Habitat World Online


	In June, Habitat founder and president Millard Fuller joined former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and more than 4,000 other volunteers in Africa to build simple, decent houses during the 19th annual Jimmy Carter Work Project.

JCWP 'Light' Continues to Shine

"Let your light so shine...that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." —Matthew 5:16

Since 1984, the light cast by the annual Jimmy Carter Work Project has been shining all around the world. Starting in New York City and continuing every year since, this annual spectacular event has directly involved tens of thousands of people and, indirectly, millions more.

Hundreds of Habitat houses have been built during these annual one-week builds. But that is only the visible part of what has been accomplished. Friendships have formed. Romance has blossomed. Cultural differences have been bridged. Hope has been instilled in thousands of hearts.

And faith has grown stronger in the lives of volunteers, sponsors and homeowners...and even in observers, both near and far.

In the whole process, the light of Christ shines brightly for all to see, and God has been glorified.

During these annual builds, the spotlight is on former U.S. President Carter and his wife, Rosalynn. But they are quick to say that their "light" comes from Jesus Christ.

Jimmy Carter is a Sunday school teacher at his small Baptist church in Plains, Ga. For decades, he has faithfully taught Sunday school. I've heard him say that he feels he is putting his faith into action and demonstrating his faith in the strongest and most powerful way when he is wielding a hammer on a Habitat work site.

Talking about faith and singing about love are important, but demonstrating faith and love by action is even more important. It is that "light" of good works which touches the hearts of people and inspires them to "glorify our Father which is in heaven."

Whether working on a Jimmy Carter Work Project or working on one Habitat house on the back side of a dead-end street; whether serving meals to thousands at a Carter build or preparing a brown sack lunch for one worker; whether donating thousands of dollars for building one or more houses or giving a few dollars--all of it lets your light shine.

The word of God promises that when such a light shines, something happens. God is glorified in multiple manifestations.

--Millard Fuller