For Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity, faith in God and faith in work are one and the same.

“You need to follow your dreams on what I call a faith-foolishness line. When you plan to do something for society, you need to get as close to the foolishness as you can without actually getting into the foolishness.”

In hindsight, that’s easy for Fuller to say. The former lawyer and businessman left both professions to found Habitat for Humanity, one of the largest nonprofit home construction organizations in the world, housing 1 million people and counting in more than 90 countries.

Fuller separated from Habitat for Humanity in 2005 and immediately started the Fuller Center for Housing, an organization similar to Habitat for Humanity. The Fuller Center is doing a Blitz Build in Shreveport’s Allendale neighborhood, with nearly 60 houses expected to be built there by mid-2009.

Fuller, 73, said giving up has never been an option. Sweating in a T-shirt and jeans after working the nail gun Monday morning, the septuagenarian said he has no plans to retire for the foreseeable future.

“You know, a lot of people have asked me that. … When you feel blessed, why would you want to quit? Going around, gawking at tourist sites is not appealing to me.”

Faith surrounds Fuller, on the construction site and off.

“People his age, you question why don’t they retire,” said W. Russell Meade, CEO of New Hope Construction, a Tennessee contractor helping out in Allendale. “But the Bible never speaks of being retired.”

One of the Fuller Center’s latest programs is the Greater Blessing Box Initiative, in which Fuller Center supporters repair homes for elderly residents who are physically unable to do the work and leave a wooden box with prepared envelopes for the residents to pay back the cost of materials when able.

“I’ve always loved coming by Shreveport,” Fuller said. “It’s a wonderful city. … But there are still pockets of need.”

Fuller still lives with his wife, Linda, in Americus, Ga., the home of Habitat for Humanity. On Monday, he was on his way to Minden to examine another Fuller Center project in the Webster city.

Fuller praised the local communities for taking on projects so passionately.

“The Bible says it’s a blessing to receive but an even greater blessing to give. We want to give people the opportunity to receive the greater blessing.”

© Drew Pierson – Shreveport-Times – dpierson@gannett.com

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