Koinonia Briefly

August 2006
a monthly e-news publication

To keep you up-to-date with news from the farm, we’ll be sending Koinonia Briefly to you each and every month. This month's product special is at the bottom of the email. Enjoy! If you have any trouble reading this email, or if you would like to print it, please visit http://www.koinoniapartners.org/htmlmail/index.html

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Did You Know?

• Even during the hot month of July, we’ve had some wonderful visitors. Among them were former Koinonians Manfred and Georgia (Fuller) Luedi and their four beautiful children, who stained themselves pink with mulberry juice; mother-daughter pair Cathy and Emily Zall, our “accounting superheroines”; David Hosey, who brought his guitar skills and encouraging words for a few weeks of his college summer break; and groups from Habitat for Humanity affiliates from around the country, continuing to make the journey for a Koinonia tour and our famous Southern cooking.

• An interesting fact: Were you aware that the United Methodist Church’s Book of Social Principals lists Koinonia as an example of Christian community? That means every UMC minister has at least read the name “Koinonia.” Here’s the quotation, from a section entitled “Nurturing Community”: “We further recognize the movement to find new patterns of Christian nurturing communities such as Koinonia Farms, certain monastic and other religious orders, and some types of corporate church life. We urge the Church to seek ways of understanding the needs and concerns of such Christian groups and to find ways of ministering to them and through them.” Pretty neat, huh?

• An energetic group from First Presbyterian Church of Fort Thomas, Kentucky visited us for a week this summer. We enjoyed engaging with this band of eager and interested individuals in a discussion on life on the farm, Koinonia’s Heart to Heart ministry, our love of Habitat for Humanity, and our equal love of Millard and Linda Fuller in their work at the Fuller Center for Housing. This adventuresome group also helped out in Heart to Heart work and the KCOC summer youth camp. We are so glad to have met them!

• Speaking of the Fuller Center, Saturday, June 10th was the first anniversary of the Fuller Center for Housing—another organization born at Koinonia. Friends celebrated with music, special speakers, and a personal address by Millard Fuller. Koinonia Director Bren Dubay spoke passionately about Millard’s faithful service.

Reaching Out

• In the Heart to Heart Home Repair Ministry this month, the Egg House (a Koinonia residence which will provide housing to two or more visitors or community members once complete) received a fresh coat of paint, new trim, a screen porch, plumbing and gas work. Our neighbor Johnny Jones’ house, which already received a new porch, roof, and exterior paint job, is now receiving new flooring and other interior work. Our next stop is a neighbor’s house in Plains, Georgia, where we’ll do siding work. Interns Chris Porter and Chuck Wilbanks have been a great help and a pleasure to work with, and we’re thankful for all who spend time with us and make Heart to Heart possible. Finally, the Heart to Heart van has a new look; Ed White and Jo Knox did a very nice job repainting it.

• The big treat at KCOC this month was a sleepover for kids ages 3-4. Shirley McGee and Kathleen Monts stayed overnight with the kids, and welcomed kids of all ages that evening to come and enjoy outdoor activities, cooking, videos, etc., before “closing up shop” with the young ones for the night. Four-year-old Heather Thornburgh was very excited! All enjoyed the event, which finished just in time for the Thursday morning Circle of Friends gathering to begin.

• Recent pilgrimages taken by Koinonians to connect with other Christian communities included participation in the PAPA (People Against Poverty & Apathy) Festival outside Knoxville, TN, and the 25th anniversary celebration of the Open Door Community in Atlanta. Steve and Christine Clemens, formerly partners of Koinonia, shared about Clarence Jordan, lessons they learned from living at Koinonia, and how Clarence and Koinonia shaped the Open Door. Thanks to this pair, we gained insight for the present from our own history!

At the Farm

• David and Greg Wittkamper, part of the original membership of Koinonia, along with Greg’s wife and daughter, recently paid us a visit. They were guests of honor at a special potluck on Sunday, June 11th. Afterward, we gathered as Greg and David shared stories of life on the farm during the days of persecution. 41 years after Greg’s graduation from high school where most students made it very emotionally difficult to be a Koinonia kid, he received several letters of apology from former classmates and was finally invited to his high school reunion. During his stay at Koinonia, he attended the reunion, which he enjoyed. A true story that gives us hope for change! And hope for reconciliation!

 

• From the organic garden: At the end of the blueberry season, we were able to keep most of the bushes weed-free. Now we concentrate on the grapes; keeping the morning glories off the half-grown fruits and vines is the main concern. We’ve had a bumper crop of lettuce, broccoli and chard, and the watermelons promise to produce well this year too. We have finally solved the “armadillo vs. watermelon problem” by putting wire cages on the plants, so we hope to break our 57-pound record from two years ago! Finally, the organic peanut field is being monitored for weed growth; we hope to plant our first successful crop next spring if weeds are under control.

• Our chapel renovation continues, and as you can see, the demolition phase is complete and we are now beginning to rebuild. New pathways were poured last week. We are still looking for a beautiful, large bell to call us to worship. Any ideas “ring a bell” for you?

Coming Soon

• Product season! It will soon be here and we hope you will be, too. Read more on our website about visiting or give Ann or Ellie a call at (229) 924-0391.

• Do you feel called to live in community? You can explore the possibility at Koinonia. As our community grows, we are looking for people interested in the spiritual journey and possessing the following talents: maintenance/construction, operating programs for youth, sales & marketing, sustainable farming, office and program administration, computer & graphics skills, and mechanical skills.

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We hope you enjoy Koinonia Briefly and share it with your friends. You receive these monthly updates by request, because you placed an order from Koinonia, or because one of our community members added your name. If you have suggestions for improvements, please let us know at . If you would like to be removed from the list, please follow the instructions below. If you have any trouble reading this email, or if you would like to print it, please visit http://www.koinoniapartners.org/htmlmail/index.html