Lafayette Habitat for Humanity and the Cass-Carroll County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans have accomplished what they set out to do many months ago-build a home with Last Sunday, volunteers, Habitat for Humanity representatives, and Thrivent Financial representatives, and the partner family, Teddy and Angel Fontenot and their children celebrated the hard work, the generous financial backing and the community support that made the home possible.

"Now, here we are today; a partner family of Habitat for Humanity," said Angel Fontenot. "We have built our own, brand new home with the help of the community. All of those prayers really did help!"

The couple, with the help of family and friends, has completed 500 hours of "sweat equity" helping to build the home, a basic tenet of Habitat for Humanity. They will repay the noprofit mortgage over a period of 25 years, illustrating Habitat for Humanity's objective to give families a "hand up" rather than a "hand out."

"This is a special house for us, not only because it is our first in Delphi, but also because it is one of three being built in partnership with Thrivent this year," said Doug Taylor, executive director. "It is always thrilling to work with local churches to build houses with families in need, and local Lutherans have proved to be tremendous partners in this effort."

The new home, located at 201 North Robison Street, Delphi, is a result of the recent alliance between Habitat for Humanity International and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Called "Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity," the alliance is a fouryear, $105 million commitment by Thrivent Financial.

Besides volunteer and financial support (over $6,000) from members of St. Matthew's and St. Peter's Lutheran churches in the Delphi-Camden area, along with help from other Thrivent members and additional volunteers from the surrounding areas, this project received over $40,000 in funding from Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity. This alliance makes Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Habitat for Humanity's largest single ally in its mission to eliminate substandard housing and rebuild communities here and abroad.

"We're excited to celebrate with the Fontenot family as they move into their new home," said Rev. Dale Larson, pastor at St. Matthew's and St. Peter's Lutheran churches and the local Cass-Carroll County Chapter Specialist for Thrivent Builds with Habitat. "The Thrivent Builds program has been a tremendous opportunity for our members to make an impact for the Fontenot family and in this community-one that is much larger than our own numbers and resources would have made possible."