John Clement of Santuck Baptist Church, Wetumpka, says there are three things he knows a lot about: football, farming and the Bible.
He never dreamed that two of those areas of expertise — farming and the Bible — would converge to form a viable missions outreach. But Farming for Christ (also known as Alabama Agricultural Fellowship), an organization that strives to partner agriculture experts with countries and people groups in need, is just that.
“We’re trying to get a group of farmers to help out [Baptist representatives] throughout the world, because [they] might not have an ag background,” said Ben Ingram, a member of Farming for Christ and Providence Baptist Church, Opelika.
The organization takes a true holistic approach. It helps Baptist representatives learn to meet physical needs by reaching out to people through agriculture so that they also can meet spiritual needs by introducing them to the gospel.
“That’s great if you want to beat [people] over the head with a Bible, but you also have to meet their needs, and their needs are in their belly,” Clement said.
Plus having farming skills creates another way for Baptist representatives to appeal to countries that are often hesitant about letting in those who are planning to preach about Christianity.
Though Farming for Christ is not a new organization, part of its focus now is building up membership since it was inactive for several years before restarting in 2007.
As people come on board, Ingram said he hopes to piece together a database to keep track of people’s expertise and interests statewide. That way when Baptist representatives contact Farming for Christ with a specific need, the database can be used to find the person who can best offer the help they are looking for.
Ingram said Alabama has “a vital resource of farmers that aren’t being used” but it’s been difficult to spread the word about Farming for Christ to them.
“We’re having a hard time getting people involved,” Clement said, adding he and Ingram have been praying about what to do next.
The concept of teaching a hungry man to farm instead of just giving him food is not at all unfamiliar to retired Baptist representative Harold Watson. He and his wife, Joyce, spent three and a half decades educating people in the Philippines about ways to care for their land, which was often prone to erosion.
Watson said he quickly learned how life changing simple farming skills could be.
“The gospel message, to people who are hungry, sounds hollow,” Watson said. “So we see the command of fulfilling Jesus’ commandment of helping ‘the least of these’ as helping these people to learn agriculture or a craft or a cottage industry, something they can do to generate income. All these are ways for getting to these people.”
Wendy Norvelle, a spokeswoman for the International Mission Board (IMB), said the method has proven very fruitful.
“IMB agriculture (workers) have the opportunity to help communities meet their own needs for food and as they do so, they also have the opportunity to share the gospel and introduce them to the one who is the Bread of Life,” she said.
Watson said he sees a bright future for agricultural missions through Farming for Christ.
“I see a slight trend now looming a little toward this, as a new generation is coming in to see the whole picture,” Watson said. “In the past, we got lost in evangelism and forgot that people have needs. We have to reach out and touch these people. … Jesus did that.”
For more information, e-mail Ingram at bding@bellsouth.net.
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