Brethren congregations address issue of global hunger.

Growing projects are taking off in several Brethren congregations, reports Howard Royer, manager of the General Board's Global Food Crisis Fund. For most of the congregations, 2005 marks the first year of engagement in a growing project, made possible by the Foods Resource Bank. Through the Global Food Crisis Fund, in 2004 the Church of the Brethren became the 16th member of the Foods Resource Bank.

A growing project is initiated by a congregation starting with donated or rented acreage, using donated seed and materials. The congregation plants and tills the crop--usually corn, soybeans, or wheat. The harvest is sold and the income designated to the Foods Resource Bank for development of food production overseas. Rural and urban churches may team up as partners. A dollar invested in the spring generally "grows" into $2.50 by fall, Royer said. Through a one-to-one matching grant from the Foods Resource Bank, funded by a $1 million grant from the US Agency for International Development, the initial investment expands to $5.

At South Waterloo (Iowa) Church of the Brethren, Joan Fumetti of the Foods Resource Bank made a presentation in Sunday school March 6 and asked members of Ivester Church of the Brethren in Grundy Center, Iowa, and the Conrad community to help out. South Waterloo has 12 acres lined up for a growing project. The Ivester church will join the Conrad growing project again this year, where a crop of 147 acres is to be planted at four sites, one of which is owned by Ivester's Keith and Dorothy Sheller. Ivester's Lois Kruse is chairing the Conrad planning committee. A field blessing is set for April 17.

At Decatur, Ind., the Pleasant Dale congregation heard from several of its farmers who plan to cultivate a 20-25 acre growing project this season. Pastor Jay Carter indicated the group already has been pledged enough seed corn and chemicals to care for the acreage.

Several other congregations also will be involved in growing projects in 2005. In Illinois, Mount Morris Church of the Brethren and Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren will "twin" on a growing project of eight acres. The Polo congregation has invited Tinley Park United Presbyterian Church to be its partner in cultivating 10-20 acres as part of Polo's centennial observance. In Lanark, Cherry Grove Church of the Brethren member Penny Lauritzen is inviting each landowner of farms she manages to donate one or more acres for a growing project. An Episcopal church in Dixon has been invited to twin with the 15-20 acre project, which has the endorsement of Agriwomen of Illinois.

The McPherson and Monitor congregations in Kansas may join together in a growing project in 2005 or 2006. Brad White of the Rockingham Church of the Brethren in Hardin, Mo., is launching a 25-acre project, and nearby Bethany church may be invited in as a partner. The Eel River church in Indiana is exploring a growing project for 2006.

In a signal act of generosity, the "Brethren account" at the Foods Resource Bank from which the Church of the Brethren may designate specific foods security support, was bolstered by $10,483 given by Norm and Carol Braksick of Portage, Mich. The gift represents the 2004 income from the Braksick family farm, a growing project in Napoleon, Mo. Norm Braksick retired early this year after four years as volunteer executive of Foods Resource Bank.

At Annual Conference in Peoria, Ill., the Foods Resource Bank will have an exhibit and an insight session July 5 will focus on growing projects with Lois Kruse, Joan Fumetti, and Jay Carter as presenters.

Only two Brethren congregations have indicated they will apply for growing projects start-up grants from the Global Food Crisis Fund: Mount Morris and Pleasant Dale. Ten such grants are available. For more information call Howard Royer at 800-323-8039 or e-mail hroyer_gb@brethren.org.

Source: 03/30/2005 Newsline