By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

ATLANTA, GEORGIA (ANS) -- Millard Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity International in 1976 and served in executive roles until 2005. His leadership helped forge Habitat into a worldwide Christian housing ministry.

In 1996, former U.S. President Bill Clinton awarded Fuller the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, calling Habitat ".the most successful continuous community service project in the history of the United States."

A Life Changed by God
The Habitat for Humanity International website says that from humble beginnings in Alabama, Millard Fuller rose to become a young, self-made millionaire. A graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, and the University of Alabama Law School at Tuscaloosa, he and a college friend began a marketing firm while still in school. Fuller's business expertise and entrepreneurial drive made him a millionaire at age 29. But as the business prospered, his health, integrity and marriage suffered.

"These crises prompted Fuller to re-evaluate his values and direction. His soul-searching led to reconciliation with his wife and to a renewal of his Christian commitment," the site explains.

"The Fullers then took a drastic step: They decided to sell all of their possessions, give the money to the poor and begin searching for a new focus for their lives. This search led them to Koinonia Farm, a Christian community located near Americus, Georgia, where people were looking for practical ways to apply Christ's teachings."

The Seed Is Planted
With Koinonia founder Clarence Jordan and a few others, the site says, the Fullers initiated several partnership enterprises, including a ministry in housing.

"They built modest houses on a no-profit, no-interest basis, thus making homes affordable to families with low incomes. Homeowner families were expected to invest their own labor into the building of their home and the houses of other families. This reduced the cost of the house, increased the pride of ownership and fostered the development of positive relationships. "Money for building was placed into a revolving fund, enabling the building of even more homes."

Testing the Model
In 1973, Millard Fuller moved to Africa with his wife and four children to test their housing model. The housing project, which they began in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), was a success in that developing nation. Fuller became convinced that this model could be expanded and applied all over the world.
Upon his return to the United States in 1976, he met with a group of close associates. They decided to create a new independent organization: Habitat for Humanity International.

Public Recognition
In 2004, Fuller and Habitat for Humanity International received the World Methodist Peace Award from the World Methodist Council. In 2003, "The NonProfit Times" named Fuller its Executive of the Year. Fuller also received the T.B. Maston Christian Ethics Award that year.
In 2002, Fuller and his wife were awarded the Bronze Medallion from the Points of Light Foundation in Washington, D.C., honoring their pioneering work in service. Fuller was also awarded the Overcoming Obstacles award from the Community for Education Foundation in New York. He was named Georgian of the Year and received the Auburn University Lifetime Achievement Award as well. The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation honored Fuller with the Frank Annunzio award in 2000 for his lifetime achievement in public service.
Fuller was also been named one of the most influential people in homebuilding in the United States in the 20th century by "Builder" magazine and one of "20 Georgians Who Most Influenced the 20th Century" by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was the recipient of a 1999 Jefferson Award from the American Institute of Public Service for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged. "Professional Builder" magazine named Fuller Builder of the Year in 1995 and presented him with its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003.
In 1994 he and his wife were awarded the Harry S. Truman Public Service Award. He also received the Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award from both the state of Georgia and the King Center. Fuller has received more than 50 honorary doctorate degrees in fields such as law and public service for his leadership toward meeting the goal of eliminating poverty housing worldwide.
Fuller authored nine books about his life and work with Habitat for Humanity.

Fuller's Widow Speaks of How her Husband was Honored
"These past few weeks following Millard's unexpected death have been some of the most incredible days of my life," said his widow Linda C. Fuller.

"Our children and I have literally been flooded with letters, cards, e-mails and other beautiful messages -- thoughts from people expressing condolences, offering prayers, encouragement and support, as well as a wide variety of gratifying stories of how Millard positively impacted lives --hundreds of which are posted on the Guestbook of the web site.
"A person who recently came to visit me exclaimed, 'My goodness, you sure do have a lot of friends!' And that I do! Friends that worked with Millard; friends that received encouragement and were inspired as he traveled the globe for more than 40 years; friends that donated or raised money or wanted to start a Habitat affiliate or Fuller Center covenant partnership in their local area."

Linda said her husband took pride and joy in responding to every letter or phone call he received.

"He was always grateful for people who supported the work in any way, any amount, large or small. Every single person, young or old, was important to Millard and he made sure they were encouraged and affirmed," she said.

On Saturday, March 14, in Atlanta, the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, George, graciously hosted a grand memorial celebration.

"Rain poured all day. However, that didn't stop over 1,500 people from attending. Hundreds of people in at least 25 countries also viewed the entire 90-minute program live online," Linda Fuller said.

According to a dedicated website, the program featured a number of highlights:

**Former President Jimmy Carter spoke admiringly and eloquently about his friend Millard.
**Jamie O'Neal sang a love song she wrote for Millard and me a couple of years ago entitled, "Look What Love Built."
**The Ebenezer gospel choir swayed down the aisles joyfully singing the Fuller Center's theme song, "Higher Ground."
**Judah Slavkovsky, a young man who will graduate from Harvard School of Medicine in May, shared memories of the terrible house his family lived in when he was age ten before they moved to a comfortable and healthy Habitat home.
**Hattie Pitts Butler, a Habitat homeowner, told about how Millard made it possible for her seven children to move out of a shack as well as have a good job at Habitat for Humanity International for 14 years until she retired.

Linda continued: "Our four children, Chris, Kim, Faith and Georgia standing with eight out of our nine grandchildren named some of the values and guiding principles taught to them by their father such as...never, never, never give up; when there is conflict with another person, go to them directly rather than behind their back; leave this world better than you found it. One of the grandchildren said, 'Granddaddy took time to play with me.'

Linda Fuller said Millard's younger brother, Doyle, "mesmerized everyone when he talked about ways he found Millard to be his hero.
"For him as a kid to see Millard play baseball was 'beautiful, magical!' He concluded his thoughts with...'You don't have to be perfect to do perfect things.' And, 'You don't have to have angel wings to be an angel.'"

Georgia, the Fuller's youngest daughter, wrote and sang "It's All For Good" accompanied by members of her church in Jacksonville, Florida, Linda said.

Linda Fuller added: "A longtime friend and incredible world-renowned speaker, Dr. Tony Campolo, had us laughing one minute and crying the next. He spoke about Millard's 'mustard seed conspiracy.' You have to see and hear him speak to believe it!"

Fuller said that at the end of the service, everyone sang "Marching to Zion" as the audience left their seats and marched along with Atlanta's popular and very colorful "Seed and Feed Abominable Marching Band."
"Yes, Millard was loved, admired and presented with numerous awards; however, I think Millard wanted to be remembered most for his love of people and his desire to do whatever he could to help. I have thought, if only Millard could see all of the cards and letters stacked on our dining room table, he would be thrilled! He had a passion for receiving letters, as much as he did for writing them. People who transcribed his letters at the Fuller Center office teased him about dictating letters in his sleep!

"All of the above is to say that these last few weeks following Millard's death have affirmed that the work of the Fuller Center will continue and grow ever stronger. Fuller Center staff, led by a talented and totally committed new president, David Snell, have redoubled their efforts. The Fuller Center Chair, LeRoy Troyer, and other trustees, have become more active and involved than ever before. Fuller Center Covenant Partners, too, are determined to continue their good work so that Millard's dream of eradicating substandard housing will go on, to the glory of God."

Linda Fuller said that soon, we will all be hearing about an exciting "Millions for Millard" campaign initiated by the Fuller Center Board.

"As always, we are moving out on faith to set bold goals for involving a million more volunteers, for raising millions of dollars to build houses around the globe for a million more people. As we have heard Millard say over and over, 'God has an abundance of wealth.' Scripture tells us, 'The earth is the Lord's and the fullness there of.' Money is in the pockets of people and all we have to do is extract it!"

Linda said the first $1 million will serve as "seed" money to raise millions more.

"'Seed' as in the parable of the mustard seed found in Matthew 13 where Jesus talked about seeds falling on 'good soil' and producing bountiful crops.

"'Mustard seeds' and 'fertile soil' can produce millions to make the Fuller Center movement blossom and spread to the ends of the Earth. Millard wasn't able to eliminate all of the world's substandard housing in his life time; he left the challenge to us and future generations. Faith as powerful as a tiny mustard seed can move obstacles and produce houses for millions more people!

"It can be done -- one house at the time," she said.

"As Millard's life and work is celebrated, I pledge to double my efforts in building awareness of the enormous need for decent affordable housing, and in calling on those who can share what is in their pockets, whether much or little. I challenge everyone to do the same; together, we can do it!