Story number 4 for 19 Jul 2001

(India)–Next, American Leprosy Mission says a partnership with Habitat for Humanity opens a door for the Gospel in South India. ALM’s Matthew Maury says for some of the people they work with, a house can salvage a ministry, a reputation and a family. “Because people affected by leprosy are so stigmatized, by having a decent house, this actually can help re-integrate them into the community where they’re living and help give them the image and self-confidence that they are part of the community.” Maury adds that the partnership is a different phase of their evangelistic outreach. “One of our core values is that the projects that we support are going to share the love and teachings of Christ. In some places, the churches are working very closely with the Habitat project. In every project that we’re working in, there is a house dedication at the end, where a family is presented with the Bible and the message of Christ is shared with them and the reason that the houses have been built.”