Lawrence Habitat for Humanity is a local affiliate chapter of the international Christian-based organization that provides affordable housing and a hand up — not a handout — to those willing to work to achieve the dream of homeownership in their own communities. The Lawrence chapter since 1989 has helped dozens of local families since its founding and is nearing constructing its 100 th house in Douglas County.

St. John as a covenant church of Lawrence Habitat for Humanity works with 14 other Lawrence churches and the Islamic Center in the community to raise funds to construct a Building on Faith house in odd-numbered years. Habitat in late summer 2017 plans to complete its latest Building on Faith House for the family of Rebecca Esparza on East 17th Street.

As part of construction of the Building on Faith projects, new homeowners provide sweat equity building their own home and those of other partner families. Church and community volunteers typically invest more than 2,400 hours to complete the home. Habitat homes are sold to families through a no-interest mortgage, with monthly payments not exceeding more than 30% of their monthly income.

St. John parishioners are involved in volunteer build days on Habitat homes. St. John and other Lawrence churches and faith-based organizations have worked as partners with Lawrence Habitat since its inception to help strengthen the Habitat mission. The covenant church partnership also allows St. John and our parishioners to put our own faith into action and obey Jesus’ and the early leaders of the Church’s charge for us to help those in need.

James 2:14-17 (NABRE): “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day,16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

For more information about Lawrence Habitat for Humanity:
http://lawrencehabitat.org/
http://lawrencehabitat.org/faith-engagement/