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Hammer Time — No matter where you live or what motivates you, there is a role with Thrivent Builds for a volunteer just like you.
By Jennifer Krempin
Orlando, Florida
Bless This House
 The owners of the first Thrivent Builds home built jointly by volunteers from the Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Orlando Area affiliate and the Orange County Florida Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will be surrounded by blessings. Lutherans from the participating congregations are encouraged to buy 2x4s to be used in the home’s frame. Those who do will be able to designate a house blessing—a Bible verse, prayer or special message—and youth groups will inscribe the blessings on the wood.
The house blessings have opened up a new way for youth to get involved, says the Rev. David Parsch, Thrivent Builds chapter specialist. “Since you have to be 16 to be on the construction site in Florida, it’s a good way to get the youth involved,” he says, and “the people are really thrilled about that.”
Virginia Beach, Virginia
A Sudsy Start
 It’s Saturday morning, but these teens aren’t sleeping in. Instead, they’re holding a car wash as part of the Thrivent Norfolk-Portsmouth Chapter’s commitment to Thrivent Builds. Several Lutheran youth groups are busy fund-raising and planning activities to support their congregations’ $11,000 goal. Also on the docket: A “Buy a 2x4” fund-raiser, a housewarming party for the Habitat partner family and building birdhouses for the new home.
“And here’s the kicker,” says Kevin Humphreys, a Thrivent Financial representative in Virginia Beach, Virginia. “We haven’t even really started building yet—and already these kids are going like gangbusters.” The teens are even planning baby-sitting services, complete with Habitat-inspired games and activities for the youngsters, so that parents in their congregations can participate on the build site.
“These kids are just pumped—they’re really taking the lead,” Humphreys says. “They’re being ministers out there in the community.”
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