Koinonia is a Christian farm community founded in 1942 by Clarence & Florence Jordan and Martin & Mabel England. Home of the Cotton Patch Gospel, birthplace of Habitat for Humanity, Jubilee Partners, Prison Jail Project, Fuller Center for Housing and other ministries. Still growing pecans and peanuts, welcoming visitors, and living the "demonstration plot for the Kingdom of God". News Events Visit Intern History KCOC Catalog Contact us What is Koinonia? Koinonia Briefly April 2008 a monthly e-news publication Congratulations to our fellow community member, friend and brother Norris “Bone” Harris—he has been named Pastor of the Year 2008 in his church community! Read more here… Dave Cooper, inspired by the Koinonia documentary Briars in the Cotton Patch, wrote an editorial for the Roanoke Times. “As we celebrate Black History Month, the parallels between the great civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s and the current struggle against mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia are interesting...” We found it very interesting! Read more here. Claudia Larson has written, directed and produced a wonderful documentary about Catholic Worker co-founder Dorothy Day. There is a beautiful mention of Koinonia in the film. Dorothy visited the farm during Holy Week of 1957 and spent two weeks helping out. More information on the film… Reaching Out The Peace Action Team is offering a $1,000 Peace Scholarship to help youth make non-military life paths possible and desirable. The award will go to a graduating senior of Sumter County High School who plans to pursue higher education or to do volunteer service. If you know a youth who is active in the community and who cares about peacemaking, let him or her know about this opportunity! Read how here…     The Koinonia bell rings at 10:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m

We are already planning for the Koinonia Community Outreach Center’s annual Summer Youth Camp in June. Would your group or church like to visit Koinonia and “adopt” a week of Summer Youth Camp? Build relationships, have fun, enjoy Koinonia living, and bring a themed week of activities to local youth ages 5-12. Contact Kathleen Monts at 229-924-0391 to learn more.

The Heart to Heart home repair ministry has been working on Geneva Brown’s house this month. Beth and J. replaced the front door, trimmed out several windows, and improved the kitchen sink

At the Farm

The organic gardeners are planting Satsuma orange trees, peach trees, pomegranates, and other varieties around the farm. How miraculous it will be, in a few years, when fresh organic fruit is available at arm’s reach! It’s especially important to plant trees after the Americus tornado last year felled thousands of trees not yet replaced. We hope to raise another generation of oxygen-producing friends.

Who knew sorting pecans could be this much fun? Pictured, students from Warren Wilson College and Messiah College take a break with Koinonians Emma Sue Clay and Kathleen Monts—and dance, dance, dance! As usual, this month has been chock-full of alternative spring break groups from colleges and churches. Read more here…

The “sensational six,” our spring 2008 community interns, have continued to bring their group spirit to everything they do here, whether it’s gardening, helping renovate a house, or creating an “open mic” in the chapel for all to share. Read more here…

Koinonia children Ana Laura and Adrian Navarro (ages 10 and 13, respectively) have written charming lyrics to the tune of “My Favorite Things”—describing their favorite Koinonia things! Click here to read the rest.

Easter morning began for us with a sunrise service. This was the view that cool, crisp morning. Do we need to tell you that it took our breath away? After prayers and hymns, we went to Dave and Ellie’s house for a scrumptious breakfast. Jubilation!

Geoffrey Hennies, our web designer, attended this year’s Non-Profit Technology Conference in New Orleans. With the ever-increasing amount of spam, more and more legitimate newsletters get lost in junk mail folders or don’t reach the recipient at all. But Geoffrey learned new ways to ensure that “real” emails, like our newsletter, are delivered correctly, as well as ways to help spread the word about Koinonia electronically. *Check out his tips* on getting the emails you want!

Coming Soon

We will soon send out an annual printed newsletter on recycled paper. Many of our friends choose not to use email and we want to keep them informed. Have you moved or are you not receiving postal mail from us? Please let us know here and we will update and/or add you to our list! Enjoy the paper!

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