Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West welcomed over 75 people Friday, Nov. 13, 2009 to its third annual Prayer Breakfast kicking off its Building on Faith program for 2009-2010 urging the faith community to include “a mission at home” with Habitat STW. Sandee Williamson, Habitat STW Director of Development, recognized last year’s faith partners and thanked Mary, Queen of Peace for pledging $5,000 toward the upcoming year’s Building on Faith project.

Ministers, pastors and representatives from the West St. Tammany faith community attended, along with Habitat family partners, volunteers and staff, showed their support of the Habitat initiative. Faith partners recognized with framed photos and certificates for contributing to the 2009 Building on Faith project were: Bethel Reform Methodist Church, Christ Episcopal School, Covenant Christian Church/Faith Bible Church, Covington Presbyterian Church, Faith Tabernacle Church, First Baptist Church of Mandeville, Greater Starlight Baptist Church, Ground HOG Landscape Management, Gulf States Real Estate Services, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), Lakeview Regional Medical Center, Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church, St Jane De Chantal Church, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, St. Paul’s School, Salvation Army, and New Covenant Presbyterian Church.

Faith partners recognized with certificates of appreciation for joining the Building on Faith mission through volunteer efforts were: Christ Episcopal Church, Church of the King, Covington High School National Honor Society, First Baptist Church of Covington, Grace Disciples of Christ Church, Life Church, St. Scholastica Academy, St. Timothy United Methodist Church and The Pentecostals of Mandeville.

Maureen Clary, Habitat STW President and CEO, recognized Dave Pashkevich as its 2009 Faith-Based Volunteer of the Year. “His consistent construction hours, his mission outreach in his parish, and his joyous spirit serve as a reminder to all of us why we are here.” Dave has volunteered with Habitat STW regularly for nearly ten years and continues to recruit fellow Mary, Queen of Peace church members to volunteer as well.

Among those attending from the faith community were representatives from Christ Episcopal Church, Church of the King, Covington Presbyterian Church, Covington High School National Honor Society, First Baptist Church Mandeville, Grace Disciples Church, Landmark Church of God, Mary, Queen of Peace Church, New Covenant Presbyterian Church, Northlake Christian School, Saint Scholastica Academy, St. Jane deChantal Catholic Church, and St. Paul’s High School.

At the breakfast Rev. Chandler Willis, Habitat STW board member and pastor of Covington Presbyterian Church, emphasized the need for housing for “workforce income” families who are living at or below the poverty level. Building on Faith committee member Chad Lockfield encouraged the faith community to identify persons with their organizations to coordinate their "mission at home" with Habitat.
Habitat STW staff also presented certificates of appreciation over 50 volunteers for their long-time dedication with Habitat in committees, construction and the ReStore.

Habitat STW welcomes new Building on Faith volunteer groups and committee members. For more information about Building on Faith, contact Sandee Williamson at 985-893-3172 or [ email ].

HabitatSTW Photos on: Picasa | Facebook | Flickr

Building on Faith
Building on Faith is a program which calls on the religious community to support the ministry and further develop the spiritual foundation of Habitat for Humanity. Faith-based organizations are encouraged to support and get directly involved in Habitat’s mission to eliminate poverty housing by building simple, decent, affordable homes with low-income families in West St. Tammany.

About Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West
Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West is an ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing by building simple, decent and affordable housing. Since it was founded in 1981 as the tenth Habitat affiliate in the US and the first in Louisiana, over 100 repairs, 17 major home renovations and 175 new construction projects were completed and sold to partner families with no-profit, zero-interest mortgages. Habitat STW is a United Way Partner Agency. Contact Habitat STW at 985-893-3172 to volunteer or to donate.