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<\/a>A partnership rooted in Evansville history<\/p>\nFunds raised go toward the UCC\/Disciples of Christ build \u2014 a coalition of area United Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ congregations working together to fund at least one new Habitat home per year in the community.<\/p>\n
The partnership between UCC congregations and Habitat for Humanity of Evansville dates to the organization\u2019s founding. Billy Thompson, Faith Relations Manager for Habitat for Humanity of Evansville, said the very first home built by the local affiliate in 1984 was constructed by a United Church of Christ church.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Habitat for Humanity, we\u2019ve built 648 homes in Vanderburgh and Posey County,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t happen because of anything other than the tremendous support from the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thompson said the coalition of churches has committed to addressing the local housing crisis by pooling resources and fundraising efforts each year \u2014 sometimes funding more than one home annually.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of the churches in the area from that denomination have joined together, stacked hands, and said we\u2019re going to do everything we can to address the housing crisis that we have in our community,\u201d Thompson said.<\/p>\n
\u2018Stepping into a legacy\u2019<\/p>\n
Emily Slade, Senior Pastor of Bethlehem UCC, said the event represents a multigenerational commitment to the work.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, this is an event where we are stepping into a legacy,\u201d Slade said. \u201cThe United Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ churches have worked together for literally generations of people \u2014 people that I have done their funerals who were invested in this work. And now we\u2019re seeing their children and grandchildren being invested in this work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Slade, who has served at Bethlehem UCC for 12 years, said the effort is driven by the congregation\u2019s volunteers, not its leadership.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just the person who gets to say yes,\u201d Slade said. \u201cIt\u2019s the volunteers. It\u2019s the people in our pews who are saying, this is something we\u2019re going to continue being part of. But they\u2019re the \u2018we.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Slade said the mission is grounded in the congregation\u2019s faith commitments and a belief that housing stability creates lasting generational change.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not a handout, it\u2019s a handoff,\u201d Slade said. \u201cNo matter what you think about how we should go about helping people who need help, you can get on board with an organization that says we\u2019re going to give you a hand up \u2014 we\u2019re going to invest in you, make sure that you have the skills you need, not only to get in the house, but to stay in the house.\u201d<\/p>\n
Slade said the congregation\u2019s involvement with Habitat is rooted in its faith.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur work with Habitat comes from our faith commitments that Jesus has called us to care for the least of these,\u201d Slade said. \u201cAnd it is because of that understanding of what the gospel means that we want to be part of getting people in homes. Everybody should have safe, affordable housing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Slade added that the work extends beyond the event itself.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s really special about this is this outlasts us both ways,\u201d Slade said. \u201cIt was here before we got here. It will be here after we\u2019re gone. And we get to be part of it right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
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