Millard Fuller

There is a sequel to yesterday’s prayer from Clarence Jordan. When Millard Fuller (1935-2009) and his wife Linda met Clarence, they were in a time of deep personal crisis. They decided to divest themselves of their considerable wealth and seek an alternate life of Christian service. They prayed, “What do you want us to do, Lord? We just want to serve you. We’re at your disposal.” They stopped by Koinonia Farm in Americus, Georgia to visit an old friend for lunch. They stayed a month, sensing God’s call to build affordable housing for low-income families in the area. Investors warned them they wouldn’t be able to make money building houses for poor people. “We’re not doing it for the money,” they said. “Then why are you doing it?” Investors asked. “Because we have been reading our Bibles,” they replied. A single verse from Exodus became their lending strategy, “If you lend money to the needy, don’t treat it like a business deal; charge no interest” (Ex. 22.25). In the initial phase, forty-two simple, affordable homes would be built by volunteers and sold to low-income families. The families would pay no interest, only the cost of building the house. The families accepted into the program would invest considerable volunteer time as their “sweat equity” contribution. They successfully completed the project and replicated similar efforts to build affordable homes in Zaire and San Antonio, calling it Habitat for Humanity. Since Americus is situated only a few miles from Plains, Georgia, Millard paid a visit to President Jimmy Carter. “I’m here as a neighbor,” Millard said. “You expressed some interest in Habitat. I want to know if you are interested or if you are very interested.” Jimmy and his wife Rosalynn said they were very interested and joined them on their ambitious Habitat project in New York City. The press picked up the story, and Habitat gained considerable traction. It’s now one of the largest homebuilders in the U.S. There was a moment, early in the NYC project when Millard felt as if the whole city was waiting for them to fail, when he prayed: