From The Executive Director

Dear Friends of Macon Area Habitat for Humanity:

Since 1986, Macon Area Habitat for Humanity has faithfully worked to make the dream of owning a simple, decent and affordable house a reality for over 66 families living in Bibb and Jones counties. Over the past 22 years, thousands of volunteers and donors have worked alongside these families and staff to build homes and better neighborhoods so that more people can experience God's love and grow into all that God intended. Many private, public and non-profit organizations have partnered with our Habitat for Humanity affiliate to make these dreams come true.

Our affiliate has focused on the revitalization of Lynmore Estates in south-east Macon since 2005. We feel called by God to work alongside our neighborhood residents churches, as well as our wider church, non-profit and government partners to be a positive force for change in this neighborhood. I invite you to browse further on this website to learn about our progress to date and the many ways that you can become involved with this initiative.

We have enjoyed a number of successes over the past 9 months:

� We have completed 4 houses which are now home to the Cannon, Gagne, Brown and Thomas families.

� Two of these houses were built during the National Home Builder Blitz in early June 2008. Parrish Construction, Mike Casteel Construction, Wes Walker Construction, Tom Ward Homes, RDG Ventures and Alan Frank Roofing built two houses over 10 days with our affiliate in Lynmore Estates. Our Macon Area Habitat for Humanity affiliate built the most houses of any Georgia affiliate during this national build!

� The Leadership Macon Class of 2008 adopted Macon Area Habitat for Humanity as their service project for 2008. Not only did they raise over $26,000 towards this house, but they have provided volunteers to help build. What an excellent example of servant-leadership!

� We organized and ran our first, systematic annual fund campaign, raising over 128% of our goal!

� Our Home Store continues to grow, both in terms of donations and sales revenues in spite of the unstable economic times.

� Our Board of Directors approved our 5-year strategic plan which will see us complete 46 houses in Lynmore Estates by the end of 2012.

� We continue to faithfully tithe to the work of Habitat for Humanity of Kenya. Every $2,600 we tithe to them results in a house being built in Kenya. This past year we funded 1 house in Kenya and plan to build 3 there this year.

Some exciting and current happenings include:

� Completing the Leadership Macon Class of 2008 house with the Jackson Family.

� Having a coalition of churches work with the Sanders family to start construction on the Fall Faith Build house beginning in early October 2008.

� Laying the ground work for the 2009 Mercer Build house which will start in late January 2009.

� Partnering with Southside Community Church to provide facilities for out-of-town volunteer groups.

� Being a part of the wider neighborhood revitalization efforts being coordinated by Community Partnerships.

� Working with the Macon-Bibb County Land Bank Authority and the City of Macon?s Economic and Community Development Department to secure another 6 lots in the near future.

� Participating in our first Combined Federal Campaign beginning on October 1, 2008 (CFC # 56615)

Macon Area Habitat for Humanity subscribes to a mission statement which, in its abbreviated form, states that we partner with God and people from all walks of life? to build decent and affordable houses. So that all people can live in decent neighborhoods and grow into all that God intended for them. We have a long way to go if we are going to eliminate sub-standard housing in Macon and around the world. I invite you to join the God Movement which is working towards that goal.

With deep appreciation,

Harold

Harold Tessendorf

Executive Director