Each year, in cooperation with The Foods Resource Bank and six other area churches, the Grossnickle Church of the Brethren sponsors a Growing Project to help support food sustainability programs in the developing world.
The Foods Resource Bank (FRB) is a Christian, non-government, humanitarian organization committed to providing food security in the developing world through sustainable, small-scale agricultural production, thereby allowing hungry people to know the dignity and pride of feeding themselves.
For the fourth year, we will be growing crops on the Paul and Jennie Grossnickle Farm on Route 17. Donnie Grossnickle will be farming the land, and all seven churches will be participating again by raising funds to support the growing of the crops.
Individual acreage sponsorships are still available at $250 per acre. Half-acres are also available. Please consider sponsoring an acre, joining with friends and family to sponsor an acre, or consider a corporate sponsorship. Corporate sponsorships are $500 and participating businesses will receive acknowledgement on the farm sign and in press releases.
For more information, please call the church office at 301-293-9516 or speak with any of the Growing Project Committee members from our church - Pastor Tim Ritchey Martin, Patty Hurwitz (chair), Paul Bussard, Robert Delauter, Donnie Grossnickle, Jennie Leatherman, Suzanne Levitt, Elvin Stottlemyer, or Helen and Aubrey Thomasson.
The Growing Project has become a meaningful part of our Mission and Outreach. In the past three years, we have raised,in partnership with six other churches, over $65,000 that has gone directly to food sustainability programs in the developing world. We know that the quality of life has been improved for many, many people because of our efforts. We pray that God will guide us as we continue to reach out to our brothers and sisters in need.
2006 Growing project (link to the HagerstownCOB.org website.)
http://www.hagerstowncob.org/Growing_Project.html
Information about the Foods Resource Bank and the Growing Project
http://www.foodsresourcebank.org/us_growing_projects.asp?id=43
Malawi is one the world's least developed and most densely populated countries. It is a land locked country bordered by Tanzania to the northeast, Zambia on the northwest and Mozambique on the east, south and west.
About Malawi
- the estimated population is 15,000,000
- capital city is Lilongwe
- life expectancy is 52 years (men) 54 years (women)
- monetary unit is the kwacha
- composed of three regions – Northern, Central and Southern
- is divided into 28 districts
- the Great Rift Valley runs through the country North to South
- to the East is Lake Malawi, sometimes called Calendar Lake which is 365 miles long and 52 miles wide
- radio is the primary source of information though television was introduced in 1999
- religions include Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 3%, other 2%
- literacy rate is 58%
- economy is based in agriculture with a largely rural population
