News

Habitat for Humanity Founder Dies

Millard Fuller, who founded a house-building ministry, died at 74 today.

Christianity Today February 3, 2009

Millard Fuller, who founded a house-building ministry called Habitat for Humanity with his wife, died today. He was 74.

Linda Fuller told that Associated Press that her husband was complaining of chest pains, headache and difficulty swallowing.

“Millard would not want people to mourn his death,” she told the AP. “He would be more interested in having people put on a tool belt and build a house for people in need.”

Former President Jimmy Carter, called Fuller “one of the most extraordinary people I have ever known.

“He used his remarkable gifts as an entrepreneur for the benefit of millions of needy people around the world by providing them with decent housing,” Carter said in a statement. “As the founder of Habitat for Humanity and later the Fuller Center, he was an inspiration to me, other members of our family and an untold number of volunteers who worked side-by-side under his leadership.”

Fuller founded the organization in 1976, which has built 300,000 houses for more than 1.5 million people. In 1996, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

However, the organization went through turmoil amid allegations that Fuller had harassed women on staff. Fuller denied the charges, but the board ousted him after he spoke publicly about the matter.

After he left Habitat, Fuller founded the Fuller Center for Housing.

Funeral services are scheduled for tomorrow, and he will be buried at Koinonia Farm in Georgia.

Previous articles on Fuller and Habitat for Humanity include the following:

Questions Follow Fuller’s Firing from Habitat for Humanity | Changing corporate culture, not harassment allegations, reportedly led to founder’s dismissal as president. But some say the leadership battle isn’t over. (February 7, 2005)

How to Build Homes Without Putting Up Walls | Habitat for Humanity strives to keep its Christian identity – a tricky task, when everybody wants to join. (May 31, 2002)

God’s Contractor | How Habitat for Humanity’s Millard Fuller persuaded corporate America to do kingdom work. (June 14, 1999)

Habitat Builds 50,000th Home | Habitat for Humanity had its busiest week ever starting September 8, constructing 150 homes in 70 cities. (October 26, 1998)

Building Straw Houses on a Firm Foundation | Habitat for Humanity goes low-tech with big results. (February 3, 1997)

Our Latest

News

Charlie Kirk Aims to Expand Turning Point USA to Evangelical Campuses

But not all Christian campuses have embraced the conservative group.

News

Sarah Jakes Roberts Evolves T. D. Jakes’s Women’s Conference

At a record-setting event this fall, 40,000 followers listened to her preach about spiritual breakthrough and surrender.

Being Human

Walking the Camino de Santiago with Barrett Harkins

The missionary to pilgrims shares wisdom from the trail.

News

The Evangelical Voters Who Changed Their Minds

Amid a hyperpartisan electorate, a minority plan to vote differently than they did in 2016 and 2020.

News

Meet the Evangelical Expats Staying in Lebanon

Shout to the Lord in a Foreign Language

Worshiping God with words we don’t understand may seem strange. But I consider it a spiritual practice.

Jesus Is Still Right About Persecution

Nine truths believers need to understand to pray well for the suffering body of Christ.

The Bulletin

Electioneering

The Bulletin discusses the final presidential campaign push, churches in the age of screens, and the UN’s work in Gaza.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube