07/06/2011

Thrivent Builds: How to Get Your Congregation Involved in This Exciting Ministry

Thrivent Builds is a multi-year, multi-million dollar alliance between Thrivent Financial and Habitat for Humanity. This financial, volunteer and advocacy partnership was formed in 2005. Since that time 1500 homes have been built in 46 states and DC and nearly 1000 homes have been built in 33 foreign countries. Locally, the Thrivent community has partnered with the Greater Columbus affiliate of Habitat for Humanity building ten homes in five years. Thrivent's support in those five years has surpassed a million dollars!

Locally each year we must raise 10% of the cost of each home which means $27,748 in 2011.

A minimum of 50% of the volunteer builders must be Lutheran and a minimum of 25% of those must be Thrivent members.

We always beat those minimum requirements so we can proudly say that these homes are truly built due to the willing hands and generous hearts of our central Ohio Lutheran community! Thank you to those congregations who have already chosen to get involved! Two new homes are currently under construction at 676 Erickson and 526 Pierce in Whitehall. You and your congregation can help in the following ways.

Advocate:

• Invite a Thrivent Builds representative to speak to your church, i.e. temple talk during worship, full Sunday School hour, coffee hour
• We can provide a variety of bulletin inserts, newsletter articles and brochures to help spread the word

Participate:

• Pick one or more Saturdays to send a work crew - this is a great activity for the congregation at large or for any small group ministries
• Open your church nursery and find volunteers to provide child care on a Saturday enabling would be construction volunteers to work without having to pay a babysitter
• Find a group or individuals willing to provide lunch for the Saturday work crews

Donate:

• Collect a free will offering - we can supply special Thrivent Builds branded offering envelopes
• Organize a fundraiser
• Designate special offerings, i.e. VBS or Thanksgiving, for Thrivent Builds
• Encourage your youth group to participate in a Shack City Fundraising event usually held each spring and fall

For additional information on how your church can get involved, please contact Bonnie Reilly (information below). To schedule volunteers, feel free to work directly with Deb Light, Habitat Volunteer Director at dlight@habitat-columbus.org or 614.364.7020.

Thank you!

Bonnie D. Reilly
Thrivent Builds Chapter Specialist and Admin. Asst. for Financial Consultant Joseph T. Reilly, CFPR,FIC
Ohio Region
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

250 Old Wilson Bridge Rd., Suite 140, Worthington, OH 43085
Office: 614-396-4130
Toll-free: 877-250-2508
Fax: 614-396-4117
Email: bonnie.reilly@thrivent.com