What if the church could feed itself and the world?
Equipping Farmers International, a new member of GACX, believes that church-based agricultural training yields food security solutions. “We have been given this gift of wisdom, which is based on biblical principles of caring for the land in a godly way and using the resources that God has given us wisely,” explains James Thigpen, volunteer at EFI.
The fertile ground for food security (or sustainable agricultural solutions) is church-based training in conservation agriculture. Those who complete EFI's 5-day training program on sustainable agriculture techniques will earn an International Certificate in Conservation Agriculture (ICCA). Topics include soil science, erosion, cover crops, and crop rotation, all within the context of biblical holism principles. EFI has also created a water and well drilling program, which is designed to develop safe drinking water for villages.
Thigpen states, “Most churches in the developing world are agrarian-based, unlike the United States. Like a music minister, we want churches to have an agriculture minister—someone who understands these principles, who's been trained and certified, and can pass them on.”
As a civil war rages in the Nuba Mountains in Sudan, EFI is pursuing solutions for a food crisis. Food relief from humanitarian agencies has been the main food source within the refugee camps caused by the war. EFI was asked to send trainers into this region, as a more sustainable approach was needed moving forward.
The trainers are currently working in the camps and have been able to engage with individuals from many different walks of life. They have trained government officials to use local resources to cultivate crops for their people, and they have seen Muslims understand the Gospel when it was represented as seeds being planted. The initial goal was for refugees to plant a plot of land to feed their families, but EFI is seeing this goal expand as individuals plot additional pieces of land to share with others. As a result of these efforts, 17 indigenous missionaries were just trained in the EFI program and sent to work among UUPGs using the agricultural program as a community entry and gospel engagement strategy in the region.
“In this volatile, seemingly hopeless place, there is hope. And it's found in planting seeds of faith, both for food security and seeds of the Gospel in the hearts of individuals. It's symbolic. It's a visible representation of God's people showing faith,” reflects Thigpen.
EFI is looking to partner with GACX members on all fronts. “We're open to all sorts of partnerships that seek to empower the church and the developing world because we believe that Africa and India will have to re-evangelize the West in the next 50 to 100 years,” says Thigpen.
Are you interested in collaborating with Equipping Farmers International? Please visit https://equippingfarmersinternational.org/.