Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for...
Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity--the low-income housing organization that uses carpenters such as Jimmy Carter--toured the Los Angeles area this week to dedicate new home sites and meet with developers.
Fuller is an author, lawyer and former marketing whiz who started Habitat with his wife, Linda, in 1976 and helped forge it into a worldwide ministry to eliminate substandard housing.
This week he traveled from Riverside to Wilmington giving talks and meeting with housing developers. He helped dedicate home sites in Pacoima, South-Central Los Angeles and Long Beach and spoke Friday evening on “Justice and Righteousness for the Cities” at First Congregational Church of Los Angeles.
In an interview earlier in the week, Fuller said that Habitat’s 763 affiliates are building about 500 houses a month in all 50 states, and a few abroad. A trade association named Habitat the 27th largest home-building company in the nation. By 1994, Fuller predicts, it will build 10,000 houses a year and rank in the top 10 of home builders.
Habitat builds its homes for about $35,000 apiece and sells them at no profit and zero interest to families earning about half the national median income. Payments are put back into a fund for more building.
After the spring riots, Habitat launched a campaign to raise special matching funds to build homes in Los Angeles and other riot-stricken cities. In Southern California, 75 homes have been completed, 12 are under construction and land has been donated for 52 more.
In discussing what impact his projects could realistically be expected to have on riot-scarred Los Angeles, Fuller likened Habitat to biblical images of leaven. “By itself, leaven does nothing,” he said, “but put just a small amount into dough and it makes the whole thing rise.
“Every house we build makes a statement. We want to make shelter a matter of conscience. We want it to be socially, morally, politically and religiously unacceptable to have substandard housing.
“We’re more than a construction company,” said the 57-year-old Fuller, who now spends all his time running the Americus, Ga.,- based organization. “What makes Habitat work is the spiritual motivation behind it.”
CELEBRATIONS
World of God Faith Center in Carson celebrates International Night in lieu of Halloween this evening with ethnic food, games, entertainment and singing. The festivities start at 6:30 p.m. at 930 E. Dominguez St., Suite D, Carson. (310) 323-4044.
Occidental College celebrates Religious Diversity Week Nov. 5-12 with music, film, discussion and interreligious dialogue. A panel discussion, “Jewish-Christian Relations at the Beginning of the Common Era,” takes place Thursday at 7:30 p.m. At noon Tuesday, Nov. 10, the college’s Gospel Choir will perform. Representatives of the Catholic, Jewish, Korean and African-American communities will examine “Religion and the Healing of Los Angeles” Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. A Buddhist-Roman Catholic Dialogue will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. The film “Weapons of the Spirit” will be screened at 7 p.m. Nov. 12. Producer Pierre Sauvage will lead a discussion afterward. All events are free and open to the public. (213) 259-2621.
Loyola Marymount University’s Grand Reunion Nov. 6-8 includes events for alumni and their families. Highlights will be a dinner dance, a concert, a Mass, a Hispanic art exhibit and harbor cruises. (310) 338-3065.
Temple Solael celebrates the installation of Harold F. Caminker as senior rabbi at sabbath services at 8 p.m. Friday. The service will be led by Rabbi Lennard Thal, regional director of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. The address is 6601 Valley Circle Blvd., West Hills (818) 348-3885.
The Buena Park Church of Christ observes its 49th anniversary with a homecoming Sunday, Nov. 8. Worship is at 10 a.m., with Charles E. Stancill, director of the Southern California School of Evangelism, speaking. Lunch and congregational singing follow. The address is 7201 Walnut Ave., Buena Park. (714) 523-1700.
A free series of meetings for those who have questions about the Catholic Church begins Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and will be held weekly. Called the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, the group meets at St. Ambrose Catholic School, Room 5, 1285 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles (213) 656-4433.
HONORS
Rabbi Brant Rosen has been named director and spiritual leader of the Los Angeles Reconstructionist Community of Havurot. In addition to becoming havurot community director, Rosen will serve as assistant rabbi of Kehillath Israel, a Reconstructionist synagogue in Pacific Palisades.
The Moravian Church of Downey holds its Victorian Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. Baked goods, jellies and crafts will be sold. Handmade Tibetan rugs will be offered for sale, with proceeds supporting missionaries in Africa. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The address is 10337 Old River School Road, Downey (310) 927-0718.
WORSHIP
An ecumenical memorial worship service for all those who have died of AIDS will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, the Day of All Souls, at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Hollywood. Gabriel Faure’s Requiem will be performed. Singers and musicians from six churches will participate. The Rev. Peggy Clark of Hollywood Beverly Christian Church will lead the prayer. Donations will benefit Project Angel Food and City of Angels Hospice. (213) 462-6311.
Please address notices to: Southern California File, c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, Calif., 90053. Items should be brief and arrive three weeks before the event announced.
