Tithing: Creating Ties that Bind
By Jill Claflin

Community is not necessarily defined by geography.

Sometimes, it is defined by common experience, sometimes by the simple desire to share with those in need, regardless of where they live. A sense of global community within Habitat for Humanity is built by the affiliate tithe -- the sharing of a portion of an affiliate's resources with Habitat's work in another country.

While U.S. affiliates long have helped to support work elsewhere, international affiliates also share from their resources, sometimes with affiliates in the United States.

The national office of HFH Guatemala, for example, recently sent a $4,000 donation to be split between two affiliates in Virginia and North Carolina. The gift came out of a sense of shared challenges. The people of Guatemala, having experienced the devastation of Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and the help that came from throughout the world, wanted to help the flood-ravaged U.S. Southeast in its recovery.

Community meetings, like this one in Guatemala, raise awareness about Habitat on a local level.

The people of Guam also know all too well what it means to "weather the storm." Typhoons, 150-mph winds and earthquakes regularly batter this Pacific island territory of the United States. So, when the board of HFH Guam heard about the tornadoes that blasted across rural southern Georgia in February, they elected to designate a portion of their tithe to Flint River HFH in Albany, Ga. The money will be used to help build houses this summer with people in need affected by the tornadoes.

U.S. affiliates last year sent $7.3 million to help with Habitat house-building efforts in other countries. Many have partnerships, or "sister affiliate/community" relationships, that go well beyond financial assistance. Many affiliates write back and forth, sharing stories and photographs of homeowners; some send Global Village work teams to help build houses in the other country.

Says Pete Hurtado, executive director of Skagit HFH in Mt. Vernon, Wash.: "We at Skagit Habitat have chosen to send our monthly tithes to Raramuri, Mexico. Our brothers and sisters in Raramuri have been able to accomplish so much with our small tithe. Giving cheerfully and faithfully to God's work in Raramuri has been an incredible blessing to our board, staff and volunteers."

Many affiliates in the United States give 10 percent of the cost of each home they build to another country. Often, that 10 percent will build an entire house in the recipient country, or maybe even two or three houses. Each tithing affiliate is encouraged to use a special litany of blessing as a reminder of the work that their money has seeded so far.

Excerpts from the litany speak strongly to the idea of community building:

"Awaken our hearts to understand how our neighbors include all of humanity, not just those whose lawns border ours. ...

"Although we may never meet, may they know God's love because of the caring of strangers who truly are their neighbors. ...

"Bless the gifts we offer, O God, and multiply them as Jesus did the loaves and fishes. May our resources continue to spread the shelter of your love around the world. Amen."





Reprinted from Habitat World Magazine, June/July 2000.
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©2000 Habitat for Humanity International