Thank you to all who responded to our focus groups and survey of faith partners this summer. We collected information that will help us make important decisions about our partnership with you in the years ahead.
 
Mahatma Gandhi famously said that we must be the change we wish to see in the world.
 
Habitat for Humanity puts this idea to work. We recognize that we cannot build communities if our donors, sponsors, and volunteers fail to practice community among themselves. This is the reason we put more emphasis on the relationships between churches that participate in our Building on Faith and Thrivent Builds programs. We must be a community before we can build communities.   
 
Building on Faith Sunday (September 13) is an opportunity to celebrate our cooperation to build Habitat for Humanity homes in 2009. Here's how your congregation can participate:
 
1. Devote a portion of your Sunday morning assembly to prayer and reflection on what it means to be a good neighbor to the poor in Oakland County
 
2. Attend the dedication of the 2009 Building on Faith homes at 184 Elm Street (North Oakland Circle and South Oakland Circle partners) and 214 Prospect Street (Rochester Coalition) in Pontiac
 
3. Attend a potluck dinner after the dedication ceremonies (location TBA in separate invitation)
 
Let us commit to build community among ourselves that we might build community for and with others.
 
Grace and peace,
 
Brad Irwin