Thank you to all the houses of faith who served lunch to the clergy during this historic build, including kosher and vegetarian meals! As Bob Warf, house leader for the house commented, "This is another way the All Clergy Habitat House has brought people from different faiths together and how it has helped bridge cultures, religions and even types of foods."

Todoay, Sunday, November 18th at 2 p.m. Charlotte's first Interfaith All Clergy Habitat House will be dedicated and officially presented to the family of Faustin Kalonji and Ngalula Mwady. Prayers of blessing will be offered in Arabic, Hebrew, Sanskrit and other languages. All are invited to attend this historic dedication.

WHEN: Sunday, November 18th, 2007 at 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: 701 Rayon St., Charlotte NC

"Words are not enough, the doing of faith is critical," said Dr. Maria Hanlin, Executive Director of Mecklenburg Ministries. "We have built a home for a deserving family: Faustin, Ngalula and their four boys. We are also building a better community for us all as Rabbis, Preachers, Imams, Priests and Spiritual Leaders across 11 faith traditions build new relationships and serve the community together."

"Inherent to many people of faith is the call to serve those in need, to make the world a better place and to be in service to others," said Bert Green, Executive Director. Understanding that building a Habitat home is a clear expression of faith for people of many beliefs is a wonderful way to include diverse faith partners in a building project."

The Interfaith All Clergy Build is believed to be the first of its kind throughout the country, and is inspiring additional builds in other cities.

Rabbi Judy Schindler Shares about Working on the Interfaith Habitat House

The Thursday prior to the (Jewish) holidays I got my hammer and did something I have never done. I began to build a home for Habitat for Humanity. It was hard work. But more than building a house for a beautiful family to make a home, with forty other clergy I gathered to hammer, to nail, to talk theology, to build relationships and to build a better future.

Even the strong interfaith relationships we have as a congregation (Temple Beth El) and of which we are so proud, require face to face connections, not only among clergy but among our respective communities.

Technology is awesome. Just a decade ago, we could never have dreamt of the world we have today. And we cannot begin to imagine what the world will look like in a decade hence.

Our computers can do many amazing things, but our computers cannot build a house. Our computers cannot build community. Our computers cannot build relationships and heal our souls and our world. Only we can do that - face to face - with those who matter most.

Thank you to all the Houses of Faith who Served Lunch for the Clergy Habitat Build

"I've never eaten this well on a Habitat Build!" joked Bob Warf, house leader for the clergy Habitat Build.

Mecklenburg Ministries thanks the many congregations who served lunch. For instance, Thakor Topiwala of the Hindu Center prepared an Indian meal, shared how it was prepared, what ingredients were used and the traditions it represented. Rabbi Murray Ezring and Rabbi Faith Cantor cooked a kosher meal for the clergywomen's build. "This is another way the All Clergy Habitat House has brought people from different faiths together and how it has helped bridge cultures, religions and even types of foods," commented Bob Warf.

Thank you to Friendship Missionary Baptist, University Park Baptist, St. Gabriel Catholic, Harrison United Methodist, SouthPark Christian, Temple Israel, ken Reynolds and Bojangles, Providence Baptist, The Hindu Center, Wesley United Methodist, Myers Park Presbyterian, and Calvary United Methodist for providing delicious lunches, great fellowship and serving smiles and encouragement with every meal.