Day 3 – Getting Immersed

Today was the day to get immersed into the life of the community here at Koinonia Farms.

Koinonia was the name of our community gathering space in seminary. It means fellowship – communion – sharing in hospitality – participation – dwelling – life together. This has always been the truest sense of what it means to be the church. Open to the book of Acts and this is what you witness the early church doing 24/7/365.

Sue leads the hospitality team. She is excellent at what she does. I spent from 9 to 12 with her as we walked the farm, checked out all the spaces, asked lots of questions, conversed together, and then watched Briars in the Cotton Patch. This hour long documentary deeply impacted me. Can I recommend you watch and reflect on its message?

What Clarence Jordan and the community here endured was heart breaking to see. And yet – they never threw in the towel or gave up. They kept on keeping on in faith throughout the violence and suffering that they endured. All this hardship because they leaned into being a radically racially inclusive community.

Kicked out of churches – bombed and shot at – extended boycotts to financially crush them – hate boiling over – and yet they endured.

Sadly Clarence Jordan died young at age 57. Others increased in their leadership to carry the legacy forward. No chapter of their life has been easy.

The farm used to be 1400 acres and now is around 550. Their pecan orchards and bakery operation is the primary income stream today. I took a few photos of 100 plus year old equipment still in use today. A few paid staff and a covenant community of supporters who live and work here continue to inspire this place forward. I supported them with a little extra today by buying chocolate, cinnamon and smoked pecans, peach cake, and of course a few extra books. They mail and ship all over the US. Checkout their website to place an order.

Today I got to have lunch with this great team of folks – all with their own unique stories and callings. A wonderful youth group from a Korean Methodist church out of Atlanta are retreating here for the next few days as well. Their energy filled the lunch space with joy.

After mopping floors and wiping down tables, I set out to Americus to get the flat tire fixed. A piece of metal close to the sidewall meant no repair possible and thus only replace. Of course the car rental place said tough to paying for it and that I needed to return with a new tire on it. Just another $120 later and I was on my way.

A quote of Clarence Jordan worth remembering: “Behold a tree, does it not speak to us thusly. Don’t you see that God is not working himself into a frenzy in me. I am calmly, quietly, silently, pouring forth my life and bringing forth fruit. Do Thou Likewise.”

Yes, this is what it means to root and to rise into Christ.

Time for some Pecans.