October 2008

a monthly e-news publication

Did You Know?

Celebrate with us as Koinonia receives the International Peace Award this Friday, Oct. 3. Koinonians Bren Dubay and Norris Harris will accept the award and deliver a keynote address Friday at 7 p.m. CDT. The event will be Web cast live. Also Web cast will be a radio interview with Bren on “Up to Date,” a local radio show to the Greater Kansas City area, and Community of Christ President Steve Veazey’s keynote on Sunday at 11 a.m. CDT. As we’ve mentioned in previous newsletters, Koinonia is the first community to receive this international peace award. The Community of Christ chose to honor Koinonia in this way based on our witness as a signal community of justice and peace that reflects the vision of Christ. For links to information about Community of Christ and to access the Web casts, veiw our introduction page.

Featured Koinonian of the Month: Jake Warren
Koinonia apprentice Jake Warren graduated from the University of Georgia last January with degrees in Advertising and Marketing. He came to Koinonia as an intern, one of the “sensational six,” that same month. In Athens, he worked at Habitat for Humanity for almost two years. That’s how he heard of Koinonia. After a co-worker visited Koinonia she told him, “Jake, you’ve got to visit that farm. It’s like being in paradise!” In May, Jake petitioned and was accepted to stay for an apprenticeship. “I really believed in Koinonia and the experience I had here,” he said. As an apprentice, Jake is exploring God’s calling for his life and where that might lead him. In his eight months here, Jake has been dynamic in marketing our products and finding opportunities for Koinonia to spread our marketing endeavors. Jake’s goals in life aren’t the lofty, materialistic, career-oriented ones that too often plague recent graduates. “My goals,” he said, “are to mature in my walk with God and to have the courage to follow convictions he has placed in my heart.” When Jake isn’t organizing Koinonia events, leading Monday evening discussions, or entering our many product orders, he’s usually playing kickball with the neighborhood kids, watching TV, playing video games, or making friends with the ladies. Afterall, he’s still a 23-year-old, and in the early years of the joyride of life. To contact Jake, e-mail jake@koinoniapartners.org.

Don’t forget the $50,000 challenge from an anonymous donor. Help turn $50,000 into $100,000! If we raise $50,000 for the construction of the new Meeting House, a donor has promised to match it with another $50,000. You may contribute online or by mail. Please make checks payable to Koinonia Farm and indicate in the memo line that the gift is for the Meeting House.

Just before the International Day of Peace on Sept. 21, Koinonia was invited to Mount de Sales Academy in Macon, Georgia. For the past three years, Mount de Sales has celebrated the International Day of Peace with a Peace Week, focusing on peace efforts all across the globe. This year, Koinonia was the focus of the week. Bren was able to share with the nearly 700 students stories from our life here at Koinonia about living with peace and what that looks like internally, socially, and internationally. This trip was part of our overall education efforts. While at Mount de Sales, a group of Koinonians led a panel discussion with the students, and talked with members of a social justice class. It was so encouraging for us to visit with these teachers and students who have a passion and desire to learn about peace, social justice, and living in the Kingdom of God. Pictured, several Koinonians pose with Mount de Sales administrators next to their peace pole, which reads in several languages, “May peace prevail on earth.” Also pictured is a banner, made by students and displayed in their classroom window for Peace Week.

This month, we’ve worked with the Americus Mennonite Fellowship, helping them prepare for the 9th Annual Mennonite Relief Auction on September 12th and 13th. The day-long auction raised over $40,000 for the Mennonite Central Committee, which coordinates Mennonite missions worldwide. Koinonia helped with the group "What Wood Jesus Crew," making wood items for the sale, donating items, and volunteering during the auction.

On September 25th, as the sun sunk over the horizon and the evening chill set in, Koinonians geared up for the annual Taste of Sumter event in downtown Americus. We joined dozens of vendors on Jackson Street, selling small samples of chocolates and pecan pies, mingling with Americus friends, and passing out newspapers. We sampled the tastes of the local Americus atmosphere, and made new friends as together, we had a great kickoff to the Fall season. We also participated in the Plains Peanut Festival, held next door to us in Plains, Ga. We’re blessed by these activities and events where we can visit with friends both old and new, and share our home-made goodies locally.

This month we welcomed six new interns! Welcome to the Porter-Hirsche family Jan, Keith, and their daughters Kailee, and Krista; Dan Truesdale, Barbara Williamson, and Bryan Knowlton. We’re delighted to have them join us for three months. Pictured is the Porter-Hirsche family from left to right, Kailee, Krista, Jan, and Keith. Look for more photos and information about our interns in coming e-new publications.

Koinonian Brendan Prendergast has been as busy as a bee with the animals and garden. We recently got a 300 lb Irish Dexter bull. When Clarence, aswe call him, is full grown, he’ll be about 1200 lbs. We’ve begun training Clarence, hoping he’ll be helpful with the farm work. The Irish Dexter are supposed to be an intelligent breed and good for training. Brendan has decided to use the Irish Dexter as our stock breed, so we’ll likely get a heifer soon to begin breeding. We also have 2 pigs, and we’re going to try to find a hog tractor. We’ve also added 2 new goats, and 4 ducks. Brendan hopes the animals will be helpful in tending to the garden, also, which is ready for harvesting! Pictured is Clarence, the bull.

It If you’ve visited us in the past 13 years, then you know Sandy and Sanders Thornburgh. They’ve been with us through the good times and the bad times. Their faithfulness to Koinonia is an inspiration to us all. Sandy’s hard work in administration and products has taught us much about the kind of work ethic and good humor needed in community. We’re truly grateful for her expertise and her encouraging smile. We’re sad to share that Sandy has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She will have surgery to remove the mass, and likely will follow up with a round of radiation. Please pray for Sandy, Sanders, and their children Mary, Ben, and Heather. Pray for healing, for peace, and for courage during this time of uncertainty and chaos. And pray for us, their Koinonia family as we do our best to care for and support them. If you would like to respond or write a note to Sandy, please send it to info@koinoniapartners.org

It’s product season once again! That means a new catalog with new goodies from the farm. Keep your eyes open for this year’s catalog. It should arrive in the mail soon. If you would like to receive a catalog, or if you have a new address, let us know. E-mail info@koinoniapartners.org and be sure to include your name, full address, and phone number. And we’d love some extra help in the bakery and with harvesting; if you’re interested, e-mail hospitality@koinoniapartners.org and come see us.

Coming Soon

Bren Dubay and Jerry Nelson are planning trips to the New England states this fall. Let us know if you’re interesting in visiting with them while they’re in your area! E-mail jerry@koinoniapartners.org.

It isn’t too early to start making plans to join us February 12-22 for a Permaculture design course with specialists Chuck Marsh and Patricia Allison of Earthhaven Ecovillage in Black Mountain. We’ll send you more information in the coming months, and be sure to visit their site.

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