To protect believers there who partner with FARMS International, we won’t name the country. But Caleb (last name withheld for security) says the oppression can be intense.

“We’ve had reports of houses being burnt down and death threats to certain leaders,” Caleb says.

“Three or four families have been chased out of their villages, and they’re living in the jungles.”

This man is raising poultry to support his family. He looks forward to gradually strengthening his farm and providing for his children.
(Photo, caption courtesy FARMS International)

New believers often face rejection from their families. In tribal contexts, becoming Christian can be seen as abandoning ancestral obligations.

“There’s a lot of demon worshipers, animists; they do not like Christians in the area, so they usually chase those Christians out,” Caleb says.

Persecution also affects daily livelihood. Caleb describes how believers are delayed or denied help with farming, which can lead to late planting and crop loss due to rain or floods.

Being a Christian can be harder than being poor in this country. While poor families may still receive help from relatives, believers are often cut off from family, neighbors, and government support.

“Being poor, you can still ask help from families and from your relatives, but being a believer, you don’t get help from anybody,” Caleb explains.

“You can only get help from other believers.”

Help for today, hope for tomorrow

FARMS International comes alongside local church networks to help believers overcome poverty. Learn more about FARMS’ approach here.

In Southeast Asia, microloans from FARMS help believers in physical, spiritual, and financial ways. Overseen by a committee of local church members, recipients repay loans and commit to tithing to their local churches.

“The finances help them not to be under any loan sharks or be in major debt, so then they can go out and witness more easily; they can actually focus on their ministry,” Caleb says.

Two women from a village have opened a tailoring shop after receiving sewing machines through the FARMS program. Their training has prepared them well, and they are using their skills to support their families with dignity and confidence.
(Photo, caption courtesy FARMS International)

As believers regain stability, FARMS-supported loans also create bridges between communities that once stayed divided.

“In a traditional way, tribes don’t mingle; they tend to be against each other,” Caleb says.

“When FARMS comes in, and the leaders can bring people from other tribes under their wings and encourage them and support them, that’s a great example of God’s love.”

Gifts from believers like you provide “seed money” for new loans and other support. Contact FARMS International here to learn more. Most importantly, pray.

“There is power in prayer, so pray, pray, pray!” Caleb requests. “Pray for strength, pray for protection.”

Participants in FARMS loan programs engage in goat, poultry, and beekeeping, as well as small-scale trade. (Photo, caption courtesy FARMS International)

“FARM’s basic and fundamental goal is to strengthen the global church, and we want to do that by focusing on our brothers and sisters in Christ who are in, you know, places of physical poverty,” explains Scott Clifton.

(Photo courtesy of FARMS International)

FARMS works through local churches to provide loans, technical support for income generating projects, and spiritual training for families. Loans are repaid to a revolving fund, and recipients agree to tithe to their local church. However, there are three criteria that need to be met in order for an organization to qualify for a loan:

• Global church—There must be a spiritual emphasis and biblical principles, acknowledging individuals’ roles as a stewards, not owners, and upholding the value of a local community that is seeking God together.
• Local ownership—The project must be sustainable and genuinely desired by the local leaders and participants. It is their program; FARMS is just helping them to create it.
• Livelihood development—The project must include humanitarian elements.

“We can see, if we remove any one of them, how that has the potential to negatively impact our ultimate goal,” says Clifton. “If we took out the church and we had a great organization focused on local ownership and really helping people develop their livelihoods, then that could be great in a lot of ways, but we have to wrestle with, you know, what does it profit a man to gain the world but lose his soul? So then you think about if there isn’t local ownership, we have to be really careful, because we might be contributing to harmful dependency, which is actually going to increase the need later on. And the third thing, if you take livelihood development out of the picture, we have to wrestle with the words of James, and he says faith without works is dead. What good does it do to pray for someone without taking any sort of action to help them, you know, overcome their physical barriers that they’re experiencing? So when those three things intersect, that’s really where FARMS sees ourself participating in the context of development and ministry around the world.”

This can mean saying no to organizations, like it did for an opportunity FARMS was pursuing in Honduras.

“We had an initial trip last November, and we went in with some ideas. When we highlight local ownership, the idea is that we’re not forcing a solution, but it’s actually desired by people who are there, and it fits within livelihood development as well,” describes Clifton. “So when we went there, we had an idea of ‘We’re going to start a loan program for a group of farmers.’ But then we gathered farmers around and we listened—we just asked some basic questions and got some answers, and realized that if we were to start a revolving loan program, they were not ready for it. We would have been setting them up for failure, because they wouldn’t have ever been able to repay those loans. Yet it would have been really hard to say no to, you know, a source of funds. And so we realized that it wasn’t the right time for that, but we could do an agricultural training where we could introduce them to some methods, like farming God’s way.”

Joe & Pat Richter with one of the FARMS project holders in Thailand. (Photo, caption courtesy of FARMS International)

FARMS partnered with Equipping Farmers International to conduct the training this month. FARMS is also developing a new program in Southeast Asia, based around a program they’ve seen success with in Thailand.

“This program in Thailand has been going for about 30 years, and they’ve been asking the last year to start another one in this neighboring country, and so we have the opportunity to do that. We’re actually doing that as a matching fund, where we provide some of the funds, and that program in Thailand is also going to provide some of the funds.”

Meanwhile, they’ve hired a regional coordinator based out of Zambia, with experience in agricultural and small business training, to help FARMS expand their work in Sub-Saharan Africa. They also have relationships and programs in the Caribbean, throughout central-eastern Africa, in the Philippines, Thailand and Sri Lanka, among other countries.

You can support FARM’s mission by partnering with them financially. Go to farmsinternational.com to learn more.

Header photo courtesy of FARMS International.

Yet Tim Landis of FARMS International says their partners’ persistence is paying off. “Sri Lanka suffers a lot of natural disasters; there’s a lot of different religious ideologies,” he says.

“They’re like [a] prize fighter: they get knocked down by a natural disaster or economically, and then they just keep getting back up.”

Still, FARMS Lanka needs prayer for ongoing administrative challenges. “They’re down for a longer count right now,” Landis says.

“The things they wrestle with really are [administrative,] like going out and visiting so we get proper reporting on how businesses are going, trying to collect loan repayments.”

Suraj Sanjeewa Fernando supports his family through a small printing business.
(Photo courtesy of FARMS International)

The Lord’s past faithfulness and provision are helping believers press on. “FARMS Lanka [has] reached the whole island for the Gospel and for humanitarian efforts,” Landis says.

“We remain encouraged by the ministry and the highlights they send us, even amidst their wrestling and struggling.”

Success stories

Nirmani Kulathissa, a wife and mother of two, operates a small grocery shop in Ratmeewala. With support from FARMS Lanka, she purchased inventory and is steadily repaying her loan through business profits. She is an active member of a local Salvation Army congregation.

Meanwhile, Swarna Neelakanthi runs a plant nursery in nearby Rambukkana. Steady sales allow her to repay her FARMS loan, and she remains active in her Anglican church community.

Success is “not always just about, ‘[Did] we get loan repayment?’ but how it impacts their church community, how it impacts their family life,” Landis says.

In the same community, Sriyalatha Mendis produces handmade bags and sewing items. A recent loan from FARMS Lanka allowed her to purchase materials. She is gradually building her business while remaining active in her church community.

Finally, Suraj Sanjeewa Fernando supports his family through a small printing business in the coastal community of Panadura. “Suraj was helped by FARMS Lanka in purchasing a printing press, and that enabled him to grow his business and repay his loan,” Landis says.

With support from FARMS Lanka, Nirmani Kulathissa purchased goods to stock her shop and is steadily repaying her loan through her business’s profits.
(Photo, caption courtesy FARMS International)

Each story reflects God’s provision through diligence, accountability, and sustainable work. Praise God for what He is accomplishing through FARMS Lanka.

Learn more

Join the FARMS International email list to learn more about the ministry. Scroll to the bottom of the FARMS website homepage to find the sign-up form.

“We do a monthly e-newsletter, and that is the best way, because that’s where we share all the reports and stories of the individuals impacted by our ministry,” Landis says.

While you’re there, sign up for the second annual FARMS Gala on March 13.

“Pennsylvania or surrounding states listeners [and readers], we would love to have you out,” Landis says.

“It’s a great opportunity to understand what FARMS does and the direction we’re going. If you do come, let us know that you heard us from Mission Network News.”

Header and story images courtesy of FARMS International. 

Executive Director Scott Clifton says his team was “on hold” after meeting local farmers. “The things they identified that would be helpful were outside of what FARMS as an organization could do,” he begins.

“Someone said, ‘I could really use a piece of equipment.’ Another person said, ‘I need transportation.’ Other people said that water was really an issue. There wasn’t one project that would help everybody.”

But the Lord didn’t keep FARMS International waiting for long. A week after returning from the discovery trip, Clifton learned about a program called “Farming God’s Way.”

“I was able to attend a workshop and realize very quickly that this is the thing that could help many people in Honduras.”

(Photo courtesy Gabriel Jimenez/Unsplash)

The training pairs God’s principles for living with business and agricultural practice. Learn more here.

“It’s a simple method. It’s repeatable. You don’t need to buy all these outside tools and equipment or specialized anything. It’s working with what people already have,” Clifton summarizes.

Next steps

To get involved, connect with FARMS International here. “If anything mentioned piques someone’s interest, then please reach out. I’d love to have a conversation,” Clifton says.

Pray for wisdom as FARMS prepares to introduce this method to Christian farmers in Honduras.

“It’s new to us, so there’ll be learning involved. There are also costs involved, between travelling and the food and lodging,” Clifton says.

Pray that planning and logistics come together smoothly to support the training workshops.

“It’ll be about a week long, and then there’ll need to be some follow-up, and we’ll need to put monitoring and evaluation in place – simple measures that allow us to see if it really is having an impact, and what that impact is, and then we go from there,” Clifton explains.

“Once it’s established, then there’d be other opportunities down the line [such as] introducing a cash crop or maybe having more of a business case where a revolving loan program could work.”

Header image is a representative stock photo depicting a farmer harvesting carrots in Honduras. Photo courtesy of Chente Colindres/Pexels.

A Cuban farmer had a farm, and on the farm he had sheep.

Then the sheep were stolen.

The sheep story is real — Scott Clifton of FARMS International says one of their contacts experienced it firsthand. But the losses didn’t stop there.

For years, farmers plowed their fields with tractors. Then fuel costs climbed so high they could no longer afford to run them. So they adapted — switching to bulls to pull the plow. And then the bulls were stolen too.

The root of these repeated thefts is people’s desperation for food. Cuba is grappling with a severe food crisis, with widespread shortages, soaring prices, and rising hunger.

“We’ve just watched since COVID, the conditions get worse and worse and worse, starting with really high inflation and the rapid increase of the price of commodities,” Clifton adds.

Cuban farmer (Photo courtesy of Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz via Pexels)

And it creates a cycle that’s hard to break.

“That problem just is perpetuated then, because it’s hard to grow food, it’s too expensive to import food, and it’s just really difficult predicament,” says Clifton.

Some people leave the country in search of stability. Many others stay — rooted in their families, their communities, and the land they’ve always known.

“There’s a sense, from talking with our contacts in Cuba, that they’re running out of options,” he adds.

And in the middle of deepening hardship, the church is still growing!

“There is an incredible church in Cuba that has been growing over the past decade, has been growing dramatically, and so we want to thank and praise God for that,” says Clifton.

Pray for endurance for believers and families in Cuba — and for the country’s future.

“We need to pray that they would be encouraged in the work that God has called them to, in the location that God has called them to,” adds Clifton.

Visit FARMS International to learn more about the work they do in the places of need.

Header photo: Vinales, Cuba (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Chen via Unsplash).

When Esther inherited the house, it needed a lot of work. 

“The community around them, the community that he’s involved with, got together and helped repair the foundation, the roof, and different things to make [the house] into a ministry center,” Tim Landis with FARMS says. 

Pastor Albin and his wife, Esther, used a FARMS loan to develop a ministry location. Photo provided by FARMS International. 

Now that the repairs are done, this center has a guest room that missionaries and out-of-towners can use. It also has a meeting room where women’s Bible classes have already begun. 

Pastor Albin is an encouragement and a model for FARMS because he utilizes funds and loans in ministry-minded ways. 

“That’s the fruit that comes from his mindset and wanting to evangelize, wanting people to come to knowledge of Christ, wanting to disciple people,” Landis says.

Albin has been a FARMS program participant for several years. During COVID, he was able to buy a building with a FARMS loan, which he then strategically turned into a pharmacy on one side and a reading room on the other. 

This reading room then became a place for Bible reading and Bible studies. Albin has also worked with FARMS to get livestock and other resources.  

“There is a pattern of success with Albin, and ultimately it’s always with ministry at the end in mind. It’s so impactful because it’s always about serving other people, and I just think that’s one of the greatest things, and why we like to highlight him,” Landis says.

Loans can open ministry opportunities like Albin’s and enable people to tithe back into their local churches. Evangelism starts happening, church activities start happening, and pastors can get some extra income to operate and shepherd churches.

 Landis says, “The end goal for FARMS loans is to strengthen families, to help them out of poverty, but also to strengthen the church.”

Please pray that FARMS will continue to see fruit like this, as Christians flourish and choose to give back to God with the things he’s blessed them with.

Header photo provided by FARMS International. 

After Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, Islamist factions have gained power and confidence, facing little resistance. Their growing influence leaves religious minorities increasingly vulnerable in the tense months leading up to the elections.

Tim Landis with FARMS International says that under the previous government, Christians had at least some measure of protection: “They could report those things to the police. But now it’s turning out that there’s not any government aid.”

Bangladesh: Man Standing Beside Boy (Photo courtesy by Kelly via Pexels)

As Islamist influence expands, persecution against believers is intensifying. Many Christians are anxious about the upcoming elections, recalling injustices suffered before and after past votes. With a greater threat looming this time, they are turning to God in constant prayer for protection.

“People are losing their voice. It’s not just affecting those who have recently converted, like the Muslim background believers, but now it’s affecting people who have been professing Christ for a really long time,” explains Landis.

In one case, a believer who regularly hosted Bible studies faced direct interference.

“An Islamic group came in and took their Bibles, saying they couldn’t organize the study, so they were shutting it down. And this is just an Islamic group shutting it down on their own,” shares Landis.

Another church leader’s wife was hospitalized and is still recovering from dengue fever — a reminder of how deeply the situation affects Christians in their day-to-day lives. She and her family need prayers for healing, strength, and the continued ministry of their church.

Pray that God will intervene amid the growing darkness over Bangladesh. Pray for the Bangladeshi believers to “find their peace in Christ and be able to afford the freedoms to continue doing what they’re doing without much pushback,” urges Landis.

FARMS International helps local churches establish sustainable businesses that strengthen and support Christian communities in Bangladesh. Visit their ministry page to learn how you can become part of the change!

Sonargaon, Bangladesh (Photo courtesy of Allauddin Miajee via Unsplash)

Last summer, Bangladesh experienced widespread unrest driven by mass protests demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and establishing a neutral caretaker government before the general elections.

The demonstrations, led mainly by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), often turned violent, with clashes between protesters and security forces resulting in numerous injuries and arrests.

Victory march by protesters after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina.
(Wikimedia Commons)

Popular support for traditional parties has fallen since then, creating an opportunity for fundamentalist groups.

Scott Clifton with FARMS International says the new political uprising has led to persecution. “Previously, Bangladesh – at least on paper – was a secular government,” Clifton says.

“As it trends towards Islamic nationalism, just as India trends towards Hindu nationalism, that presents problems for anybody who’s not within that group.”

One believer was killed because Islamists found out he was keeping money in his home. Radicals are targeting believers from a Muslim background and those who minister to them.

“Because of this (political) transition, there’s a power struggle going on. There’s less of a police presence, and so that means things like persecution towards minorities in general and Christians in particular, has been increasing,” Clifton says.

“They’ve made lists of people, and they’re following up door to door, going to people and telling them that they should revert to Islam. In some cases, that comes with threats.”

However, there is a silver lining to this political storm. “It’s had an actual positive effect, counterintuitively, on the Church. It’s caused leadership to grow in faith, [and] rely on each other; they’re reading their Word more and more,” Clifton says.

“The Church is not backing down from its work, so we pray for the hearts they’re reaching.”

Consider partnering with FARMS to help local churches establish sustainable businesses that benefit the Christian community in Bangladesh.

FARMS’ mission is “to build back businesses that contribute to the long-term sustainability of (Christian) leaders,” Clifton says.

“It’s not a continual flow of funds, but it’s helping to establish businesses that will support that leader in a sustainable way year by year into the future.”

Header image is a representative photo created using AI/Gencraft.

Entrepreneurs like Mary benefit significantly from a partnership between The Full Circle and FARMS International.

Tim Landis with FARMS says, “Mary had a salon business and went through The Full Circle Entrepreneur Development Box, and it allowed her to think creatively about how she could change up her business.”

(Photo courtesy of FARMS International)

Inspired by the training she received and empowered by a FARMS loan, Mary sought ways to make her salon more attractive to a niche market: kids.

“She painted things in different colors, made her salon more vibrant, and made it more inviting for kids to come in. So now, it’s a go-to destination,” Landis says.

Mary’s income rose fivefold due to the changes, and she had to hire two employees to help her meet the demand. Mary’s church is benefiting, too.

“We promote giving back to the local church, so that’s built into some of our FARMS loans,” Landis says.

“We want to see them giving back to their local church so they can support their pastor or church growth or evangelism.”

If you live in the US, you can hear more stories like Mary’s and get the full scope of FARMS’ approach next week. Save your spot here.

“On March 22, FARMS is having its first-ever gala fundraising event in Pennsylvania, and the theme is ‘Building legacy rooted in faith, growing in hope, empowering generations,” Landis says.

“We’d love to see any of you there, so please come out.”

Header and story images courtesy of FARMS International.

The African nation’s prolonged drought and reliance on hydroelectricity present challenges for many small business owners.

Tim Landis with FARMS International says, “83 percent of the nation’s power comes from hydropower, so if they have water flowing, they have electricity. If they experience droughts, they don’t have that power source.”

Webster, a Christian business owner who partnered with FARMS International, lost money when he had to shut down his barber shop during power outages.

Thankfully, Entrepreneur Development Box training from The Full Circle – a FARMS International partner – gave Webster the leverage he needed to overcome this challenge.

Webster poses with the solar panel he purchased using a portion of his FARMS loan.
(Photo courtesy of FARMS International)

“Using the FARMS loan and his creative training through the EDB, he bought a solar panel, and that allowed him to keep his barber shop open during power outages,” Landis says.

“Then, he expanded his business by allowing people to come in and charge their cell phones during those power outages.”

Zambia is mainly a Christian nation, but the marketplace offers believers a chance to meet those unfamiliar with the Gospel.

“We want people to spread the love of God through their businesses.”

Not only did Webster gain valuable business skills from the EDB training, but he also repaid 80 percent of his FARMS loan. According to a recent FARMS update, he is now looking to invest in others:

Webster’s success has also created opportunities for others. He shares his business space with a local women’s salon owner. Inspired by his growth, she looks forward to applying the same principles to strengthen her own business.

FARMS’ interest-free loans help Christians succeed in small businesses and grow the local church through bigger tithes. Learn more here.

“We need people to come alongside us to see the expansion of our programs, not just in Africa, but all around the world,” Landis says.

Header and story images courtesy of FARMS International.