July 28, 2010
Christians build Habitat home for Muslim family
By Julie Filby
A coalition of volunteers, including parishioners of seven Catholic churches in the Denver metro area, are making the dream of home ownership come true for a local Muslim family through Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian ministry that believes “every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live.” The organization coordinates construction of simple homes using volunteer labor. Once completed homes are sold to low-income families who make monthly payments on interest-free mortgage loans. Recipient families also invest 250 hours of “sweat equity” working on their home and the homes of others.
“Habitat allows people to take their values and beliefs from inside the walls of their congregation and practice them in the community,” said Amanda Nelson, faith relations manager for Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver.
In 2005 a church coalition, dubbed Habitat Helpers, was established with the goal of building one home in the metro area each year. Founding members were St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Centennial and Calvary Baptist Church in Denver.
Jay Busch; a parishioner at St. Thomas More and Habitat volunteer, officer, chair and committee member for 10 years; heads Habitat Helpers.
“It’s important to be in church praying, but I believe it’s also important to get out and put those principles into action,” he said. “Habitat provides a wonderful opportunity for people of all religions to help those less fortunate in a very personal and tangible manner.”
Over the years more churches joined the coalition including Catholic churches: All Souls in Englewood, Our Lady of Loreto in Foxfield, Our Lady of Lourdes in Denver, St. Mary in Littleton, St. Michael the Archangel in Aurora, Pax Christi in Littleton (Diocese of Colorado Springs); and Mountainview Community Christian Church in Highland Ranch.
“This collective effort of congregations across the community is a vital partner in Habitat’s ministry,” Nelson said. “Their loyalty and hard work has changed the lives of so many families.”
Habitat Helpers are currently working on their sixth house: a townhome in a 24-unit complex near Interstate 25 and Colorado Boulevard in Denver. Future homeowners are Abshir Mohamoud and his wife Farhiya Jilo, natives of Somalia, a primarily Muslim country.
Mohamoud, a baker at Bimbo Bakeries for 10 years, and Jilo, a stay-at-home mom, currently live in a two-bedroom townhome with their six children: four daughters and two sons, who range from age 1 to 17.
The family, who survived living in desert refugee camps in Eastern Africa in the 1990s, expressed gratitude for the opportunity.
“We can’t wait! So much of life is centered around the home and now we will be able to have this foundation for our family,” Mohamoud said. “I never dreamed we would have a home in America, this is an amazing thing for us.”
Mohamoud discovered Habitat for Humanity through a friend who owns a Habitat home built in Arvada in 2004.
“He and I met in Somalia many years ago because we lived in the same refugee tent,” he said. “We stayed in touch after we both came to America, and he invited me to attend the dedication ceremony for his house.
“I remember that day he told me, ‘Abshir, someday you too will own your own house,’ but that was difficult to believe at that time in my life.”
Partnering on this project has opened dialogue and increased understanding between the Christian and Muslim faiths.
“In Islam, we learn that Christians are a merciful people, and that has been demonstrated to me,” Mohamoud said. “Seeing so many people come to help us on our house has been a powerful learning of this religion.”
Habitat Helpers sponsored “Building Bridges by Building Homes: Muslims and Christians Finding Common Ground” at St. Thomas More Parish June 3. About 230 people attended the event moderated by pastor Father Andrew Kemberling, V.F.; Imam Ibrahim Kazerooni; Imam Karim Abu Zaid of the Colorado Muslim Society; and Pastor Brian Henderson from Calvary Baptist Church.
“We know very little about each other’s religion and culture and this leads to unnecessary discomfort and wrong assumptions, impressions, and beliefs,” Busch said. “(At the event) we learned we both believe in one God and prayer should be a bigger part of daily lives.”
Busch hopes there will be a larger movement between Catholics and Muslims to explore each other’s religion and culture.
“We might imagine a more loving and caring world if these religions learned to respect, cooperate with and accept each other,” he said.
Habitat Helpers encourages churches to join the coalition and for individuals to get involved through their church or the local Habitat office. Volunteer commitment can be as little as one eight-hour day. No construction experience is needed.
“Getting to know the family you’re helping and seeing the impact of your efforts is truly rewarding,” Busch said. “There is seldom a dry eye in the room when a family receives the keys to their new home.”
TO VOLUNTEER >> CONTACT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver
Web: www.habitatmetrodenver.org or http://habitathelpers.volunteerhub.com
Phone: 303-534-2929
Email: amanda@habitatmetrodenver.org
TO JOIN CHURCH COALITION >> CONTACT HABITAT HELPERS
Jay Busch, Habitat Helpers chair
Phone: 303-779-9461
Email: jrbusch@aol.com
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