ADF Newsletter
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, LTD.
ADF Newsletter Volume 21 Issue 1
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Happy New Year. The older I get, the faster time flies! It is already just about time for our winter meeting - which will be held in conjunction with the Louisiana Fellowship meeting at the First Baptist Church in Homer, LA on January 30. Details and directions will appear later in this newsletter. I hope to see you there. As I think about our ADF, and what it has meant over the last 45 years, both spiritually and physically, to people all around the world, I realize that time is flying for our organization, too. There were a whole lot of grey hairs in the room at our last summer meeting at Central Hills. Time is passing. As Ecclesiastes says, "the sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again". People are still starving…..and dying without Christ….all over the world. Our mission today is as important, if not more important than it was when Bro. Cooper first started the ball rolling in 1970. Romans (10:14) says "…….How can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?......" ADF has always been there alongside those sent to preach. We teach people to fish - so their lives will be a little better! We witness to them, share Christ with them, encourage them, laugh and cry with them. Then we turn them loose to fish for themselves and their families, and to hopefully become "fishers of men" as well. In order to continue to do this, however, we need a strong and diverse membership in ADF. My ecology background teaches that the stability of a system is directly related to the diversity of that system. Our strength in ADF has always come from the diversity of backgrounds, experience, and technical expertise of the membership. This will continue to be the case. But, agriculture and the technology surrounding it have changed a lot over the last 45 years. In order to remain effective in our mission, we need to be recruiting the enthusiasm, energy, and technical competence of new, and sometimes, perhaps, younger members who are versed in the agriculture of today and have a heart for ag missions. Over the next few years as some of us older folks begin to slow down a little, ADF will be "passing the torch". The harvest is still just as plentiful as ever, and the workers are still few, but I believe the Lord expects us to remain engaged in His kingdom work for the next 45 years, too. So, please make it a priority to "pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” And then, get out there and recruit some new folks! See you in Homer. Terry Kirkpatrick President
January 201616
FROM THE BACK 40 The Miracle of the Seed As agriculturalists we know the importance of seed. It assures us of the next generation (crop). In God’s creative plan He has placed in that small seed all that is needed for a new plant, regardless if it is a 6-inch pansy or a 150-foot tree. Writers of both the Old and New Testament used that concept in many ways, but most often to demonstrate that God has placed in the heart of every believer a “seed” that is capable of producing the next generation. Like the physical seed, the spiritual seed must be planted to grow and produce fruit. Jesus reminds us that some seed will fall on hard ground or among weeds, but some will fall on good ground and produce much fruit. The question is: How much spiritual seed will we in ADF plant in 2016? Look! Spring is almost here. Come, let us gather at FBC Homer, LA on January 30 and get ready to plant. Don Blasingame Editor, ADF
UPDATE ON VIETNAM COW PROJECT During the March 2015 meeting ADF approved $7500 for a cow project to assist persons living with the effects of Agent Orange in Vietnam. The project began in two communities where households who have persons living with the effects of Agent Orange are also living below the poverty line. The project was designed to give a cow as a loan to families or individuals living with the effects of Agent Orange. Once the cow has a calf, the calf is given as payment of the loan to another household living with the effects of Agent Orange. After the first calf has been passed to the next household, the original recipient can choose what to do with their cow. They can sell the cow immediately for profit, use the cow as collateral in order to take out a loan, breed again and sell the offspring, or breed and use the offspring to start a small herd of cattle. The project actually started with 20 families who each received a cow, which is a larger investment than families can make on their own. When the cow has her first calf, the owner gives that calf to repay the loan. Female calves are given directly to other families affected by Agent Orange, who in turn give their first calf as repayment. Male calves are sold to help purchase a female calf for a family. So the expansion continues each year with more families getting cows and passing on the firstborn calf. Ultimately the hope is that every family affected by Agent Orange in this area will own a cow.
PAGE 2
ADF NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 21 ISSUE 1
ANNUAL MEETING LOUISIANA BAPTIST AGRICULTURAL MISSIONS FELLOWSHIP First Baptist Church Homer, Louisiana Saturday, January 30, 2016
9:00 Registration and Refreshments 9:30 Call to Order
Family Life Center Gene Baker
9:35 Welcome and Opening Prayer
Brian Thurman
Pastor, First Baptist Church, and Former Southern Baptist Missionary in Southeast Asia 9:40 Historical Overview of Agricultural Missions 10:15 Overview of Self-Help Projects Among the Zapotec Indians
W. Nelson Philpot Harold Watson Kerry Johnson
Former Agricultural Missionary to Southern Mexico 11:30 ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING Annual Report and Financial Report by the President
Gene Baker
Update on By-Laws
Gene Baker
Report of the Projects Coordinator Report of the Membership Committee Report of the Nominating Committee
Billy Nutt David Morrison Gene Baker
12:00 Lunch and Entertainment
DIRECTIONS TO FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HOMER, LOUISIANA Driving from the East: Take I-20 to exit 67 (19 miles west of Ruston, Louisiana). Turn onto Highway 9 North and drive approximately 14 miles to the intersection with Highway 79. Turn right and drive 3 miles into Homer. The church will be on the right. Turn right and park behind the educational building. Enter the educational building and follow the signs. Driving from the West: Take I-20 to exit 49 near Minden. Turn north over the interstate onto Highway 531 and drive approximately 3 miles to the intersection with Highway 79. Turn right and drive approximately 18 miles to Homer. The church will be on the right. Follow the instructions above. Driving from the North: Follow Highway 9 or 79 into Homer. The First Baptist Church will be on the left 1 block south of the courthouse square. Drive around to the back per above instructions. Note: Several motels are located in Ruston, Arcadia and Minden.
PAGE 2
ADF NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 21 ISSUE 1
ANNUAL MEETING AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, LTD. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Homer, Louisiana January 30, 2016
8:15 a.m. Board of Directors Meeting in Sunday School Department IV 1:00 p.m. Opening remarks ………………………………………………… Terry Kirkpatrick 1:05 p.m. State reports: Alabama Arkansas Louisiana Mississippi Other
Project Coordinator report ………………………………………………. Harold Watson Update on Chorti Project ………………………………………………… Dan Watson Business session: Minutes of previous meeting …………………………….…………... Richard Parish Financial Report ………………………………………….…………… Joyce Watson Owen Cooper Foundation Report Project Requests ………………………………...……………………. Terry Kirkpatrick Nominating Committee Report ……………..………………………... Randy Graves 2:00 p.m. Closing remarks and adjourn
To all Board Members: Please note that the Board meeting will begin at 8:15 a.m. prior to the Fellowship meeting which will begin at 9:15.
~CONTACT INFORMATION~ Communications for the newsletter may be emailed to the editor at [email protected] Information about mission activities for inclusion in the newsletter is welcomed. Telephone communication may be made to Don Blasingame at 662-323-5646. ADF Office address: 1153 Owens Road, Terry, MS 39170 Telephone: 601-857-8544 Website: www.adfmissions.org
Agricultural Development Foundation, Ltd. 1153 Owens Road Terry, MS 39170
“Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Psalm 103:2
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 21 Issue 1
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Happy New Year. The older I get, the faster time flies! It is already just about time for our winter meeting - which will be held in conjunction with the Louisiana Fellowship meeting at the First Baptist Church in Homer, LA on January 30. Details and directions will appear later in this newsletter. I hope to see you there. As I think about our ADF, and what it has meant over the last 45 years, both spiritually and physically, to people all around the world, I realize that time is flying for our organization, too. There were a whole lot of grey hairs in the room at our last summer meeting at Central Hills. Time is passing. As Ecclesiastes says, "the sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again". People are still starving…..and dying without Christ….all over the world. Our mission today is as important, if not more important than it was when Bro. Cooper first started the ball rolling in 1970. Romans (10:14) says "…….How can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?......" ADF has always been there alongside those sent to preach. We teach people to fish - so their lives will be a little better! We witness to them, share Christ with them, encourage them, laugh and cry with them. Then we turn them loose to fish for themselves and their families, and to hopefully become "fishers of men" as well. In order to continue to do this, however, we need a strong and diverse membership in ADF. My ecology background teaches that the stability of a system is directly related to the diversity of that system. Our strength in ADF has always come from the diversity of backgrounds, experience, and technical expertise of the membership. This will continue to be the case. But, agriculture and the technology surrounding it have changed a lot over the last 45 years. In order to remain effective in our mission, we need to be recruiting the enthusiasm, energy, and technical competence of new, and sometimes, perhaps, younger members who are versed in the agriculture of today and have a heart for ag missions. Over the next few years as some of us older folks begin to slow down a little, ADF will be "passing the torch". The harvest is still just as plentiful as ever, and the workers are still few, but I believe the Lord expects us to remain engaged in His kingdom work for the next 45 years, too. So, please make it a priority to "pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” And then, get out there and recruit some new folks! See you in Homer. Terry Kirkpatrick President
January 201616
FROM THE BACK 40 The Miracle of the Seed As agriculturalists we know the importance of seed. It assures us of the next generation (crop). In God’s creative plan He has placed in that small seed all that is needed for a new plant, regardless if it is a 6-inch pansy or a 150-foot tree. Writers of both the Old and New Testament used that concept in many ways, but most often to demonstrate that God has placed in the heart of every believer a “seed” that is capable of producing the next generation. Like the physical seed, the spiritual seed must be planted to grow and produce fruit. Jesus reminds us that some seed will fall on hard ground or among weeds, but some will fall on good ground and produce much fruit. The question is: How much spiritual seed will we in ADF plant in 2016? Look! Spring is almost here. Come, let us gather at FBC Homer, LA on January 30 and get ready to plant. Don Blasingame Editor, ADF
UPDATE ON VIETNAM COW PROJECT During the March 2015 meeting ADF approved $7500 for a cow project to assist persons living with the effects of Agent Orange in Vietnam. The project began in two communities where households who have persons living with the effects of Agent Orange are also living below the poverty line. The project was designed to give a cow as a loan to families or individuals living with the effects of Agent Orange. Once the cow has a calf, the calf is given as payment of the loan to another household living with the effects of Agent Orange. After the first calf has been passed to the next household, the original recipient can choose what to do with their cow. They can sell the cow immediately for profit, use the cow as collateral in order to take out a loan, breed again and sell the offspring, or breed and use the offspring to start a small herd of cattle. The project actually started with 20 families who each received a cow, which is a larger investment than families can make on their own. When the cow has her first calf, the owner gives that calf to repay the loan. Female calves are given directly to other families affected by Agent Orange, who in turn give their first calf as repayment. Male calves are sold to help purchase a female calf for a family. So the expansion continues each year with more families getting cows and passing on the firstborn calf. Ultimately the hope is that every family affected by Agent Orange in this area will own a cow.
PAGE 2
ADF NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 21 ISSUE 1
ANNUAL MEETING LOUISIANA BAPTIST AGRICULTURAL MISSIONS FELLOWSHIP First Baptist Church Homer, Louisiana Saturday, January 30, 2016
9:00 Registration and Refreshments 9:30 Call to Order
Family Life Center Gene Baker
9:35 Welcome and Opening Prayer
Brian Thurman
Pastor, First Baptist Church, and Former Southern Baptist Missionary in Southeast Asia 9:40 Historical Overview of Agricultural Missions 10:15 Overview of Self-Help Projects Among the Zapotec Indians
W. Nelson Philpot Harold Watson Kerry Johnson
Former Agricultural Missionary to Southern Mexico 11:30 ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING Annual Report and Financial Report by the President
Gene Baker
Update on By-Laws
Gene Baker
Report of the Projects Coordinator Report of the Membership Committee Report of the Nominating Committee
Billy Nutt David Morrison Gene Baker
12:00 Lunch and Entertainment
DIRECTIONS TO FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HOMER, LOUISIANA Driving from the East: Take I-20 to exit 67 (19 miles west of Ruston, Louisiana). Turn onto Highway 9 North and drive approximately 14 miles to the intersection with Highway 79. Turn right and drive 3 miles into Homer. The church will be on the right. Turn right and park behind the educational building. Enter the educational building and follow the signs. Driving from the West: Take I-20 to exit 49 near Minden. Turn north over the interstate onto Highway 531 and drive approximately 3 miles to the intersection with Highway 79. Turn right and drive approximately 18 miles to Homer. The church will be on the right. Follow the instructions above. Driving from the North: Follow Highway 9 or 79 into Homer. The First Baptist Church will be on the left 1 block south of the courthouse square. Drive around to the back per above instructions. Note: Several motels are located in Ruston, Arcadia and Minden.
PAGE 2
ADF NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 21 ISSUE 1
ANNUAL MEETING AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, LTD. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Homer, Louisiana January 30, 2016
8:15 a.m. Board of Directors Meeting in Sunday School Department IV 1:00 p.m. Opening remarks ………………………………………………… Terry Kirkpatrick 1:05 p.m. State reports: Alabama Arkansas Louisiana Mississippi Other
Project Coordinator report ………………………………………………. Harold Watson Update on Chorti Project ………………………………………………… Dan Watson Business session: Minutes of previous meeting …………………………….…………... Richard Parish Financial Report ………………………………………….…………… Joyce Watson Owen Cooper Foundation Report Project Requests ………………………………...……………………. Terry Kirkpatrick Nominating Committee Report ……………..………………………... Randy Graves 2:00 p.m. Closing remarks and adjourn
To all Board Members: Please note that the Board meeting will begin at 8:15 a.m. prior to the Fellowship meeting which will begin at 9:15.
~CONTACT INFORMATION~ Communications for the newsletter may be emailed to the editor at [email protected] Information about mission activities for inclusion in the newsletter is welcomed. Telephone communication may be made to Don Blasingame at 662-323-5646. ADF Office address: 1153 Owens Road, Terry, MS 39170 Telephone: 601-857-8544 Website: www.adfmissions.org
Agricultural Development Foundation, Ltd. 1153 Owens Road Terry, MS 39170
“Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Psalm 103:2
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_________________________________________
