It’s difficult to believe that it has been a full year since we lost Millard Fuller. It’s unfathomable to conceptualize a world without him in it still.

And then again, Millard Fuller is still with us.

His impact resounds in all the countries in which the two organizations he founded to rid the world of poverty housing: Habitat for Humanity International and The Fuller Center for Housing. In every joist and beam, it every door and window, in every roof and floor, Millard Fuller’s vision remains.

When he and Linda would return to remote areas to visit existing housing projects or to start new ones, Millard was treated as a king, a chieftain, a man among men. He was revered. Yet he possessed the ability to make each and every person he met feel important, valued, validated.

Yes, although his presence is still felt so many places, he is still missed. Millard Fuller left some very large shoes to fill. The people of the Fuller Center for Housing (FCH), including Linda and daughter Faith, along with David Snell and others, are doing a fine job in continuing the good work of ending poverty housing.

The FCH folks are honoring the memory and vision of Millard Fuller by picking up hammers to continue the work. Beginning at 8:30 a.m. today, after devotions led by Linda, volunteers will continue work on a duplex at 910 Elizabeth St. This project, boosted by $55,000 raised locally through a fish fry, is open to all. Volunteers are welcome to stop by and pitch in, even for short periods. A lunch will be served around noon at the Presbyterian House on the Georgia Southwestern State University campus.

Today, people around the world will honor the memory of Millard Fuller. Here in Americus and Sumter County, where his dreams were conceived, we feel particularly proud that he and family chose this community as their home.

While we miss Millard daily, we are ever hopeful in an often hopeless feeling world, that his dreams will continue to provide simple, decent housing for people in need around the globe. We encourage all to join in celebrating the life and deeds of a great man.

Raise high the roof beams, carpenter!