Troy-Pike Habitat for Humanity held a lot blessing Sunday on the land where the next house will be built, allowing church members and community members to come together and pray over the family and the construction.

“In everything we do, we try to do the will of God through our work,” said Melissa Mikul, board of directors president for Troy-Pike Habitat for Humanity. “I think praying over the lot is a great first step in the building process.”

Members from First Baptist Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, First United Methodist Church and other community members joined the Habitat for Humanity team on West Fairview Street to bless the lot and the beginning of construction.

“The family that will be living in this home is part of our church family,” said the Rev. Dr. Luke Lane, lead pastor of FBC. “We thought it was important to pray over the property and dedicate it to the Lord.”

Lane led everyone in reading Scripture passages, encouraging words for the family and ended the gathering with dividing the entire group up to pray over different areas of the property.

“We prayed that the Lord would bless them, the build and the home,” Lane said. “We want to do everything we can to help them get started with this build.”

Now that the Square Foot Campaign has reached $40,000 in the $60,000 goal, construction can begin; however, the home cannot be completed without the full amount.

“We are getting closer, but we still need a final push in order to complete the home,” Mikul said. “We can begin construction, but we have to continue fundraising to complete the construction and to further our mission by completing other houses in the future.”

More fundraisers will be held to help reach the full goal. A yard sale is being held Saturday at 210 Montgomery St. to help with construction funding.

A Zombie Run, put on by the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, will be held on Oct. 24. Anyone wanting to participate is encouraged to register through the Troy-Pike Habitat for Humanity.

A cookie sale will be held the first Saturday in December at First United Methodist Church from 8 a.m. to noon.

All of these fundraisers will help fund the completion of the current home and will continue to fund future projects for Troy-Pike Habitat for Humanity.