LU club helps build new home for area family

With hearts for service and a passion for living out the Great Commission, students in Liberty University’s Habitat for Humanity Club continue to make a huge difference in the lives of community members by providing them with reliable housing.

Students began work on a house in Altavista in November, working in partnership with the Altavista Area/Campbell County Fuller Center for Housing. The club met at the build site on Saturdays throughout the semester and served alongside construction crews. The house was recently completed and on Sunday, the team celebrated with the family at a dedication event.

School of Business Assistant Professor Alison Pettit, the club’s advisor, estimated the club has worked on over 20 homes since its inception in 2014. What started out with only three students has since grown to around 70-100 students who participate over the course of a semester.

“It’s a great opportunity to share the love of Christ with others who are in need. We work right alongside the homeowner and their family,” she said, noting students typically serve from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. “It’s incredible to have so many students giving their time each week to help people.”

Club president Lexi Wojciechowski, a financial planning senior who has served with the club for four years, originally joined as a freshman and quickly fell in love with the group’s mission. She has now assisted in the construction of three houses.

Through these projects, Wojciechowski said she has been able to develop trade skills that will serve her long after college. She also highlighted how the club has enabled her to build relationships with her fellow students and construction workers.

“I thought it would be really fun to earn my CSER (Christian/Community Service) hours where I’m learning practical skills getting my hands dirty doing some work,” she said. “I’ve really enjoyed it. The other students who serve with me are great and the professionals and contractors we work with are amazing, really good teachers, and patient with us as we learn new skills.”

Through their service, Liberty’s students also seek to shine bright for the Gospel. In the early stages of construction, they often write Bible verses and prayers on the frame of the house.

“(That might not be) in an explicit evangelistic manner, but in that way we’re planting seeds for the homeowners in the future that their house has been prayed over and cared for,” Wojciechowski said.

She said she appreciates how Fuller Center for Housing prioritizes actual support for future homeowners, not just a quick-fix solution. Recipients are required to work alongside volunteers. Family members and friends also often contribute to the cause.

“Even though sometimes it is an early Saturday morning to get up and go work on the house, (the Habitat for Humanity Club) is one of the biggest blessings I have had,” Wojciechowski said. “I’ve made relationships with good friends. I’m also learning practical skills. If you come in with no practical experience, you can learn things that are useful, even if it’s learning how to swing a hammer. Or if you have those skills, and you don’t want them to diminish while you are at school, you can come out and help. You can learn some new things, sharpen your skills, and you can really make an impact.”

Students interested in joining Liberty’s Habitat for Humanity Club can email Professor Pettit at adpettit@liberty.edu or follow the club on Instagram.