As new believers form into congregations, leaders must address the question of how a village church can provide for itself. Without some kind of income generation, the church will always be hindered in ministry.
Through agricultural programmes, two Sundanese Christian Fellowship (SCF) churches have already achieved self-sufficiency. This year, SCF would like to expand this programme to two more churches.
Gifts to this project will allow the purchase of two tracts of land, construction of two small buildings (to be used for the agricultural project as well as disciple-ship) and to purchase seeds and fertilizer for the initial crop. The land will be used to train church members in farming techniques.
Many converts are farmers by trade, so this will not be something that is foreign to them or their way of life. At the same time, they will meet for discipleship. Meeting under the guise of farming training will deflect some of the pressure on the church from the community. Proceeds from the farm will be used to pay the ministry expenses of the church in that community.
Long term, SCF’s goal is to see financial sustainability begin to emerge from this program as well as to provide an environment that is conducive for discipleship and evangelism.
