Lutheran Coalition

In late 2004, Veronica Bitting (Habitat Wake's Faith & Community Relations Manager) called all the Lutheran Churches in Wake County to determine any interest in building and funding one Habitat house. At the time, three congregations included Habitat Wake in their missions budgets and two congregations regularly recruited members as construction volunteers. By broadening the invitation, Veronica tapped into a group of excited mission-minded people eager to raise money and pick up hammers. At left, AmeriCorps member Christina who supervised the build as house construction leader, stands in front of the home as it neared completion in April.

The Lutheran Coalition for Habitat for Humanity has since steadily built interest among congregations by increasing the number of construction volunteers. (No experience is necessary; Habitat Wake provides training and tools.) By the end of 2006, the Lutheran Coalition expanded its volunteer involvement from home construction to include work days on Habitat Wake's DeConstruction projects. (Habitat Wake recognized the Lutheran Coalition as DeConstruction Volunteer Group of the Year in October 2006).

The Lutheran Coalition for Habitat for Humanity consists of seven churches and meets monthly at Grace Lutheran Church, 5010 Six Forks Road, Raleigh.

Raising House Sponsorship Funds

With congregations of varying membership sizes, budgets and interest levels in Habitat as well as theological differences, the newly-formed Lutheran Coalition for Habitat for Humanity initially tempered some of the excitement by considering the fundraising challenge. Even with supply donations and volunteer labor, a home sponsorship was $60,000 (and now is $70,000).

Congregational Habitat Coordinators from each church did some creative brainstorming to fund the Lutheran Coalition's Habitat house that is under construction -- its first. They organized events for church members to purchase "square footage" of a typical 1,200-square-foot home. The coalition also hosted a community-wide Texas Beef Barbecue Cookout at the Habitat ReStore. At this event, the group sold 2x2s, nails and other building supplies that would be used in the Habitat house as Father's Day gifts. These creative fundraising ideas along with supplemental funding from the Thrivent Fraternal for Lutheran organization and direct donations have enabled the coalition to raise the sponsorship money that will pay for building materials.

Groundbreaking

On Saturday, December 2, 2006, the Lutheran Coalition and Wells Fargo (co-house sponsors) joined a soon-to-be Habitat homeowner to break ground on her new home.

Construction Scenes

Thank you to Wayne Cornelius for providing some of these photos.

April 2007:

March 2007:

February 2007:

Dedication of Lutheran Coalition and Wells Fargo House

The homeowner, partnering church members and others who participated in the project celebrated the home's completion at a dedication on Thursday, June 14, 2007.

Thrivent Builds 2007

The churches that make up the Lutheran Coalition broke ground on their second home on Saturday, May 12, 2007. This second project for these dedicated, passionate volunteers is part of a national home-building alliance between Habitat for Humanity International and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Across the United States, 256 Habitat affiliates will build 355 homes in partnership with Trivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat homeowners.