Belleview Place lit up with wondrous excitement last Wednesday evening (November 30). Friends, family, sponsors, and new neighbors of Brittney Anthony and Raphael Ojo and families gathered along the sidewalk and in the street to celebrate the establishment of two brand new homes built through the collaboration of Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity, over a dozen Central Indiana United Methodist Churches, and several corporations and community organizations from across the city. The Interfaith Home Blessing Celebration, where a medley of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish faiths gathered to bless the homes created through the unquestionable faith and effort, was the first of its kind. 

Dr. Razi Nalim of the Muslim Alliance of Indiana, Rev. John Denson of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and Rabbi Shelly Goldman of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, commenced the home blessing celebration for the Ojo and Anthony families with prayers and blessings of their respective faiths and traditions. The celebration also included an Irish Blessing, and poetry written specifically for the occasion. “Habitat does not build perfect homes, but we build a place for family, for prayer, and for peace.” said Phil Myers of Phil Myers Custom Homes, as he presented the keys to new homeowner Brittney, mother of four boys.

It was prevalent during the celebration gathering that the fruition of these homes was largely due to the partnership of many communal and spiritual forces. Several representatives from United Methodist Churches from across Central Indiana were in attendance, presenting gifts, offering words of prayer and hope, and some signing off on months of volunteering during the Habitat home builds. Ric Gasaway of Old bethel UMC located on Indy’s eastside, presented the new homeowners with washer and dryer sets donated by the church. Metro Ministries, Inc., which has maintained a close partnership with the Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity, has provided matching grants for the organization for the past seven years. 

Among an abundance of gifts, the new residents of Belleview Place also received prayer shawls hand-made by members of Castleton United Methodist Church, so that they will not only be reminded of the love, kindness, and care that is the foundation of their new homes, but will always carry with them God's infinite warmth and goodness. 

UMC Sponsors                             
Acton UMC
Avon UMC
Castleton UMC
Epworth UMC
Fishers UMC
Horizons of Faith UMC
Metro Ministries, Inc. 
Old Bethel UMC
Roberts Park UMC
Speedway UMC
St. Mark’s UMC
Union Chapel UMC
University UMC

Other organizations include:
Allegion
Carrier Corporation
Delta Faucet
Dow Chemical
Freelance Imaging, Inc. 
Hunter Douglas
Kroger Corporation
Lowe’s 
Proctor and Gamble
Republic Services
Square D/Juno
Stanley
Valspar Corporation

                  

You can find more photos of the home blessing celebration on our Smugmug.

You can also find photos of the construction and home blessing gathering on the Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity FLICKR.