ADF Newsletter
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, LTD.
ADF Newsletter Volume 20 Issue 3
November 201516
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Much of my professional career has been spent writing grant proposals. The University of Arkansas supplies my office, laboratory, telephone, and the basic necessities I need to do my job, but the cost of doing specific projects is sometimes out of the question unless someone steps in (via my proposals) to help. Through the years I have learned several things - one of which is that it usually takes more than a single year to get much accomplished. Sometimes a one-year grant is all that is needed to solve a problem or jumpstart an idea, but many times more than one year is needed to do the job properly. Consequently, many granting agencies I work with have a 3-year time frame on their funded projects. The first year is spent learning what to do and how to do it, and the next two years of funding actually allow the ideas to be put into practice and gain some experience with the whole process. ADF is blessed to have significant financial resources at our disposal thanks to the benevolence and obedience of a whole lot of folks. And we put these resources to work across the globe as the Lord leads every year. We fund projects mainly on a one-year
basis much of the time - which has worked well and helped a whole lot of people have better spiritual and physical lives. I can't help but wonder, however, if we might, in some cases, stabilize a whole system if the recipients KNEW they would be supported in their endeavor for two or even three years continuously. The risk, certainly, is that ineffective or poorly orchestrated projects might continue to receive funds and effectively "throw good money after bad" if they were locked in for multiple years of funding. However, I believe we could develop safety mechanisms in the form of (serious) reporting on results and outcomes on an annual basis - and we don't need to fund every project for multiple years. …..Maybe just one or two big ones as the Lord leads……… At any rate, this is something that I believe we need to discuss as an organization. So, I will be bringing this up at our winter meeting for discussion by the Board. Please be in prayer for God's clear leading in this. We want to show our faith by our works as James says, but we also want to be the stewards of His resources He expects us to be. See you in January when we meet with the Louisiana Fellowship. Terry Kirkpatrick
STANDING IN THE GAP Much has been said and written concerning the decision to reduce the number of IMB missionaries around the world. This is the result of funding issues. The easy thing to do is get mad and start pointing fingers, but that solves nothing. No doubt, this decision will greatly affect mission efforts around the world. In most cases, this will leave many mission points without leadership and funding. The question is—How will we respond? First, PRAY. God can and will use this situation to reach lost people and strengthen believers. PRAY for those returning missionaries who had no desire to retire and have left most of their hearts with the people they were called to serve. PRAY for the people to whom they ministered that they will be strong and mature enough to carry on the ministry. Pray that we as lay agricultural missionaries will “stand in the gap” and support the returning missionaries and the ministries they left behind.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR The winter meeting of Agricultural Development Foundation will be held on January 30, 2016, at First Baptist Church, Homer, Louisiana. This will be a joint meeting with the Louisiana Baptist Agricultural Missions Fellowship. Please make plans to attend.
Agricultural Development Foundation, Ltd. 1153 Owens Road Terry, MS 39170
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1
To:
Agricultural Development Foundation, Ltd. 1153 Owens Road Terry, MS 39170
I would like to:
Please accept my:
___renew my membership
___membership contribution of $50
___become a member
___gift in the amount of $________
Name____________________________________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip______________________________________________________________________ Phone______________________________Email_________________________________________
ADF Newsletter Volume 20 Issue 3
November 201516
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Much of my professional career has been spent writing grant proposals. The University of Arkansas supplies my office, laboratory, telephone, and the basic necessities I need to do my job, but the cost of doing specific projects is sometimes out of the question unless someone steps in (via my proposals) to help. Through the years I have learned several things - one of which is that it usually takes more than a single year to get much accomplished. Sometimes a one-year grant is all that is needed to solve a problem or jumpstart an idea, but many times more than one year is needed to do the job properly. Consequently, many granting agencies I work with have a 3-year time frame on their funded projects. The first year is spent learning what to do and how to do it, and the next two years of funding actually allow the ideas to be put into practice and gain some experience with the whole process. ADF is blessed to have significant financial resources at our disposal thanks to the benevolence and obedience of a whole lot of folks. And we put these resources to work across the globe as the Lord leads every year. We fund projects mainly on a one-year
basis much of the time - which has worked well and helped a whole lot of people have better spiritual and physical lives. I can't help but wonder, however, if we might, in some cases, stabilize a whole system if the recipients KNEW they would be supported in their endeavor for two or even three years continuously. The risk, certainly, is that ineffective or poorly orchestrated projects might continue to receive funds and effectively "throw good money after bad" if they were locked in for multiple years of funding. However, I believe we could develop safety mechanisms in the form of (serious) reporting on results and outcomes on an annual basis - and we don't need to fund every project for multiple years. …..Maybe just one or two big ones as the Lord leads……… At any rate, this is something that I believe we need to discuss as an organization. So, I will be bringing this up at our winter meeting for discussion by the Board. Please be in prayer for God's clear leading in this. We want to show our faith by our works as James says, but we also want to be the stewards of His resources He expects us to be. See you in January when we meet with the Louisiana Fellowship. Terry Kirkpatrick
STANDING IN THE GAP Much has been said and written concerning the decision to reduce the number of IMB missionaries around the world. This is the result of funding issues. The easy thing to do is get mad and start pointing fingers, but that solves nothing. No doubt, this decision will greatly affect mission efforts around the world. In most cases, this will leave many mission points without leadership and funding. The question is—How will we respond? First, PRAY. God can and will use this situation to reach lost people and strengthen believers. PRAY for those returning missionaries who had no desire to retire and have left most of their hearts with the people they were called to serve. PRAY for the people to whom they ministered that they will be strong and mature enough to carry on the ministry. Pray that we as lay agricultural missionaries will “stand in the gap” and support the returning missionaries and the ministries they left behind.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR The winter meeting of Agricultural Development Foundation will be held on January 30, 2016, at First Baptist Church, Homer, Louisiana. This will be a joint meeting with the Louisiana Baptist Agricultural Missions Fellowship. Please make plans to attend.
Agricultural Development Foundation, Ltd. 1153 Owens Road Terry, MS 39170
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1
To:
Agricultural Development Foundation, Ltd. 1153 Owens Road Terry, MS 39170
I would like to:
Please accept my:
___renew my membership
___membership contribution of $50
___become a member
___gift in the amount of $________
Name____________________________________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip______________________________________________________________________ Phone______________________________Email_________________________________________
