Sunday, March 1, 1998

Money changed millionaire's life

By LORETTA FULTON / Abilene Reporter-News

Becoming a millionaire at age 29 changed Millard Fuller's life.

Giving it all away changed it for the better.

In 1976, after his health, integrity and marriage suffered, Fuller did some soul searching, reconciled with his wife Linda and renewed his Christian commitment.

The couple later founded Habitat for Humanity with the mission of eradicating substandard housing around the world. Since 1976 Habitat has been responsible for helping 30,000 families in 1,000 U.S. cities and 40 other countries to live in decent housing.

Fuller will be in Abilene March 6-7 to conduct the Southwest Regional Conference of Habitat for Humanity at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 525 Beech.

Up to 300 people from Texas, Oklahoma, and possibly Mexico are expected for the two-day conference, said Brenda Coleman, director of the Habitat program in Abilene, one of the largest in the country.

"It's an honor for us to have it here," Coleman said. Last year's regional conference was in Oklahoma City.

A highlight of the conference will the "A Habitation Service," which is free and open to the public, at 6:45 p.m. Friday.

The service will include prayers, songs and an inspirational presentation by Fuller. Afterward, Fuller will sign copies of his books, The Theology of the Hammer and A Simple, Decent Place to Live.

The conference is for people interested in Habitat work and for other non-profit agencies. A number of workshops are scheduled for Saturday and will focus on "all the different kinds of things that go on with Habitat," Coleman said.

However, some of them, such as fund-raising, publicity, and strategic planning, will apply to other non-profit agencies, too.

Cost of the conference is $45, and participants may register at the door. Horus are 12-6 p.m. Friday and 8:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday.

On Saturday, Fuller will lead three of the workshops:

-- 8:45-10 a.m., Habitat's Christian principles

-- 10:15-11:30 a.m. -- Habitat's perspective on fund-raising

-- 2:15-3:30 p.m. -- A fireside chat with the Fullers

The conference also will allow Coleman and her volunteers to show off Abilene's Habitat homes. Abilene now has 70 Habitat houses, including four completed and two under construction in the Cornerstone addition at South 5th and Sayles.

Tours in a double-decker bus will be conducted both days to the Cornerstone addition. They will originate at St. Paul from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Friday and from 2-4 p.m. Saturday.

Not coincidentally, the regional conference is titled, "Setting the Cornerstone for a Caring Community," to reflect Abilene's Cornerstone addition.

Call Coleman at 670-0489 for more information on registering for the conference.