Our Community Member of the Month is Harry Washington. Harry has lived and served at Koinonia for over 7 years. He is quiet, kind and generous. Without him, our pecan harvest would be impossible—he’s the front runner who keeps the orchards cleared of fallen limbs so that the machines can pass through. He also drives the tractor, prunes grapevines, and helps keep the Koinonia Community Outreach Center grounds shipshape.

Reaching Out

At the Circle of Friends’ Christmas celebration, longtime neighbors and new friends gathered to make some new Christmas memories, as well as to update each other on the services in the community that different members joyfully carry out: prison ministry, elder care, and much more. Visiting Circle friend Hiawatha Cromer led us in laughter exercises designed to fill the room with healthy smiles. Pictured, Johnny Jones, Annie Maude White, Emma Sue Sims, and Kathleen Monts reap the benefits.

Friends of Koinonia Craig Martindale and Charlie Hingston brought their talents to our Heart to Heart home repair ministry to install new windows for Geneva Brown, who lives in the Forest Park neighborhood. While they were too humble to pose with their handiwork, we did find Geneva outside our dining hall alongside Brendan, both happy about her improved home!

At the Farm

In the pre-holiday rush, our bakery was buzzing with special help from Jeremy, Demetrious, Janetta, Zipporah, and many others. Geneva’s dedicated hours ensured that every treat was baked with sincere love and care. Thank you to all those who supported Koinonia and our ministries by enjoying our delicious goodies and sending them to friends and family. We shipped over 4,000 packages in November and December alone.

Our friend Lewis Overholt, along with Koinonian J. Reilly, installed tile (donated by Lewis) in the bathroom of one of our dwellings, affectionately known as the Egg House since it was originally where eggs were sorted and stored in the 1950s. Louis is both a tilesetter and a pastor—he often tells us that he spends more time on his knees than most folks! Thank you for your generosity, Lewis.

The Koinonia Christmas celebration was full of thankfulness for answered prayers, rejoicing at the birth of Christ, and glad fellowship among all. Folks agreed that the presence of so many children and youth really “made” the celebration—we are so grateful to have nine “community kids” to remind us to be as little children in our faith lives. Kellan (11 months) took her first step during a particularly rousing session of karaoke Christmas caroling.

Koinonian Brendan Prendergast has been raising chickens and other small animals, making it sound like a real farm around here! The rooster’s crow has been greeting us morning… and noon … and night. Pictured, Brendan gives some attention to his young chicks. The structure in the background is a chicken tractor—a mobile coop that keeps hens happy with fresh bugs to peck, while organically fertilizing and turning up soil in our organic garden.

Our recent visitors have been a joy: RVers Euan and Nona have helped us improve our Peace Trail… Ana and Billy Mueller and their daughter Ariana invented the “fortune pecan” (an empty pecan shell encasing a tiny note, superglued back together to surprise the recipient)… and Hiawatha, R’Heba and Emerald have wowed us with their healthy cooking. Thanks, y’all!

Coming Soon

Once again we are pruning the vines in our organic grape orchards. If you would like some outdoor time in beautiful Georgia in February, working and visiting with other community members and guests, call Ann or Ellie at 229 924 0391 or fill out our contact form on our website.