Habitat for Humanity’s Christian Principles
Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with God and people from all walks of life to build decent, affordable homes in which people can live and grow into all that God intends. Our ministry is driven by the desire to give tangible expression to God’s love through the work of eliminating poverty housing. Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver is an ecumenical Christian organization that partners with individuals of all faiths or no faith. Habitat’s mission and methods are derived primarily from a few key theological concepts.
Putting Faith into Action
Habitat’s ministry is based on the conviction that to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, we must reflect Christ’s love in our own lives by loving and caring for one another. Habitat provides an opportunity for people to put their faith and love into action. The Bible encourages people to become partners with one another, treating each other with dignity and empowering one another. Christians are taught not only to listen to the word of God each week during their religious service, but also to bring the light of God out into the world in which they live. Habitat for Humanity’s founder, Millard Fuller, wrote:
My fervent prayer is that our combined lights will be so bright that millions of people will see our good work and God will be glorified as never before. We will make shelter such a matter of conscience that we will, in fact, eliminate poverty housing and homelessness.
The Theology of the Hammer
Habitat is a partnership founded on common ground—bridging theological differences by putting love into action. Everyone can use a hammer as an instrument to manifest God’s love. While we may disagree on many issues, we can agree on the idea of building homes with God’s people in need. As we focus on working together to build a house, we realize that our similarities become more important than our differences.
This concept is especially evident in Habitat’s work around the globe. For example, in Northern Ireland, sectarianism has choked the channels of peace for centuries. Many Protestants and Catholics have cultivated a hatred for each other that has manifested itself in violence. In this area of the world, Habitat’s ministry assumes an extraordinary context. For these Habitat partners, a decent, affordable home is also a vehicle through which Catholics and Protestants, historically so intensely divided, can build together in peace. In fact, every Habitat house built in Northern Ireland is done so through the combined sweat and hands of both Catholics and Protestants. Through Habitat, each side builds mutual respect for one another and fosters a connection between these diverse groups.
Right here in the Denver metropolitan area, Christians, Jews, and Muslims are partnering together to build homes for God’s people in need. These partners have found an avenue to build peace through building houses. Transformation occurs not only in the lives of those who live in the houses but also in the lives of those who build.
I told them that the hand of my God had been gracious upon me, and also the words the king had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us start building!” So they committed themselves to the common good. –Nehemiah 2:18