Habitat for Humanity of Dane County: A Christian Ministry

In 1987, a group of concerned Christians in Oregon and Brooklyn learned about Habitat for Humanity and identified the need for decent affordable housing in their area of Dane County. Members of St. John's Lutheran Church, Holy Mother of Consolation Catholic Church, People's United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church in Oregon, the Brooklyn United Methodist Church and the Brooklyn Lutheran Church and other community representatives founded Habitat for Humanity of Oregon-Brooklyn. In the early 1990s, this affiliate became Habitat for Humanity of Dane County, more broadly expanding its mission, outreach and resources.

Since that time, individual members of local faith communities have formed the foundation of Habitat for Humanity of Dane County, providing valuable financial, volunteer and prayer support. Although founded by Christians, HFHDC is non-denominational, and welcomes partnerships with all communities of faith.

The work of Habitat for Humanity is driven by the desire to give tangible expression to the love of God through the work of eliminating poverty housing. Habitat's mission and methods are predominantly derived from a few key theological concepts: the necessity of putting faith into action, the "economics of Jesus" and the "theology of the hammer."

Putting Faith into Action
Habitat's ministry is based on the conviction that to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ we must reflect Christ's love in our own lives by loving and caring for one another. Our love must not be words only—it must be true love, which shows itself in action. Habitat CEO Jonathan Reckford references a verse from the Bible, Micah 6:8, saying, “God asks us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.” Habitat provides an opportunity for people to put their faith and love into action, bringing diverse groups of people together to make affordable housing and better communities a reality for everyone.

The Economics of Jesus
When people act in response to human need, giving what they have without seeking profit or interest, we believe God magnifies the effects of our efforts. Habitat refers to this perspective as "the economics of Jesus." Together, the donated labor of construction volunteers, the financial support of partner organizations and the homeowners' "sweat equity" make Habitat's house building possible. By sharing resources with those in need, Habitat volunteers and supporters have made decent, affordable housing a reality for more than 200,000 families worldwide.

The Theology of the Hammer
Habitat is a partnership founded on common ground—bridging theological differences by putting love into action. Everyone can use the hammer as an instrument to manifest God's love. Habitat founder Millard Fuller called this concept "the theology of the hammer," explaining, "We may disagree on all sorts of other things ... but we can agree on the idea of building homes with God's people in need, and in doing so using biblical economics: no profit and no interest."