“Let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." - Hebrews 4:16

Making Plans, Achieving Goals
by Millard Fuller

As we enter the 26th year of Habitat for Humanity’s work, having completed the first 100,000 Habitat houses worldwide, we look ahead to a new goal for the coming years: To build an additional 100,000 houses across the United States and in more than 80 other countries by the end of 2005.

HFHI’s More Than Houses capital campaign is designed to help raise the extra money needed to build those additional houses with families in need. This 100,000-house goal is the “big picture” goal and, with God’s help, it can be achieved. But big goals are reached in smaller increments.

A few weeks ago I was in Guatemala to dedicate the 10,000th Habitat house built in that country. That milestone was reached over a 22-year period. It took 20 years to build the first 5,000 houses; it took just two years more to build the next 5,000.

I issued a challenge to the leaders of HFH Guatemala to build the next 15,000 houses by the end of 2005 and extend the work from nine to all 22 departments (similar to states)
in that country.

That goal is bold but not at all impossible. I met with business and church leaders and asked for their help. The response was positive and most encouraging.

The Bible says we should be bold in approaching God for our own personal needs, and for strength and guidance to help others in their time of need.

The need for shelter is well known around the globe and Habitat has a methodology that works. And, what we do is surely the Lord’s work.

So, we set big and small goals for our work in the world and in Guatemala, India, South Africa, the Philippines and also in Atlanta, Seattle, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Boston and everywhere in between and beyond, including Coahoma, Miss.; Jackson, Tenn.; Corvallis, Ore.; Auburn, Maine and more than 3,000 other towns and cities.

We enter Habitat’s 26th year boldly, asking for God’s continued blessing and guidance, and for the support of people of good will everywhere. Together, we will prevail. We will keep building more houses and communities with and for God’s people in need.

— Millard Fuller is founder and president of Habitat for Humanity International.