Here we are smack dab in between Thanksgiving and Christmas and it’s a season of celebration accompanied by feasting and partying. Few Americans enter the New Year lighter than they were in October.
Such is not the case in many countries. While most all Christians celebrate Jesus’ birth, not all have the means to throw parties or serve big meals. Except for a special prayer of thanks, their Christmas Day dinner looks very much like what they eat every other day of the year: a dab of rice or a serving of corn.
These conditions remind me of when Jesus addressed 5,000 hungry men plus women and children. His disciples told Him to send them home for supper to which He replied, “You give them something to eat.”
I’m sure that Treasurer Judas flipped out as they all explained to Jesus that even eight months’ wages wouldn’t feed that crowd. Jesus asked what they did have. When presented with the two fish and five loaves, He then multiplied them to provide everyone with fish and chips along with 12 baskets of leftovers; one for each disciple to ponder God’s provision and Christ’s power.
God is also using Michael Cooley to help people use what they already have to feed themselves. What started with work in Sierra Leonne has expanded to 50 countries in just four short years. As this column appears, he is even now in India where 50,000 churches want the training he provides.
The strategy, known as Pfumvudza, is a planting method that provides enough food for a family of six for a year. It consists of 52 rows of corn or rice each long enough to provide one week’s sustenance. The method also emphasizes the use of mulch to prevent soil erosion and conserve moisture. Pfumvudza literally means “change is coming” in the Shona language.
These basic techniques which require no specialized tools have already yielded astounding results and neighboring farmers are clamoring to learn how to support their families. The demand has exploded all across Africa and is now moving into Southeast Asia including Myanmar, Bangladesh, Indonesia and more.
Through this initiative, a couple in Nigeria who have been working to help families for years were trained to be trainers. Crystal Gosnell taught language arts at Peter Muhlenberg Middle School before God called her to the mission field. After marrying Raphael John, they founded Decapolis ministries.
When they recently conducted two Pfumvudza trainings, they were inundated with requests from nine Nigerian states and some of their trainees have already carried it to Chad and Niger. God is using this initiative in incredible ways and reaching many people.
In addition to agricultural methods, farmers learn money management since many of them have never had income to manage. It is a comprehensive program that can be shared in two short days but is already feeding thousands who would otherwise be hungry. Several wells have also been drilled to supply clean water.
The best part of this ministry is that it is all done in Jesus’ name! Since churches have networks to reach out to their members, they are crucial in delivering these lifesaving techniques. Being a Christian is not a requirement but all participants do learn about Jesus. Michael and other trainers emphasize that God was the first farmer and that Jesus is His Son.
The growth of this ministry in such a short time is truly phenomenal and can only be explained by the blessing and empowerment of God. Please continue to pray that God will rise up more trainers and money to meet the demand from all of these struggling families.
For more information go to equippingfarmersinternational.org and if you are able to obey Jesus by helping to give this modern crowd something to eat, send donations to Equipping Farmers International, P.O. Box 17327, Chattanooga, TN 37415. If you do so before yearend, your gift will be doubled by a matching grant! God’s blessings, George.