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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
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Hoosier United Methodists together |
October 2004 |
Oxford field of dreams to help others
By Matthew Oates
OXFORD, Ind. - Just outside this Benton County community and down a gravel road is a cornfield. But not just any cornfield.
This cornfield is a joint venture between Oxford and Lafayette Grace United Methodists to help the Foods Resource Bank, a Christian non-government humanitarian organization. The churches hope to raise about $10,000 from the 23 acres of corn and then receive a $10,000 matching grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development. All proceeds will go to the FRB for purchase of food for others in need.
To help increase the amount of the donation, numerous agri-businesses donated to the cause: Pioneer Hi-Bred donated the seed; Bayer and the Jasper County Farm Bureau donated herbicide; ADM donated the trucking and drying; and area farmers have donated the equipment and labor.
There are numerous firsts for this project: it is the first time the two churches have worked on this project; and it is one of the first times in the FRB's history that a twinning between churches of similar denominations has occurred. A Brookston, Ind. farm participated in the FRB program last year, but there were different churches.
"This is very interesting and novel to me," said Kathy DeaKyne, a member of Lafayette Grace UMC. "Certainly you had two communities who don't know one another. A friendship has developed."
By teaming together, both mission-minded churches are doing more than growing corn. "Through projects like this, we're making a difference," said DeaKyne.
Oxford member Larry Winger - who also farms 2,500 acres - says the project will educate members not only on hunger issues, but also by allowing churches to come together to learn about one another and expose others to what it takes to produce food.
"It's a little overwhelming when you first start it. We came back knowing we could accomplish it," said Winger. "It has the ability to touch people in different areas; this field represents life."
The field will be harvested on Oct. 17, starting around 11:15 a.m. with a joint worship service, followed by lunch at noon and harvesting around 1 p.m. During the celebration, the Rev. Paul Dirdak, deputy general secretary for United Methodist Committee On Relief, Health and Welfare Ministries and Mission Volunteers, will be on-site and speak. UMCOR is a member of the FRB.
"This is a good year for corn," said Winger. "The real excitement is in the harvest celebration."
For more information on the harvest celebration, please contact Oxford UMC at 765-385-2392.
Matthew Oates serves as a Together correspondent. He may be contacted by e-mail at wmmattoates@hotmail.com.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008