It gives congregations an opportunity to reach its goals of ministry and home missions by offering people a way to share God’s love and lead people to grow in their faith. It is a tangible way for church members to put their faith into action, and reach beyond the walls of the church to serve.

Congregations participating made monetary contributions to Habitat Birmingham, recruited volunteers to participate in house construction for a minimum of one day and committed to prayer support.

Building on Faith 2012 took place over the Lenten season and concluded during Holy Week. Local congregations made possible the dedication of four homes for four wonderful families: Holifield Family, Skipwith Family, McNair Family and Patterson Family!

Thank you to all the participating congregations! We hope you join us again next year! 

All Saints Episcopal Church

Cathedral Church of the Advent

Chapel of the Pines Presbyterian Church

Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles

First Wesleyan Church of Anniston

Highlands United Methodist Church

Independent Presbyterian Church

Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church

Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church

Riverchase United Methodist Church

Sixth Avenue Baptist Church

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

St. Thomas Episcopal Church

Twenty-Third Street Baptist Church

Patterson Home

Holifield Home

Skipwith Home

McNair Home

Habitat B’ham has hosted over 20 groups for a Collegiate Challenge week during the 2011-2012 school year and expects another 6 groups by the end of the summer. Their participation makes it possible to achieve our goals and fulfill our mission every year!

Below is a list of the next few college groups participating in a Collegiate Challenge week in Birmingham. We would love to help connect alum members with these groups during their stay here! Please contact Julie Howard at jhoward@habitatbirmingham.org for more information about this!

Luther College

San Diego State University

UC Santa Cruz

Emporia State University

SUNY Binghamton

Quinnipiac University

In addition, Gabby is also launching a campaign to donate a dollar to Habitat for every Facebook  fan they receive from now until the end of their next High Point show in April. If you would like to read more about this partnership check out their latest blog post! And don’t forget to “like” their page!

Groups interested in volunteering, or seeking additional information, may call Habitat at 780-1234 or email Julie Howard at jhoward@habitatbirmingham.org  to schedule their day.

Volunteers are needed Tuesday-Saturday from 8am – 4pm. Habitat will have a site supervisor in Ashville to lead scheduled volunteers. Volunteers of all skill levels are welcome; the minimum age for volunteering is 14. Up to 25 volunteers can participate at each location.

To read more and see photos of the devastation in the Shoal Creek area in St. Clair County check out this archived article from the St. Clair Times.

In 1942, Clarence Jordan, along with his wife and another couple, founded Koinonia Farm, an interracial community rooted in biblical principles. Their dream was to experience a place where blacks and whites could live in partnership with each other, turn from the present materialistic culture, and be good stewards of the earth. The community faced both success and failures, persecution and support. (At one time Clarence Jordan received a letter of support from Dr. King himself.)

Years later, Koinonia Farm welcomed a new family. After almost facing divorce, Millard and Linda Fuller gave away their millions in wealth and moved their family to the farm. The intersection of these two couples, the Fullers and Jordans, birthed even a bigger dream. During this time they developed a housing model based on the idea of partnership, which later became known as Habitat for Humanity International.

If there is any word that we can see threaded throughout Habitat’s history it is “unity.” Koinonia Farm and Habitat were established on the idea of uniting race, religion, and social status in order to build partnerships and serve their community. This idea is expressed in Millard Fuller’s famous concept, “the theology of the hammer.” Millard says, “This theology is about bringing a wide diversity of people, churches, and other organizations together to build houses and establish viable and dynamic communities. It is acknowledging that differences of opinion exist on numerous subjects—political, philosophical, and theological—but that we can find common ground in using a hammer as an instrument to manifest God’s love.”

The story that Chris shared Monday morning set the tone for the rest of the day. Instead of enjoying the respite of a holiday, a diverse group gathered in the Center Point area to build a home for a very deserving family. This occurs every MLK weekend and we call it the Unity Build.

We are still in need of volunteers to complete the Unity Build home. Go to our website to sign up!

“There’s no better way to celebrate Dr. King than to do something on behalf of others,” President Obama.

• We improved the housing conditions of 129 families
• While continuing to build 40 new homes with partner families this year, Habitat increased the number of repairs completed over the preceding year by 40%
• One half of the repairs completed this year were to aid survivors of the storms, ranging from roof repairs/replacements, to installing new windows
• Habitat rebuilt four tornado damaged homes from the slab up which were not otherwise repairable
• At the request of the Central Alabama Long Term Recovery Committee CALTRC), Habitat expanded its service area to assist with disaster recovery needs in  St. Clair County (in addition the the three counties we already serve – Jefferson, Shelby & Walker)
• As we reach our 25th anniversary in 2012, we celebrate service to over 750 families with their housing needs in the Greater Birmingham area.

Habitat’s increased capacity to serve the affordable housing needs of the community is only possible through the continued engagement of our volunteers, sponsors and numerous partners. Thank you for your role in helping to create a community in which everyone has a quality, affordable place to call home.

2011 in Photos!

As much joy that this tree brings to so many each Christmas, it is uncomparable to the joy that it brings when it’s taken down. Each year, after the holidays, the Rockefeller tree is milled into lumber and donated to Habitat to build a house for a deserving family.

Just as the tree lighting marks the beginning of the Christmas season for many, it’s coming down marks the end. But for these families, the hope and love that Christmas embodies, continues.

This has inspired a beautiful story written by David Rubel in collaboration with Habitat and illustrated by Jim LeMarche.The story is called, The Carpenter’s Gift. Parts of the 2010 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree that couldn’t be turned into lumber for Habitat for Humanity have been used to make commem­orative bookplates for the new children’s book.

Information gathered from http://magazine.habitat.org/stories/shade-shelter

http://www.energysavers.gov/seasonal/tips_winter.html

This article contains information about:

• Reducing heat loss
• Maintaining your heating system
• Lowering water heating costs
• Lowering holiday lighting costs
• And other cost cutting tips on energy!

http://www.cdc.gov/features/winterweather/                                             

This article contains information about:

• Preparation for winter weather emergencies
• Winterizing your house
• Staying healthy & safe
• Winterizing your car

Click HERE to see

the invite & reply!

Mountain Brook Baptist Church has been a valuable partner with Habitat. Their volunteers are thoughtful, dedicated, dependable and strong leaders. Today marked their 31st home with Habitat Birmingham. We are very thankful for their continued commitment in helping Habitat fulfill its mission in Birmingham!

To see pictures of her home built from start to finish click on the photo gallery link below

http://www.habitatbirmingham.org/photogallery/index.php?event=627&file=dsc08619a.jpg

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