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From: info@fullercenter.org
Sent: 3/23/2009 6:32:20 A.M. Central Daylight Time
Subj: Memorial Celebration Message from Linda Fuller

 

The Memorial Celebration Dear Robert These past few weeks following Millard's unexpected death have been some of the most incredible days of my life. Our children and I have literally been flooded with letters, cards, e-mails and other beautiful messages--thoughts from people expressing condolences, offering prayers, encouragement and support, as well as a wide variety of gratifying stories of how Millard positively impacted lives--hundreds of which are posted on the Guestbook of the web site. A person who recently came to visit me exclaimed, "My goodness, you sure do have a lot of friends!" And that I do! Friends that worked with Millard; friends that received encouragement and were inspired as he traveled the globe for more than 40 years; friends that donated or raised money or wanted to start a Habitat affiliate or Fuller Center covenant partnership in their local area. Millard took pride and joy in responding to every letter or phone call he received. He was always grateful for people who supported the work in any way, any amount, large or small. Every single person, young or old, was important to Millard and he made sure they were encouraged and affirmed. This past Saturday, March 14, in Atlanta, the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church graciously hosted a grand memorial celebration. Rain poured all day. However, that didn't stop over 1500 people from attending. Hundreds of people in at least 25 countries also viewed the entire 90-minute program live online. The program featured a number of highlights: Former President Jimmy Carter spoke admiringly and eloquently about his friend Millard. Jamie O'Neal sang a love song she wrote for Millard and me a couple of years ago entitled, "Look What Love Built." The Ebenezer gospel choir swayed down the aisles joyfully singing the Fuller Center's theme song, "Higher Ground." Judah Slavkovsky, a young man who will graduate from Harvard School of Medicine in May, shared memories of the terrible house his family lived in when he was age ten before they moved to a comfortable and healthy Habitat home. Hattie Pitts Butler, a Habitat homeowner, told about how Millard made it possible for her seven children to move out of a shack as well as have a good job at Habitat for Humanity International for 14 years until she retired. Our four children, Chris, Kim, Faith and Georgia standing with eight out of our nine grandchildren named some of the values and guiding principles taught to them by their father such as...never, never, never give up; when there is conflict with another person, go to them directly rather than behind their back; leave this world better than you found it. One of the grandchildren said, "Granddaddy took time to play with me." Millard's younger brother, Doyle, mesmerized everyone when he talked about ways he found Millard to be his hero. For him as a kid to see Millard play baseball was "beautiful, magical!" He concluded his thoughts with..."You don't have to be perfect to do perfect things." And, "you don't have to have angel wings to be an angel." Georgia, our youngest daughter, wrote and sang "It's All For Good" accompanied by members of her church in Jacksonville, FL. A longtime friend and incredible world-renowned speaker, Dr. Tony Campolo, had us laughing one minute and crying the next. He spoke about Millard's "mustard seed conspiracy." You have to see and hear him speak to believe it! At the end of the service, everyone sang "Marching to Zion" as we left our seats and marched along with Atlanta's popular and very colorful "Seed and Feed Abominable Marching Band." If you, your family and friends would like to have a DVD of the Memorial Celebration, it can be mailed to you free of charge. Those who attended and filled out a contact envelope will receive one automatically. Send your request (one per address, please) to: Memorial Celebration DVD, Fuller Center for Housing, P.O. Box 523, Americus, GA 31709. Yes, Millard was loved, admired and presented with numerous awards; however, I think Millard wanted to be remembered most for his love of people and his desire to do whatever he could to help. I have thought, if only Millard could see all of the cards and letters stacked on our dining room table, he would be thrilled! He had a passion for receiving letters, as much as he did for writing them. People who transcribed his letters at the Fuller Center office teased him about dictating letters in his sleep! All of the above is to say that these last few weeks following Millard's death have affirmed that the work of the Fuller Center will continue and grow ever stronger.  Fuller Center staff, led by a talented and totally committed new president, David Snell, have redoubled their efforts. The Fuller Center Chair, LeRoy Troyer, and other trustees, have become more active and involved than ever before. Fuller Center Covenant Partners, too, are determined to continue their good work so that Millard's dream of eradicating substandard housing will go on, to the glory of God. Soon, you will be hearing about an exciting "Millions for Millard" campaign initiated by the Fuller Center Board. As always, we are moving out on faith to set bold goals for involving a million more volunteers, for raising millions of dollars to build houses around the globe for a million more people. As we have heard Millard say over and over, "God has an abundance of wealth." Scripture tells us, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness there of." Money is in the pockets of people and all we have to do is extract it! The first $1 million will serve as "seed" money to raise millions more. "Seed" as in the parable of the mustard seed found in Matthew 13 where Jesus talked about seeds falling on "good soil" and producing bountiful crops. "Mustard seeds" and "fertile soil" can produce millions to make the Fuller Center movement blossom and spread to the ends of the Earth. Millard wasn't able to eliminate all of the world's substandard housing in his life time; he left the challenge to us and future generations. Faith as powerful as a tiny mustard seed can move obstacles and produce houses for millions more people! It can be done--one house at the time. As Millard's life and work is celebrated, I pledge to double my efforts in building awareness of the enormous need for decent affordable housing, and in calling on those who can share what is in their pockets, whether much or little. I challenge everyone to do the same; together, we can do it! God bless you. I hope and pray that your letters and support will continue to pour in. Again, with a grateful heart,        Linda C. Fuller P.S.: Remember to send your request for a free DVD of the Memorial service. You may also e-mail a request to info@fullercenter.org. While visiting fullercenter.org take a look at messages posted on the Guestbook. If you haven't already done so, I would like to invite you to post your own message and look through our photo gallery.