Faith, Farming, and the Future: A Conversation with Farmer AD Alvarez

Please watch the video (click on the image above), and forgive the poor quality of the video due to low bandwidth/network on the Filipino side. Here is the summary of the video, which captures an insightful dialogue between Farmer AD Alvarez, a Christian agricultural missionary from the Philippines, and Dan Janzen of the Fellowship of Christian Farmers International (FCFI). Their exchange reflects a shared passion for integrating faith, science, and agriculture to transform lives and communities around the world.

  1. Faith and Farming in Harmony

AD Alvarez emphasized that agriculture is not just compatible with Christianity—it’s a tool for blessing the world. Drawing from biblical principles and the scientific method, he discussed how farming innovations, when aligned with God’s purposes, can lead to superabundance and uplift impoverished communities. He warned against embracing ideology over evidence and advocated for diligent, Spirit-led scientific inquiry.

  1. Redeeming the Time through Innovation

Modern agricultural practices can greatly enhance stewardship, AD said, freeing up time and resources that could otherwise be spent on subsistence farming. This, in turn, can fund and support gospel work. He argued for a healthy balance between biblical authority and scientific development, noting that wisdom and evidence—when guided by the Holy Spirit—can co-exist with Scripture. AD’s perspective on the importance of the full range of modern agricultural technology or Green Revolution technology, is rare among those working in less developed countries. Many are very negative about the very technologies that have enabled us to feed billions of people.

  1. Economic Upliftment as a Gospel Witness

He shared real-life examples of how their farming ministry led to livelihood improvements, increased church planting efforts, and the financial support of local ministries. He underscored that truly loving people includes helping them improve their lives, and that economic development should not be seen as separate from gospel ministry—it’s a form of discipleship and empowerment.

  1. Speaking at the United Nations (FAO)

Farmer AD recounted his recent invitation by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to speak at the first-ever agri-food biotechnology conference. He represented smallholder farmers and stressed the importance of including farmers in innovation conversations. His message focused on bridging the gap between technology developers and real-world users, and how Christian farmers can also be part of these global discussions while holding fast to biblical truth.

  1. Addressing Concerns About GMOs and Big Ag

Addressing common fears about GMOs and agricultural monopolies, AD urged Christians to avoid spreading unproven rumors and instead engage wisely with corporations and global institutions. While acknowledging the risks of unchecked profit-driven systems, he noted that many companies are also making genuine contributions to solving future food security challenges. The Christian posture, he argued, should be one of discernment, not fear. In fact fear is a tool of Satan that was used to hold back animistic or traditional belief cultures. They feared change that could evoke the ire of the spirits or ancestors. This is similar to the fears espoused and promoted by the extreme environmental movement.

  1. Challenging the Church’s View on Economics

AD pointed out an ironic tension: churches often rely on economic support for mission, yet some Christians demonize wealth, business development and entrepreneurship. He advocated for a balanced, non-dualistic view, where economic activity is seen as a means to fund and expand gospel work. Wealth, when stewarded biblically, becomes a tool for kingdom impact.

  1. The Role of FCFI and Global Fellowship

He expressed deep gratitude for FCFI’s support during his ministry’s financial challenges and praised the organization’s potential for greater global impact. He encouraged FCFI to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading, step outside of comfort zones, and think beyond their traditional methods. The fellowship, he said, has the potential to connect, equip, and empower struggling Christian farmers worldwide.

  1. A Call to Greater Vision and Partnership

Dan and AD concluded their conversation with a call to action: maximize the blessing to the world by combining faith and science to solve global problems—not just food scarcity but also poverty, disease, and lack of salvation/transformation. AD emphasized that real transformation happens when Christians are obedient, Spirit-led, and willing to go wherever the Gospel is most needed.

Final Thoughts

Farmer AD’s journey—from the rural Philippines to global forums—is a testament to how God can use agriculture, innovation, and faith to impact the world. His partnership with FCFI demonstrates the power of global fellowship, cross-border ministry, and Spirit-led collaboration in the mission of feeding both body and soul.

“The amazing thing about walking with the Lord,” AD shared, “is not the absence of crisis—but how He sustains us through it.”