Below is a poem that has become a kind of proverb for the Christian Community Development Association.  It is quoted from the book, Beyond Charity, by Dr. John Perkins.  It is our hope and prayer that MBA will operate in a manner that is truly reflective of the principle this poem represents.

Our Vision

Indigenous leaders in every community in America empowered and resourced to meet the physical and spiritual needs of their community

Our Core Purpose

To move people of faith to love like Jesus by empowering them to build homes, build jobs, build families, and build faith.

If you want to know what MissionBuild America is all about, then this is where you need to look.  Below you will find our Vision, Core Purpose, and Core Strategy.

Our Core Strategy

Employment expansion and job training are key compenents to any effective, long term plan for community development.  It is a reality that in many (if not all) of the communities we are walking alongside, jobs are hard to come by and many of the people haven’t had access to training that will help them compete for the jobs that do exist.  For these reasons (and many others), MissionBuild will work to help our communities address these issues.  We know that in each community there are talented, skilled people who want to work and we want to help them have that opportunity. 

Here is our basic model: (This varies some from community to community)

• Working through our partners to help local community folks identify gaps in local goods and/or services offerings that they can fill

• Helping our MB Branches set up regular classes in areas such as: Computer Training, Resume Writing, Interviewing, Accounting, Skills Assessment, Marketing

• Utilizing our projects as training for skills such as: Plumbing, Painting, Dry walling, Framing, Roofing, etc.

• Helping new MBA homeowners utilize their new home asset to create home based businesses such as: Child-care, Tax Preparation, Auto Mechanic, Carpenter, etc.

• Providing employment with MBA directly whenever  possible

• Frequenting locally owned businesses and purchasing materials/supplies from locally owned/operated business when possible

• Building relationships with local business owners

Building Jobs

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  Colossians 3:23-24

The hard reality facing families today is one of many reasons that we are committed to helping positively impact their lives.  One tangible way we are doing this is through our affordable housing programs.  However our commitment to families goes beyond just this type of connection.  We are dedicated to walking alongside families in a variety of ways.  Our first priority is to the families that are living in housing (either rental or sold) that MBA created.  Our secondary priority will be providing resources and services to families throughout the community in general. 

Here some of the ways we attempt to help families: (These vary some from community to community)

• Opportunity for Affordable Home Ownership/Affordable Stable Rental Units, many designed for families specifically

• •Free home repairs for those who qualify

• MBA networks with counselors, social workers, etc., in each community to help connect families with them and vice versa.

• To become a MBA home owners, families are required to attend seminars related to home ownership: Budgeting, Home Maintenance, Neighborhood Responsibility, etc; This is to help strengthen the stability of the family and ensure they will be successful, responsible property owners in the community.

• In each community we serve, through our partnerships and/or our local MB Branch, we work to provide family oriented programs and classes.  Offerings like: Children and Youth outreaches, parenting classes, continuing education classes for parents, etc.

Building Families

According to one family assessment tool, families are at risk when they live in temporary housing, spend more than 1/3 of their income on shelter, live in deteriorating housing conditions, or feel afraid or unsafe in their homes and/or neighborhoods.

I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor. 6:18

MissionBuild is a Christian Faith-based ministry.  This means that no matter what we are doing, we do it all for the glory of God and in a manner that is reflective of our commitment to Jesus as the Lord and Savior.  We have established a set of values that demonstrate this commitment to being a Christian Faith-based organization.

 

MBA Values:

· Relationships We value people for who they are and not for who they “could be” or “should be.”  We believe that through relationship we have the greatest chance to discover how best to serve.  And it is through serving that we love like Jesus (John 13:5-20)

· Crossing Boundaries We believe that by committing to love like Jesus, we are committing to set aside stereotypes, to cross common social barriers, and to seek to understand and meet people’s heart felt needs. (John 4:1-30)

· Christ-Centered Activities We believe that in everything we do we must work to keep Jesus at the center.  We work to make all the activities of MissionBuild to be ones that glorify God and that help others to know who Jesus is and to grow in their understanding of Him.

 

By living out these values, within the framework of our Core Purpose and Strategy, our ultimate hope and belief is that God’s kingdom here on earth will grow.  By working hard to meet tangible/physical, felt needs within the life of a community, we believe that we will also begin to meet the often greater spiritual needs of all those involved in our ministry efforts.

Building Faith

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

MissionBuild America, Inc.

...building homes, building jobs, building families, building faith...