The idea for Habitat for Humanity originated from a community of people living together on a farm in Americus, Georgia. They were living together as an outward expression of their faith in a manner that was modeled by the first Christians as told in the Book of Acts.  They called their farm – Koinonia. That term, in the original Greek, is best translated to mean “fellowship” or “unity.” The message of fellowship and unity was consistently promoted by the Apostle Paul in his various letters and throughout his travels. The same message is prevalent in all the World’s major religions, and it formed the spiritual foundation for the people living together at Koinonia Farm. It was the very essence of their faith that formed the actual foundation for the very first Habitat for Humanity home.

 

Today, at Lake-Geauga Habitat for Humanity, we continue to work in that same spirit of faith. And we often reference how the Apostle Paul used the concept of building on a foundation of faith in his letter to the people of Ephesus when he tells them: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:19-20 (NIV).

 

It is in this spirit that we have created our “BOTF FUND,” which stands for “built on the foundation.” Our BOTF FUND is meant to be a way for all people, but especially people of faith, to contribute financially, in the spirit of koinonia – fellowship and unity, to the foundation of every Habitat home we build. Your contributions to the BOTF FUND will go directly to paying for the materials and labor costs of those foundations. You will be ensuring that each foundation is built by an outward expression of your faith and love for your neighbor, the way it was intended when Habitat for Humanity was founded.