them with a balanced diet. The project earns them enough income for other necessities — including the need to give. Tithes and offer ings have climbed to nearly a dol lar per week. Ismael now has both time and energy to climb the mountains and share the Gospel with others. The mission of FARMS is agri cultural evangelism. Evangelism is first because “man does not live by bread alone.” The best way to help people is to relate them to the source o f all help, the grace of God as revealed in Christ. FARMS identifies itself with Christian missions to put into practice the Gospel of Christ. More significant and far-reach ing than material increase is the spiritual gain to this family. Gon- zalo, second oldest son o f Ismael, was put in charge of the laying- hen project. He was a wayward boy, an object of prayer and con cern to his father, pastor and local missionary. As Gonzalo worked with the laying hens and saw with his own eyes God’s provision and grace, he experienced the conver sion so many had prayed for. To day he has a bold Christian testi mony, especially among young people, and is chairman o f the lo cal church Committee on Evan gelism. The story o f Gonzalo is dramatic proof that God is still in the business o f using weak things, including chickens, to win souls and build His Kingdom. Agriculture is essential to evan gelism in a hungry world. Christ commanded us to “make disciples o f all nations.” The imperative of the Great Commission is to help believers become effective disci ples. M i s s i ona r i e s and local church leaders in underdeveloped countries are asking, How can Christians unable to feed them selves be positive witnesses or support their churches? FARMS helps hungry believers feed them selves, support their churches and share with others spiritual and physical food.
It is very difficult for well-fed believers to accept the fact that many o f their fellow-Christians are hungry. It is even more diffi cult for non-believers to accept the Christian faith in light of this fact. If Christ is the answer to the needs of all men, as He truly is, then He is certainly the an swer to the needs o f His follow ers. We cannot expect people to take seriously what we have to say about the Gospel when they see the church, the Body o f Christ divided between the over-fed and the undernourished. Christ said, “ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another.” Our Lord was not being exclu sive but inclusive when He com manded His followers to love and care for each other. He is seeking to create a fellowship of love and concern which will act as a mag nate to draw outsiders unto Him self. He intended His church to be a demonstration to the world of God’s answers to man’s needs. The witness o f the early church was greatly enriched by the way in which believers bore one another’s burdens and so fulfilled the law o f Christ. FARMS is more than a minis try to hungry believers or a serv ice to Christian missions. It is primarily a service to well-fed Christians who want to do some thing about man’s need for food in the name of Christ. Through this stewardship program in agri culture, you can set in motion a chain reaction of food production which will convert the shortage of food from a mockery o f the Gos pel into an outstanding demon stration of God's love and grace. An ancient Chinese word depicts happiness as God plus enough food. Those who make God’s love and adequate food a reality for others enjoy the greatest happi ness of all. To this end, FARMS is at your service. u For more information on the ministry of FARMS you are invited to write to: FARMS, Inc., 1SS West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019. Rev. Gareth Miller is President.
Roger Arnold (right) interviewing Rev. Gareth Miller, president of Farms, on the focus '69 program of the family net work stations. They are discussing the world food shortage and our Christian responsibility.
Agricultural missionary, Homer Sharp less, meeting with three family project participants: Pastor of the local church (second from right) and two leading lay men. Their flourishing family projects provide excellent standards of steward ship for the ministry of Farms in Joco- tan, Guatemala.
Ismael De Leon conducting a street meeting in Jocotan, Guatemala.
Leon family members beginning a three hour hike over distant mountain range with feed for their laying hens.
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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