After a lengthy conversation with Dennis Schlagel, Executive Director of the Fellowship of Christian Farmers International (FCFI), last year about the floods in North Dakota and FCFI's efforts to assist flood victims, I decided that I needed to join the organization.
I have found great inspiration in the lovely "Heart of a Farmer" daily devotional desk calendar I recieved upon joining, complete with scriptures and comments from fellow members all over God's kingdom.
I also enjoy recieving "The Profit", the publication of FCFI. The latest issue contains a statement from Rowe Sargent, President of FCFI, and is just what I've been praying for, especially as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) debates a statement on genetics, which includes a section on genetically modified organisms in the food supply.
President Sargent's statement is entitled "Making the Most of What We Have":
"After coming through one of the wettest years in recent times, averaging 10 plus inches more than in normal years, we were still blessed with a record crop. Yet there are millions going to bed hungry in the world.
We are faced with a lot of objectors to biotechnology. Our Indiana Farm Bureau President, Don Villwock was in a meeting with Dr. Norman Borlaug (Nobel Peace prize recipient) where Dr. Borlaug left the "anti-technology" people in AWE with his comments.
"We on this committee have been very fortunate in our lives. We have never known hunger. We actually have the monetary resources to choose what and when we eat. But for millions of people around the world, every night choice is not an option. It's a question, "Is there enough food for this meal and where will the next meal come from?" By limiting science and research, we are eliminating any chance that the starving world may someday be fed. It is pretty pious for us here with our stomachs full to cast the fate of death to millions around the world by limiting the biotech option!"
The Lord has allowed us to develop these tools and He will expect us to use them to feed the hungry.
Happy is the generous man, the one who feeds the poor. Proverbs 22:9"
THANK YOU President Sargent for your words of wisdom! On our farm we will most certainly continue to make the most of God's gifts to help feed our hungry world!
For more information on the Fellowship of Christian Farmers International go to
http://www.fcfi.org/
