Habitat for Humanity Founder Dies This Past Week
Sunday, 8. February 2009, 07:02:22
God has a wonderful way of keeping us grounded and letting us know of important happenings. Millard Fuller, the founder of the international organization and movement Habitat for Humanity, died this past Wednesday at the age of 74. The only reason I found out was getting a free newspaper before heading off to class that morning.
CNN has an article with a great picture of Millard sweating in the background behind former President Bush. Check it out here. I did a quick check on CBC to see if they may have had a clip on his death. They did not. You absolutely suck CBC that you didn’t have anything on this man whose organization has built thousands of homes for Canadians since the late 70’s. I was one of those ones in 1993.
That’s right, gentle reader; my family was the first to receive a Habitat home in London, Ontario at 300 Phyllis Street. It was a nice simple place near the end of a small street. John and Lisa Schunk embodied the spirit of what Habitat was about (John dedicated 2 full years to getting the local affiliate going and making plans for the first house) and my ex-wife and I both liked them very much. We did our volunteer hours and would have loved to do more, but there was internal posturing and politicking with the affiliate board members. They pushed out the Schunks and certainly had no intention of following the letter or spirit of the Habitat manuals that I read in the office. A call to the International Office in Americus, Georgia made me realize that my idealism met the reality of the stinky side of human behaviour. Some people only wanted to be associated with Habitat so they could receive the praise of others.
Once our volunteer hours were done, there were no more dealings or contact with Habitat in London for years. My understanding is that things are much better in London now. Don’t get me wrong: what Habitat for Humanity stands for is still an exemplary goal and I believe a God-ordained ministry. I also believe the majority of affiliates operate with the best of intentions—in spite of the involvement of not-so-nice people.
My marriage did not go so well even after the blessing of owning our own new home. It was relinquished when the separation papers were signed in 1998. The interior was remodeled and the home given to another family. They still live there, I believe.
Thank you, Millard Fuller, for giving us the “theology of the hammer”. Rest in peace with Jesus.
CNN has an article with a great picture of Millard sweating in the background behind former President Bush. Check it out here. I did a quick check on CBC to see if they may have had a clip on his death. They did not. You absolutely suck CBC that you didn’t have anything on this man whose organization has built thousands of homes for Canadians since the late 70’s. I was one of those ones in 1993.
That’s right, gentle reader; my family was the first to receive a Habitat home in London, Ontario at 300 Phyllis Street. It was a nice simple place near the end of a small street. John and Lisa Schunk embodied the spirit of what Habitat was about (John dedicated 2 full years to getting the local affiliate going and making plans for the first house) and my ex-wife and I both liked them very much. We did our volunteer hours and would have loved to do more, but there was internal posturing and politicking with the affiliate board members. They pushed out the Schunks and certainly had no intention of following the letter or spirit of the Habitat manuals that I read in the office. A call to the International Office in Americus, Georgia made me realize that my idealism met the reality of the stinky side of human behaviour. Some people only wanted to be associated with Habitat so they could receive the praise of others.
Once our volunteer hours were done, there were no more dealings or contact with Habitat in London for years. My understanding is that things are much better in London now. Don’t get me wrong: what Habitat for Humanity stands for is still an exemplary goal and I believe a God-ordained ministry. I also believe the majority of affiliates operate with the best of intentions—in spite of the involvement of not-so-nice people.
My marriage did not go so well even after the blessing of owning our own new home. It was relinquished when the separation papers were signed in 1998. The interior was remodeled and the home given to another family. They still live there, I believe.
Thank you, Millard Fuller, for giving us the “theology of the hammer”. Rest in peace with Jesus.
WIDGETIZE