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  • About
    • Now Happening
    • Advocacy
    • Careers
    • Current Builds
      • Apostles Build
      • Fund for Humanity Builds
      • George Hammond Build
      • Interfaith Build for Unity
      • Maverik Build
      • Paul Johnson Memorial Build
      • Veterans Build
    • FAQ
    • Faith in Action
    • News & Media
    • Our Board of Directors
    • Our Global Impact
    • Our Staff Team
    • Reports and Financials
  • ReStore
    • ReStore Donations
  • Volunteer
    • FAQ
    • Volunteer – Individuals & Groups
    • Corporate Opportunities
    • Committees & Special Projects
    • Volunteer Appreciation Event
      • George Hammond Award
    • Women Build
  • Housing Help
    • Homeownership Program
    • Home Repair Program
    • Pikes Peak Habitat Support for Veterans
    • Pikes Peak Habitat Homeowners
  • Contact
    • Join Our Mailing List
  • Blog
  • Donate ♥
    • Donate Online
    • Planned Giving
    • Donate Land
    • Donate Your Vehicle
    • Donate Materials to the ReStore
    • Earn 25% State Income Tax Credit
    • Other Ways to Give
December 19, 2024 In Faith in Action, Read With Us

Read with Us: Our Better Angels by Jonathan Reckford

Our Better Angels book coverThis month, we’re reading Our Better Angels: Seven Simple Virtues That Will Change Your Life and the World by Jonathan Reckford, as we celebrated the Apostles Build home dedication Dec. 14 for Bernadette’s family.

Reckford, the CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, discusses seven virtues that are important to him as a Christian and that also transcend religious divisions.

If you weren’t able to attend our book club discussions on Dec. 12, we’d still love to have you join the conversation!

Reflection Questions

Women hugging on a construction site
Habitat Homeowner Monisha smiles for a photo with Wayfinder lead Pearl in St. Paul, Minnesota. © Habitat for Humanity International/Meghan Cronin.

Did any of the stories and anecdotes that he relates stand out to you? Which one, and why?

Kindness

What benefits do you see when you act with kindness?

Why is kindness common to so many faith traditions?

Community

People around a table
Residents from the Nova Vida community in Manaus, Brazil, eat lunch at the community center. © Habitat for Humanity International/Carolina Guerrero.

How can transformation be a community effort, rather than just an individual decision?

Why do Habitat neighborhoods often have such strong communities?

What does community look like for you? What do you wish it looked like? How can you build that kind of community in your life?

Empowerment

Why does empowerment matter?

How does empowering people who have had fewer opportunities benefit everyone?

Joy

Woman working on a home
A volunteer works on a Global Village project in Romania. ©Habitat for Humanity International/ Andrei Pungovschi

What role does joy play in your life?

Where do you find joy?

Respect

Why is respect so fundamental to Habitat’s mission?

What does Reckford say is the starting point of respect? Do you agree? Why is this quality so important in building respect?

How do we see a lack of respect play out in the United States today?

Generosity

Two women smiling in front of the frame of a home
Habitat for Humanity International VP of Resource Development Transformation Sandy Smith and US Network Diversity Manager Mercedes Swan volunteer in Jonesboro, GA. © Habitat for Humanity International/Meghan Cronin.

What are some of the benefits of generosity?

Can you think of a time when someone showed generosity to you? What did that mean in your life?

Service

On p. 200, Reckford shares a quote from Frederick Buechner: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Have you experienced this in your life? If so, what does it look like for you?

Two people dancing on the construction site
Habitat for Humanity International employees Lindsay Kirkwood and Erin Gibbs volunteer during HFHI Spectrum’s Pride build. © Habitat for Humanity International/Meghan Cronin.

What experiences, positive and negative, have you had in serving others?

Concluding Thoughts

Which virtue that he discusses is most significant to you? Why?

Which one do you most need to cultivate in your life? Why? What can you do today to support this value?

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Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit recognized by the IRS. Our tax ID number is 35-1640064 and your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.
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2802 N. Prospect St. Colorado Springs, CO 80907

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