The program is called The Greater Blessing, which reflects the bible verse “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
Millions of elderly and disabled Americans own their own homes, yet lack the funds or physical ability to keep them in a state of minimum repair. While many homes are collapsing in on themselves, many others could be restored to a livable condition with a few thousand dollars and a few days of labor. The numbers alone are chilling: In the United States, nearly two million homeowners have a hole in their roof. Almost three million are missing bricks, siding or other outside wall material. Two and a half million homes have a crumbling foundation, and close to four million occupied homes have broken windows.
For those living on low, fixed incomes, the risks involved with a traditional home improvement loan are prohibitive. These homeowners do not want to use their homes as collateral to secure a loan because they fear losing the house to foreclosure in the event the loan payments can’t be made.
Through The Greater Blessing Program, these homeowners can apply to a Fuller Center covenant partner to have their homes restored to a simple, decent living condition. We help them by acting on our faith, because we know Christ loves these people and calls us to serve them. We are able to keep costs low by using volunteer labor and some donated materials, thereby passing on big savings to beneficiaries.
Once repairs are complete, The Fuller Center works with each homeowner on an individual basis, looking at their bills and budget to help them structure an affordable repayment plan. All of this is done without charging interest, without the use of a mortgage and without requiring the title to the property as collateral.
Jesus taught that it is more blessed to give than to receive. The Greater Blessing ministry is based on this teaching, allowing homeowners to retain their basic human dignity and experience the “greater blessing” of giving. In a sense, the homeowners are “paying it forward,” because their payments enter a fund used exclusively for other Greater Blessing repair projects. Many people don’t feel comfortable being a charity case, and Millard Fuller believes that providing opportunities to work in partnership enhances human dignity, which is why these home repairs are not given away.
Greater Blessing repair projects are fantastic opportunities for churches, because a single congregation can usually provide all capital and volunteer labor needed to complete a full home repair.
The Fuller Center requires funds up front to purchase materials and get projects started. Please support the Greater Blessing Program and help give a family a “new” home at a fraction of what it costs to build from the ground up.
Greater Blessing Program needs:
• Churches, organizations and individuals to sponsor repair projects
• Skilled construction workers and contractors to donate their services
• Volunteer labor (skilled and unskilled)
• Building material donations
