We live in the country, have six kids, ages 11 through 24, have home schooled them, are self-employed, and are trying to be more self-sufficient. We are pretty much by ourselves but we desire Christian homesteading community life and fellowship. We would like to hear from people who would like to be a part of a Christian community, sharing our lives and resources, striving side by side for the hope of the Gospel. We are open to building such a community here on and around our wonderful farm here in SW Missouri. But we are also open to selling out and moving if there is already such a community going on somewhere else. we are trying to get in touch with people who are looking for or already living such a life. Is anyone interested?

Searching out of Missouri

-- Janet Montgomery (narrowgatemssion@hotmail.com), April 13, 2000

Answers

Hi, I think what you are doing sounds great, but have a thought for you. Jesus told us to be the salt of the world, but salt in clumps . . . ? I know we've thought about doing the same thing a few times, and concluded that He wants us to be IN the world but not OF the world. But it would be good to go together with other families to buy a large parcel of land at a lower cost per acre, and divide it, then work together. And easier if said families were like-minded about the Lord and the Bible. Then again, nothing seems to separate people faster than each one insisting they are better Christians than the other guy!! It would take a lot of humble, submissive spirits, to have a bunch of people get along in a community like that. And those are few and far between -- and probably serving the Lord in obscure poverty somewhere, not worrying about owning land, which they can't take to heaven anyway! Well, it's way past bedtime and I am meandering badly. But do pray about it seriously before you take something like that on. It could be wonderful but I have found that a lot of us supposed Christians are some of the proudest, most arrogant people on earth, and that's not too conducive to peace in a community. Nor very pleasing to God, whose kingdom we represent. God bless you.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), April 13, 2000.

Koinonia Farm, Americus Georgia 1300 acreas of Peanut,Pecan,Corn and wheat farm. When I was there they had 26 partners (52 adults and children).You can volunteer there and experience the lifestyle itself. Habitat for Humanity originated on this farm. If I can be of service,let me know and I will e-mail you more information on my experience there. Joel

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), April 14, 2000.

Much by "accident" I have come to live on such a place. Six years ago the Lord lead my (then) husband, 3 kids, 6 goats and I to an 80 acre farm of a Christian couple. After some "growing pains" of learning to homestead together, we have the greatest Christian farm! We now have another couple and their 6 kids, who the Lord brought out here on the farm now. We are all in seperate houses, but, together in Spirit and heart. We share the garden, the chores and prayers. We have become "lighthouses" to the farms around us and are trying to implement our lifestyle to include the neighbors, by planning bon-fires, cookouts, cane boiling and open farm days. My being here was not planned by the owners, nor was the coming out of the new family. We know that it has been God's plan. We have also seen a growing number of Christians settle in around us in our farm community. No, the Lord doesn't want us to group together to "shut out" the world, but to be support to one another as we go out into the world. We just happen to want to try to touch the world right here in our vicinity and then allow God to lead us further afield. Good luck to your venture, allow God to do His work, dedicate it all to Him! Our experience has been fruitful and we wouldn't have it any other way! Had it been "people" planned, it wouldn't have worked. Everyone of us has a gift that we use to make the homestead work. We are not all doing the same thing, nor do we all like doing the same thing! And yet, it all works. You may email me if you want to ask any questions. sissy

-- sissy sylvester (jerreleene@hotmail.com), April 15, 2000.

Janet & Family - I have been researching with the same sort of idea in mind. Try using Excite search engine (Excite.com), enter "Christian Community" in the search terms box and click the search button. You should get quite a few resources there. One resource is Sword of the Spirit. But most of the resources I've found on the net are not geared toward homesteading/simple living. I recommend the Community Land Trust Handbook as a source of information on forming a land trust to protect land from development or increases in land value (and taxes) due to speculation. I don't think you want to create a beautiful community, only to have it "discovered" by rich people, and turned into a high-priced golf- course development.

Someone should start a website or journal to chronicle Christian communities in all their various incarnations. If I were to do this, it would have a strong section on homesteading type communities. I don't think the time is quite ripe yet, though. Not enough people see the problems with "the system", materialism, etc.

I believe that more people are coming to embrace simpler lifestyles, one piece at a time. E.g., Moms staying home from work to raise kids, homeschooling, home-based businesses. Homeschooling will spur more apprenticeships (see Ferris, The Future of Homeschooling), and people will get used to the idea of one-on-one vocational training as an alternative to expensive college degrees. Many home-based businesses folks have tried (household goods and cosmetic "direct selling" for example) just don't cut it. As they continue to look for work they can do at home, and as they become more concerned about the food they eat, and organic farming and homesteading movement grows, folks will begin to see the logical harmony of these things.

Keep trying to connect! Pray! God DOES will a special relationship among his family. "Father...that they may be one, even as we are one." "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst" God Bless You.

-- Bob Blessum (robertblessum@netscape.net), December 13, 2000.

Dear Janet,

Hope your still checking for responses to this post. We've been trying to email you, but with no success. Would really like to talk to you and your husband. God Bless, Rob and Traci - Kansas

-- Rob and Traci Smith (traci_s2001@yahoo.com), December 30, 2000.

I hope this thread is still open. I too am looking for such a community. One, first of all, based on Yeshua ( Hebrew for Jesus).

Also, self sufficient, each one having their own home, but sharing chores. Helping out each other, a group of people, singles, couples w/ kids, older couples, etc.

Is there such a thing anywhere?

Thanks for taking time to read this, hope to hear something.

-- Carole in Wisconsin (coverga@bminet.com), January 08, 2001.

God's blessings! We live on a small farm in SW Ohio - have experienced Chrisitian community in some form most of our Christian life. Mark lived with YWAM for awhile, we had a couple live with us while they were building their home. Lived on a small Christian farm with about 8 other families, and now live in a communal situation with Mark's dad. We are somewhat more homesteading type of community, but realize that you can use some of the modern conviences without being tied down to them. Our main thrust for community is because of love...we desire to love the Body of Christ...love conquers doctrine, personalities, etc....we would like to fellowship with you. In His' Eternal Grasp, The Peters Family

-- Mark, Debbie, Matthew, & Mary K. Peters of Fellowship Acres (judah7@bright.net), February 23, 2001.

Here is Alexander from Saskatchewan, Canada. I sometimes thought of starting a Christian/Jewish farming commune here in Saskatchewan. It would be based Messianic Jewish approach, and jews and non-jews would be welcome, but will share a love for Jesus, Jewish people and Israel. We can find like-minded people, pool resources together, purchase a 640 acre farm in Saskatchewan with a large house; every family would have their own quarters; we would engage in profitable intensive agriculture/food proccessing/small manufacture; will share work/profits; we would be a shining example for area farms. Is it possible to build such a community?

-- Alexander Levin (morsealexlevin@hotmail.com), August 12, 2001.

Dear janet im very happy to see such desire in your heart,im served man im not married ,im assistant pastor, im living in tanzania ,i was looking for people either single or group who will be leady to do work of God together with me especially in helping children who lost their palents. i hard this vision of bulding children center,but i dint know how could i do this becouse they need education, food clothes and ather things, but besicall i thougt of starting with openig farms and building husesfor them , land are available asmuch as we want, please if God will allow you you may came see to gether how we can do God bleesyou yours in christ Jesus assin.Pastor John Mabega

-- John Mabega (mabegaus@yahoo.com), February 26, 2002.