Faith. The Bible states that it’s the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

This is what Floyd and Stephanie Zettler of Zettler Custom Homes believed when they made the decision to partner with Kingdom Ministries and Habitat for Humanity of Effingham County to build a home for Dorothy McHenry and her family. The Zettlers stepped out in faith and believed that God would provide the resources and volunteer labor to build the home.

The Zettlers are long-time partners with Kingdom Ministries, a local Christian ministry in Screven County organized by Jimmy Mulkey. As homes are built, the Zettlers donate part of the profits to Kingdom Ministries. Together they have partnered to complete local projects such as the building of Our Daily Bread, an Effingham food pantry opened by Linda Snyder. Together, they even built a home in Waveland, Miss., for a family who lost their home in Hurricane Katrina.  

Habitat for Humanity of Effingham County initially took on the McHenry family as a partner family. But this home was no typical Habitat home. Habitat for Humanity was only minimally involved in providing volunteer labor or securing donated materials for the home. This is where the Zettlers really showed their faith in God and their community.

The Zettlers reached out to their vendors and subcontractors for help. Almost all of the materials needed to build the home were donated by their vendors. Their subcontractors donated most of the labor. All the pieces came together, and it all began through a step of faith by the Zettlers.  
They realize that building houses for those in need means so much more than just a roof over your head. 

As country music star Reba McIntire admits, “A key, an ordinary house key, but to someone who’s never had a home of their own before, a key is a precious metal.  It opens more than just a door; it opens up a whole new way of life.  That’s why Habitat for Humanity is so close to the heart.  Everyone deserves a decent, affordable home, and together we can make it happen — one family at a time.”  

It is people like the Zettlers and Kingdom Ministries, and all the donors and volunteers who make Habitat for Humanity so special.  Through building houses for those in need, they are actually building lives and families — offering a place of love for those in need of a decent, affordable home.  
Habitat for Humanity, along with the Zettler family, realize that a home is not made of glass, nails and wood — it’s made of love from the heart.

Sometimes all it takes is a step of faith — reaching out to others — that makes a world of difference in today’s world. This is faith put into action by Floyd and Stephanie Zettler of Zettler Custom Homes.