If you’re interested in serving as a farm missionary and sharing the Christian ministry with those around the world, you’ll want to be part of a special conference that’s coming up in early August.
“It’s just amazing how God connects people, and God is the best networker I know,” says Brian Smith, the founder of two different Christian farm ministries. The first is Agri-Stewards. The second is the Network of Christian Agricultural Professionals (NetCAP).
They’re hosting the NetCAP Annual Conference on August 6 at New Hope Christian Church, which is located at 5780 South Main Street in Whitestown, Indiana. This event is also supported by the Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies at Huntington University.
Smith says you’ll network and learn more about opportunities to spread the gospel by helping and teaching others around the world how to increase their food production.
“We went and learned of a need in Kenya, and we help them improve their crops,” he says. “Pretty soon, other missionaries began to call asking if we could come and help them as well. One thing has led to another and [the farm missionary program] has snowballed. I’ve now have been in 26 different countries over the past 15 years helping mostly subsistence farmers improve their agriculture.”
On August 7, 8, and 9 at New Hope Christian Church in Whitestown, you can learn about the “Farming God’s Way” program to network and connect with fellow missionaries and farmers.
Smith says the biggest challenge as part of the Christian farm ministry is teaching those around the world how to farm sustainably.
“I would say depleted soil is probably the number one issue I see when I travel and teach,” says Smith. “Most farmers [where we’ve traveled] have never had any agricultural training. They don’t understand when they’re carrying their crops away from their field, they’re taking nutrients from the soil, and if they want to continue to produce at a high level they’ve got to learn to give back to the soil.”
Smith adds that the farm ministry also opens the doors to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“One of our key Bible verses is John 10:10—and a lot of times I’ll ask these farmers, ‘How many of you here are living the Abundant Life? We talk about agriculture even through those spiritual lenses of depending upon God and that we can live an abundant life even if we’re a subsistence farmer doing one or two acres by hand.”
In addition, Agri-Stewards are also hosting Vegetable Training on August 11 and 12 at Str8Up Life Ministries at 6525 Grandview Drive in Indianapolis.
These events are supported by Agri-Stewards and the Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies at Huntington University.
To help advance the needs of the Christian farm ministry, Huntington University has launched a Masters Degree and certificate in International Agriculture. The program, which is led by Dr. Jessica Graves, is offering a series of courses that will equip students to be practitioners in agricultural missions and ministry. Students will evaluate global poverty through a Christian lens, explore international agricultural systems, examine international agricultural education methods and approaches, and initiate Christ-centered agricultural development solutions.
The registration deadline for the NetCAP Annual Conference is July 30th.
You may also e-mail Brian Smith at Brian@AgriStewards.org.
CLICK BELOW to hear Hoosier Ag Today’s full conversation with Brian Smith as he shares more about the NetCAP Annual Conference, the “Farming God’s Way” program, and the Christian farm ministry through Agri-Stewards:
