Mission Bite #129: Participation, Koinonia and Witness

Cultivate Abundance, a Global Missions Engagement Partner, works to improve farm worker diets through the availability of fresh, locally-sourced, nutrient-dense produce. We also emphasize gardener participation.

Besides local homeowners sharing extra mangoes or avocados, there’s the Covenant Presbyterian garden in Ft. Myers where cassava, papaya and other crops are being grown for Immokalee farm workers. Christian Life Fellowship offers eggs from their chicken flock. And First Presbyterian Lehigh Acres shares greens from their garden.

Maria, who lives a few blocks from the Misión Peniel community garden, often drops by to help plant vegetables or harvest. And with assistance from Cultivate Abundance, around 20 local families are now supplementing household nutrition with their own container gardens. That’s participation. It’s also koinonia and witness.

- Rick Burnette, CBF field personnel serving in North Fort Myers, Fla.