Habitat for Humanity house recently built in Fergus Falls area

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

This past year 25 churches in Otter Tail County helped build a Habitat for Humanity house in Fergus Falls. Church involvement included teams of eight, 792 volunteer hours and more than $50,000 raised by the churches toward materials for the house.

On Thursday, Feb. 22, church volunteers attended an open house at the home that will soon be occupied by a family.

Volunteers this past year, part of what became known as the “Faith Build” project, followed the example of former President Jimmy Carter who worked close to 35 years as a volunteer, worldwide, for Habitat for Humanity.

“Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, quickly realized that Habitat for Humanity closely aligned with their values,” said Paul Shol, Habitat for Humanity Faith Build coordinator in Otter Tail County. 

“They became hands-on construction volunteers in their home state of Georgia and later worked on Habitat homes all across the nation and in 14 overseas countries,” Shol added. “During their 35 years with Habitat for Humanity they worked alongside close to 104,000 volunteers.”

The Carters had seen firsthand, in Georgia, the effects that lack of affordable housing had on many families. They understood that, to ensure the greatest success, families need stable and affordable houses.

“Church groups in Otter Tail County answered the call to love their neighbors as Jesus taught,” Shol said. “They wanted to make a difference while helping construct the Habitat for Humanity house in Fergus Falls.”

He added that church work teams, while working on the house, attained a social environment with good fellowship. “They also experienced the feeling of ‘getting something done’ while learning and practicing home construction techniques.”

Stavanger Church east of Elizabeth and Federated Church of Fergus Falls kicked off the Faith Build in late June 2023. They helped do the exterior framing with productive days and good fellowship. Other church work groups quickly joined in, through July and August and into the fall.

The Grace Lutheran Church of Erhard team was happy to participate. 

“We learned some new building techniques and enjoyed fellowship with church members, outside of the church proper, and made a contribution towards the building of a Faith Build home,” said Jim Klitzke of Grace Lutheran.

The Rev. Ed Morgan, before his retirement, served Federated Church in Fergus Falls. He recently has served Maine Presbyterian Church north of Phelps Mill which had a Habitat work team in 2023.