housing. Write letters to editors and speak out
about positive experiences your church has had building houses. Communicate with legislators
and other community services groups.
Bring the Habitat message to children by using the tools available to youth leaders on Habitat’s