Seeds of Hope
Farmers Growing for Liberia

Team L.A.C.E.S.: John Parsons and Joe Russell
Project: "Seeds of Hope"- farming soybeans and corn for Liberia
Goal: Grow crops and donate 100 percent of the profits to programs working in Liberia.

Change Agent Farmers...

Joe Russell


Seren Frost Fryatt and John Parsons

We asked John to explain to us what a growing project is.
Simply, it is a project where an agricultural crop is produced, such as corn or soybeans, and 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the crop are used to support missions programs, such as L.A.C.E.S. in Liberia.

John, why did you decide to help children in Liberia?
I have felt for a long time that one of the ways we can express our love for God is by how we respond and help those in need. This belief was really driven home by my mission trip to Liberia in February of 2011, where I saw people living in conditions of extreme poverty and inadequate housing, lacking access to safe drinking water, or adequate food, and lacking basic needs that we take for granted every day. When I returned home I felt that there must be more I could do for the people and especially the children of Liberia.

John, how did this all come together?
Upon my return from Liberia, I made a presentation about my mission trip. With the help of my wife and her brother Joe Russell (Change Agent Farmer) we introduced the idea of a growing project to help people in Liberia. Joe secured land for growing crops and we began moving forward to use this project to benefit organizations in Liberia.

Can you give us a breakdown of how people can get involved?
Farmers:
1. Donate or offer to rent (at a low cost) land to produce crops.

2. Donate labor, or management skills to produce crops.
3. Contact other farmers and ask for their help with the growing project
4. Promote agriculture to the non-agriculture public a great way to build bridges of understanding.

Other Volunteers:
1. Seek out acres of land that could be used for other growing projects. You may even own one!
2. Promote the project to others, give them the opportunity to participate.
3. Promote the mission you are supporting (in this case, L.A.C.E.S.) as much or more than the growing project.
4. Think outside the box and dream of how to improve the project, because great things can come from simple ideas.

email seren.frost@lacesport.org if you would like to volunteer or donate land.

Joe, how many acres of land did you guys plant?
We secured 23 acres of land and in June we planted 17 acres of soybeans and 5 acres of corn.

Joe, how is the land doing?
Well, the weather has been hot and the crops are in need of rain, however our "Seeds of Hope" fields have received more rain than any of our other fields.

A final note from John Parsons...
We will continue to pray for the success of the crops in the "Seeds of Hope" fields and hope they will be able to make a great impact toward the needs of the people in Liberia. The efforts of our hands can lead to great things when they are done in the name of the Lord. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ and we are called to care for the least of our brothers in any way we can.

Want to be a Change Agent like John and Joe? Email seren.frost@lacesport.org and get involved.