Overview

The Book

What People are Saying

Stories

Habitat for Humanity

For Congregations

Order Now

Small Group Study Guide to Creating a Habitat for Humanity: No Hands But Yours

by Jonathan T. M. Reckford

Creating a habitat for humanity—a world where all people have the opportunity for a decent, safe, affordable place to live—is not a solo job; it will take many people—all with "holy discontent" over the way things are—working together. It makes very good sense, therefore, for you to gather together with others to learn about poverty housing, to discuss practical responses to the problem, to pray for your community, and to plan for ways in which together you can be a hands-on part of the solution. So, welcome to the group!

This small group study guide—along with the questions at the end of each chapter in Creating a Habitat for Humanity—is a resource both for those who have never been involved in a housing project with Habitat for Humanity or other agency or group and want to know about poverty housing, and for those who have been involved and want to learn more. Like the book, your small group discussion will inform you and inspire you.

Creating a Habitat for Humanity is written in three parts with two chapters in each part. This study guide is designed for three sessions—one for each part of the book. To prepare for each session, read the two chapters that will be discussed and then spend some time thinking beforehand about the Questions for Reflection at the end of the chapters. Take notes and be ready to share your answers to the questions.

May the God of justice, love, and mercy guide your conversation.

---

PART ONE – HOUSING AND MERCY

CHAPTER ONE – CALLED TO CARE

Like many other agencies and organizations and programs that tackle the issue of housing, Habitat for Humanity changes lives—the lives of those who receive and the lives of those who give. The result is a growing community of caring and compassion—a community that could well be called "God's habitat for humanity."

Without hands—lots of hands—that are willing to get dirty in order to build houses and hope, Habitat for Humanity and other groups would be only an idea, a wonderful idea, but one with no power to transform lives and communities. Only ideas translated into action change people and the communities people live in.

In this hour we want to think together about our call to confront the unacceptable conditions of poverty housing (chapter one) and begin thinking about ways in which we might practically address those conditions (chapter two).

WE OPEN WITH PRAYER SEEKING WISDOM.

SCRIPTURE FOR THIS HOUR:

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. (James 1:5)

TAKE A MOMENT FOR SELF-INTRODUCTIONS.

AN OPENING QUESTION:

How does a small group like ours "get wisdom" about difficult subjects like poverty housing?

This would be a good time to set some ground rules for discussion that will help you tap the wisdom of each group member and develop it into "community wisdom."

REVIEW THE QUESTIONS AT THE END OF CHAPTER ONE (pages 20-21) and share whatever insights, questions or concerns occurred to you when you read the chapter.

MORE QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

1. You are in this group because you feel called to learn about and respond to the problems of poverty housing.
• Share the personal experiences that have brought you to this place.
• In what ways does your faith compel you to take up this issue?
• With all the problems facing our community, do you think poverty housing should be a top priority? Why? Or why not?
2. On page 15, the author argues that building homes—important as that is—is not enough if it is not accompanied by the transformation of people and communities.
• With respect to poverty housing, what would transformed people and communities look like?
• How does such transformation happen?
• What are the barriers to such transformation?
3. Do you find the story of Forest Griswold (pages 13-15) encouraging or discouraging? Why?

CLOSE THE HOUR WITH PRAYER.

---

CHAPTER TWO – CALLED TO COMMUNITY

The goal is not to build a house here or a house there; it is not to isolate individuals or families within the four walls of their new house. The goal is create and transform communities.

Building new, affordable homes revitalizes neighborhoods. Done the Habitat way, home building creates cooperation along with both a personal and communal sense of pride, dignity, and worth. All of this lends hopefulness and stability to a community that reduces crime and creates a more positive environment for business, education, and recreation.

Creative programs that address locally such large issues as housing are not driven by a "one size fits all" approach. Rather, innovative strategies that take seriously the specific realities and needs of specific communities are at the heart of Habitat's and other agenies'ability to make a real difference around the world and across the street.

WE OPEN WITH PRAYER FOR COMPASSION

SCRIPTURE FOR THIS HOUR:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40)

ANY MORE THOUGHTS TO SHARE FROM WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST HOUR?

REVIEW THE QUESTIONS AT THE END OF CHAPTER TWO

(pages 33-34) and share whatever insights, questions or concerns occurred to you when you read the chapter.

MORE QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

1. The stories of Habitat's work both around the globe and at home make it clear that their driving vision is for social transformation that "promotes dignity and respect and [raises] people up and out of poverty and despair" (page 23).
• Thinking of your own community, what are the barriers to dignity and respect and how might you or your group begin working to dismantle those barriers?
• The author suggests: "Get out into the community and put yourself in a position to see what is wrong" (page 32). How might you do that? Who might help you "see what is wrong?"
2. Several stories in chapter two are about how building community by building houses often leads to reconciliation between people who are separated by fear, prejudice, suspicion and/or misunderstanding.
• Where in your community do you see a need for reconciliation between people?
• How might housing projects in your community promote reconciliation?
• What other strategies for reconciliation could work hand-in-hand with Habitat projects?
3. The author states that "mercy calls for individuals to look beyond human restraints and to respond to God's call to show extraordinary compassion and to love as we have been loved."
• What are the "human restraints" we need to look beyond if we are going to follow God's call to love and mercy with respect to poverty housing?
• What role could a community of faith play in helping its members go beyond those restraints?

CLOSE THE SESSION WITH PRAYER.

---

PART TWO – HOUSING AND JUSTICE

CHAPTER THREE – CALLED TO BRING HOPE

For some the world is a good place filled with promise and possibilities, not to mention opportunities and resources for building their lives in meaningful and satisfying ways. For all too many others, it just isn't that way. Living without the perception that things could be better, with few if any opportunities for growth, and with meager resources, all too many people simply give up. They slip into despair in a downward spiral of hopelessness. And things get worse.

The experience that there are other people who see their plight as a matter of injustice and are willing to engage them, value them, and work with them in building positive and lasting changes in their lives often reverses the downward spiral. Hopeful people can accomplish much on the road to justice.

WE OPEN WITH PRAYER FOR JUSTICE

SCRIPTURE FOR THIS HOUR:

So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth. Job 5:16

ANY MORE THOUGHTS TO SHARE FROM WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE LAST SESSION?

REVIEW THE QUESTIONS AT THE END OF CHAPTER THREE

(page 49) and share whatever insights, questions or concerns occurred to you when you read the chapter.

MORE QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

1. In the Bible, justice is about equal sharing of the material necessities of life which are seen as blessings of God. It is a matter of fairness. Justice requires that we create a fair system which provides equal access to all to both the necessities of life and to opportunity. Look at the scripture text again. Take a few moments of silence and meditate on it, repeat it in your mind, let the words sink in.
• What is it about hope that enables the poor to challenge the injustices of our society?
• How is such hope ignited?
• How is it sustained?
2. In our society, the most common response to poverty and its consequences is charity. We write checks. Important as that is to relieve immediate suffering, charity is less important than justice—changing the conditions that make charity necessary.
• What are the major differences between the dynamics of charity and the dynamics of the struggle for justice?
• In what ways is charity transformational? Who/what gets transformed?
• In what ways is justice transformational? Who/what gets transformed?
3. The author asserts that "housing is critical to all the factors that affect the poor" (page 45).
• Are your persuaded by his assertion? Why? Or why not?
• From the perspective of biblical justice, in our affluent society should affordable housing, adequate health care, and access to education be seen as basic human rights? Why? Or why not?

CLOSE THE HOUR WITH PRAYER

---

CHAPTER FOUR – CALLED TO UNDERSTAND

There are so many root causes of poverty that it would be simplistic to pretend that affordable housing alone could solve the problem. It can't—but it is fundamentally important. A decent, safe place to live which you can truly call your own provides a foundation upon which to build a hopeful life for yourself and your family. Just try to imagine the impact upon every area of your life if you didn't have—and couldn't get—a place to live.

Understanding poverty and its tragic (and avoidable) consequences in the lives of real men, women, and children is critically important for any individual or group that wants to make a difference. There are many resources for those who want to understand—books, studies, websites, experts—but perhaps the best aid to understanding is the poor themselves and hearing from them their perspective on poverty, its consequences and solutions.

WE OPEN WITH PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING

SCRIPTURE FOR THIS HOUR:

I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written, "The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little." (2 Corinthians 8:13-15)

ANY MORE THOUGHTS TO SHARE FROM WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST HOUR?

REVIEW THE QUESTIONS AT THE END OF CHAPTER FOUR

(pages 71-72) and share whatever insights, questions or concerns occurred to you when you read the chapter.

MORE QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

1. The author points out that the poor have "little power and influence on decision making groups" (page 56).
• Should the poor be understood as having a privileged perspective on the problems they face and possible solutions to those problems? Why? Or why not?
• Do you think that the poor should have a voice when social, political, and economic decisions that affect them are being made? Why? Or why not?
• How can your group help the voice of the poor be heard, particularly in the area of poverty housing?
2. American communities are becoming more and more culturally diverse, and American non-profits such as Habitat interact with a multitude of different cultures globally. The author calls us all to not only learn about the complex issues of poverty, but to also "be sensitive to and collaborate with people who are part of many different cultures" (page 60).
• How many different cultures and/or racial and ethnic groups live and interact in your community?
• Are any of these cultures/groups over-represented among the poor?
• How could your group come to a deeper understanding of such cultural groups and begin to collaborate with them in addressing issues of poverty in ways that make sense to them?
3. The author urges us "to be advocates to establish housing and shelter issues as a major priority of local and federal governments" (page 61).
• Thinking locally, nationally, and globally, what organizations could your group network with to strengthen your advocacy?
• What would you and your group need to know and to do in order to be an effective advocate for the poor on the issue of poverty housing?
• Read Matthew 25:31-40 together, then consider this question: Is the author right when he suggests that pro-actively addressing such social issues as poverty housing is not an option for Christians, but rather is mandated by our faith in a God of love and justice? Why? Or why not?

CLOSE THE SESSION WITH PRAYER.

---

PART THREE – HOUSING AND HUMILITY

CHAPTER FIVE – CALLED TO PARTNERSHIP

Humility is absolutely essential in any attempt to address the issues of poverty housing or any of the other social issues that trouble our world Why? Because nothing can be done if we don't work together and we can't work effectively together if we don't (1) put the needs of others ahead of the needs of our own egos, (2) listen to and learn from others, and (3) create real partnerships of mutual trust and respect.

To be effective, the struggle against poverty housing requires genuine partnerships among religious groups, non-profits, financial institutions, governmental institutions and—perhaps most importantly—with those being served.

WE OPEN WITH PRAYER FOR HUMILITY

SCRIPTURE FOR THIS HOUR:

Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you? – Jesus (Luke 6:46)

ANY MORE THOUGHTS TO SHARE FROM WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE LAST SESSION?

REVIEW THE QUESTIONS AT THE END OF CHAPTER FIVE

(page 92) and share whatever insights, questions or concerns occurred to you when you read the chapter.

MORE QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

1. The author urges us to avoid paternalistic attitudes when working with the poor.
• How can we recognize if we are, in fact, feeling, thinking, and acting paternalistically?
• How would a non-paternalistic approach to working with the poor look different from a paternalistic approach.
• What might the well-to-do learn from the poor?
2. Have someone in the group read Clarence Jordan's sermon out loud (pages 77-79).
• What were you thinking and—more importantly—feeling as you listened?
• What steps might you and your group take to communicate and begin to realize Jordan's vision (which is God's vision) of a true habitat for humanity.
• Do you agree with Jordan's belief that, "We cannot have any dealings with God unless we care for one another?" Why? Or why not?
3. Partnering—working together with others to accomplish concrete, practical goals that make life better for others—is at the heart of the Habitat approach. Remember the story of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and their partnership with Habitat (pages 81-82).
• If you have partnered with Habitat before, how did it go?
• If you have not partnered with Habitat before (or would like to partner with Habitat again), what steps do you need to take as a group to make it happen in your organization?
• Are there other housing agencies or programs or groups in your area whose goals and approach fit with what you look to accomplish? How might you link to them, and what specific projects would be most worthwhile to engage?
• The author uses the metaphor of the "theology of the hammer" to talk about what people learn about themselves, others, God, the kingdom of God, the teachings of Jesus when they work together to build a house. What do you imagine your group might learn about these things if you partnered with Habitat to build a house?

CLOSE THE HOUR WITH PRAYER

---

CHAPTER SIX – WHAT IS YOUR CALL?

As we come to the last hour of our study group, we are reminded that, when all is said and done, it all comes down to commitment—to the commitment of individuals and groups to get involved, to learn the issues, to make a difference through hands-on action.

In this hour we want to think about the many ways we as individuals—and our group or organization—can get involved and make a real difference in the lives of real people. This small group study may end today but the need and the opportunities for involvement go on. In that sense, this ending is just the beginning.

WE OPEN WITH PRAYER FOR COMMITMENT

SCRIPTURE FOR THIS HOUR:

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them;…if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. (Isaiah 58: 6-7, 10)

ANY MORE THOUGHTS TO SHARE FROM WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST HOUR?

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

1. The author notes that, "You cannot ignore the issues that pull on your heart when God is calling you to respond to a particular need." He is talking about our passions and what issues really motivate us to take action (page 96).
• What are the social justice issues that excite your passions? Share them with the group. Don't think only about poverty housing. Think as well about such issues as hunger, health care, education/literacy, crime/violence, domestic abuse, the special needs of women, children, and/or youth, etc.
• What are the things you like to do and are good at? Inventory your skills and interests. Share them with the group. Do you like to work with your hands? Do you like public speaking? Is planning your special skill and interest? Are you good with words/writing? Good with numbers? Do you like working with particular kinds of people: adults? youth? children? Do you love to teach or mentor?
• In what ways can the things you love to do and are good at be effectively used in addressing the social issues that excite your passions? Share your insights into yourself with the group. (If poverty housing is something you are passionate about, look at the Opportunities for Individuals on page 97.)
2. Read together through the list of Opportunities for Churches and Other Groups on page 99.
• Which of these opportunities look interesting and doable for your group and/or organization? What makes them so?
• Prioritize them.
• What steps do you need to take to begin accomplishing these tasks? What planning needs to be done? Who needs to be convinced or brought on board? What resources are available? Who needs to be partnered with? What's the time-line, etc?

NOW THAT THIS GROUP STUDY IS OVER, DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO ORGANIZE FOR ACTION.

CLOSE THE SESSION WITH PRAYER

DO JUSTICE – LOVE MERCY – WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD