Clarence Jordan was born on July 29, 1912--103 years ago. Clarence is credited as being the spiritual father of Habitat for Humanity through his encounter and relationship with and mentorship of Millard Fuller—Habitat’s founder. Clarence was a Greek scholar and farmer who founded Koinonia Farm in Sumter County, Georgia in 1942 and sought to develop a community of believers there as a “demonstration plot” for the Kingdom of God. Since Clarence believed that God created all people as brothers and sisters he quickly ran afoul of locals who did not think highly of racial integration. The community experienced much persecution and violence for living out their lives at God would have them. Habitat for Humanity was birthed at Koinonia Farm after Millard and Clarence worked together to develop “Partnership Housing” as a model that would later be the foundation for Habitat for Humanity. As the very first home was under construction, Clarence passed away suddenly at his writing shack on the farm in 1969. Here is a link to learn more about Clarence Jordan and Koinonia: https://www.koinoniafarm.org/clarence-jordan/
