July 2024

 

July 2024 News

Malachi 3:10 Award  •  Prayers in the Walls  •  Thanks to You •  Join us!

Malachi 3:10 Award

Habitat Recognized with Prestigious Award

At the 2024 Habitat for Humanity International conference, Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County was presented with the Malachi 3:10 Award.

The award is named for the Bible verse that reads “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be enough to store it.”

Based in the Christian tradition of tithing 10%, Habitat for Humanity’s Malachi 3:10 Award honors local affiliates that have contributed $500,000 in tithes to the Global Mission Fund. Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County’s tithe money specifically benefits three partner countries, Nepal, Ethiopia, and Lesotho, where the funds are used to provide shelter and clean water to those in need, like our Nepalese homeowner partner, Sushila.

Sushila’s life was changed when at age 38 she secured a housing loan that allowed her to provide a safe and healthy home for her children. For 15 years she rented space in a narrow, overcrowded two room house shared with extended family. But now, thanks to our global tithing, Sushila now has a place to truly call home.

Our local affiliate is honored to have received this prestigious award. Executive Director Jamie Maciejewski was presented the award in March of this year. Several volunteers and staff were also present. Pictured from left to right are Bob Collins, Julie Miles, Brian Cullin, Eliza Sthapit (of Nepal), Jamie Maciejewski, Nils Pedersen, Amy Howard, David Rinn, Leanne Smith, Rachel Williams, Maria Drury, and Jean Fernel Tham (of Haiti).

Prayers in the Walls

Why Do We Hold Prayers in The Walls Ceremonies?

If you’ve been around our affiliate very long, you’ve probably heard of Prayers in the Walls Ceremonies. They are intentional times we spend with our homeowner partners, usually in the middle of their home’s construction. We invite volunteers, neighbors, community members, donors, sponsors, friends, family and staff alike to gather at the site of the future home and write prayers and well wishes on the internal framing of the house. Writing in the walls often continues after the ceremony for those who cannot attend, until the walls are filled with drywall and sealed.

Our Prayers in the Walls Ceremonies are symbols of hope. They are inspired by the phenomenon of the Western Wall, a holy site in Jerusalem where since the 18th century, people of all faiths have placed slips of paper containing prayers into its cracks. This site, one of the most sacred places on earth, welcomes people from all backgrounds. Over the course of the long and tumultuous history of the Holy City, it has offered hope, intentionality, and community.

While different Habitat affiliates have different traditions, a few affiliates started Prayers in the Walls Ceremonies in a grassroots sort of fashion, well before Habitat EJC was founded. Our affiliate started hosting them shortly thereafter, though! Our goal has been to facilitate a space where the support our community has for our homeowner partners can become tangible. Just like in the Western Wall of Jerusalem, prayers remain inside our Habitat Houses for as long as they stand. They symbolize the support of all who wrote them and serve as a physical manifestation of their love. While Habitat homeowners share meals, host celebrations, and watch their children grow up, they will be surrounded by invisible, ever-present prayers.

We recently hosted a few of these ceremonies and will soon host more. Thank you to everyone who attended Audrey and Erin’s Ceremonies. Please join us for Raul and Meakalia’s ceremony next week!

Thanks to You

An Update on our Spring Appeal

Thank you for bringing the dream of home ownership closer to reality for our community!
Your donations to our recent Spring Appeal are helping six local families bridge the cost gap between an affordable mortgage and the cost of building a home. Together we raised $37,598. Thanks to the generous dollar-for-dollar match gift, an additional $25,000 will be contributed, bringing our total to $60,598!

Join Us!

Pride Builds with Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County

Get ready to make a difference and have a blast! Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County is hosting Pride Builds, bringing together members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies for an unforgettable day in support of affordable housing. Let’s unite in our mission to build homes, communities, and hope while celebrating inclusivity and empowerment.

We’re thrilled to announce that two more Pride Builds are happening this year! Don’t miss out on the next exciting event on Saturday, July 27. Together, we can create a brighter future. See you there!

We’re Hiring

We’re Looking for a Director of Development

Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County is seeking a seasoned Director of Development to join our team. This position is responsible for leading us as we leverage and scale our fundraising success to support exponential program growth. Please see the details of this job announcement by clicking here.

Please visit our Employment Opportunities page to see all of our open positions.

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Thank you for being an essential part of this journey and for sharing in our vision of building a better and more inclusive place for everyone. Together, we can achieve remarkable things and create a community that thrives on compassion, support, and unity.

For updates on Habitat building progress, events, volunteering and more, sign up for our newsletter here.

If you have questions, please reach out using the phone and email address at the bottom of this page and we look forward to seeing you soon!