The Atlanta Journal Constitution has reported that Millard Fuller, co-founder of Habitat for Humanity, has died suddenly. He was 74.
I have known Millard and his wife, Linda, for over a dozen years. We've had dinner together and dedicated houses together, and I regretted very much when they were forced out of Habitat a few years ago on what seemed to me to be unspecified and vague charges.
After being forced out of Habitat, Millard and Linda founded the Fuller Center for Housing which does similar work to that of Habitat. Worldwide, Habitat for Humanity has built over 300,000 homes in partnership with the working poor. AP:
Fuller's works won him numerous accolades, including a 1996 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. For nearly three decades, he was the public face of Habitat, traveling the world to hammer nails and press bricks from local clay alongside some of the Earth's poorest.
Millard always wanted to maintain the Christian foundation of Habitat. Habitat was to be a spiritual movement--explicitly Christian, less "corporate." Millard wanted to keep Habitat International headquarters close to its roots in Americus, Georgia, only a few miles from the place of its founding at Koinonia Farms. Today, the international headquarters is in Atlanta.
Millard has been variously described as a "force of nature" and a "piece of work." I can recall more than one assessment that went like this: "I have the utmost respect for Millard and all that he's done, but the man drives me nuts!" He could be infuriating and exasperating, but no one questioned his committment to the cause or what he was able to achieve on its behalf.
We were in Cleveland, Ohio at a regional meeting a few years ago. The meeting closed with a worship service at a Baptist Church. The pastor of the church had no real connection with Habitat, but had agreed to let the church host the service. Millard was really wound up that night, like an old-time preacher himself, closing with "glory, hallelujah, glory, hallelujah!" After the service, I said to him: "Millard, I've figured you out. That whole speech was directed at converting one person to the cause, that baptist preacher." He said, "Got him too, didn't I."
At least a million people around the world will go to sleep tonight in a safe and decent home because of Millard Fuller. He was a great man, and a great Christian. Heartfelt condolences to Linda and the family. Resquiscat in Pacem, Millard Fuller.
I don't know where I was, but I never knew Millard was driven out of Habitat. I can't imagine what he could have done that was so horrible.
I do remember when he came to Montrose while I was on internship...I believe that's when it was.
Posted by: von Gunten | February 06, 2009 at 06:42 PM
Habitat was always kind of fuzzy about what, exactly, the problem was.
Posted by: John Petty | February 06, 2009 at 07:19 PM