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After reading about the happenings taking place at Martintown Community Church over the last several months, several of the faithful readers of this column have taken the scenic drive to Martintown, Wisconsin to visit us on Sunday morning. Some have even come back. One person referred to us as “a spot in the road.”  That’s a pretty accurate description of Martintown, Wisconsin and we’ve adopted that phrase as our own. We’re a tiny little town sitting peacefully on a hill overlooking the Pecatonica River in Green County, Wisconsin. The town was founded in 1850 by Nathaniel Martin, who just happens to be the great, great, great grandfather of my wife, Cindy. It was important to Nathaniel that the people of the Martintown community have a formal place to worship, and in 1879, at the age of 63, he and one of his sons built the original structure of the church building for a total cost of $1200.  To this day, we still worship in that same building.

We’re remodeling a house. By remodeling, I mean getting it ready to move into. Last week the story was about changing the pump in the well and successfully getting life-giving water to the house. The house has sat empty for a few years. Exactly how many years, no one seems to know, although I know someone knows. This week, the story continues.

Moving water is fascinating. Creeks gurgle, waterfalls plummet, springs bubble, ocean tides crash. The bubbles, foam and noise draws us. The water sustains us. We need water for our physical life, but it also somehow soothes our spirit.

When the King’s (Xerxes) order and edict had been proclaimed, many girls were brought to the Citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was also taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem, (Esther 2:8). Xerxes was looking for a new queen and young women were brought to the palace to be prepared for him to choose one from among them. Esther was beautiful in features but also in heart and soul and won Hegai’s favor and he looked after her personally. We pray to have joyful hearts which in turn will make our countenance glow. Kansas FFA (Virtual FCFI video submitted) 1&4&9, Illinois FFA (Virtual FCFI video submitted)

Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Have you accepted Him as your Savior? The colored
FellowshipofChristianFarmersInternational
-The Gold Bead – “The Street of heaven was pure gold, as it were transparent glass”. Rev. 21:21. We all want to spend eternity there. John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” -The Dark Bead – represents sin. Sin separates us from God. Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
-The Red Color – represents the blood of Christ. – Romans 5:8 – “But God commends his love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” When we accept Christ as our Savior our sins are washed White as snow. Isaiah 1:18 We’re forgiven. Romans 10:9 – “Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Christ from the dead, and you shall be saved.” -Finally the Green Bead – Once we accept Christ as our Savior there will be spiritual growth. II Peter 3:18 – “But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.”
“We plant – God gives the increase.” 1 Cor. 3:6-9 “Lord, Plant My Feet On Higher Ground”
Photo:: ED WESTFALL
June 2021 • ISSUE22
TheHarvest
beads we use attached to our walking sticks, tell the wonderful story of God’s love for us…

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God,” (Luke 12:7). The other day a gust of wind ruffled the trees in our yard and when I went outside later, I saw a bird nest and five baby sparrows lying on the ground. They were naked little sparrows but I could see that they had just started getting feathers on the tips of their wings.

Today’s column is meant for parents and grandparents. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them.” We have a job to do.

The first job I ever had paid $2.50 a month. I was eight years old at the time. My job was to shake the straw bedding for our 42 cows in the dairy barn. My younger brother helped me. We’d climb up into the hay mow, throw down the bales we needed then “roll” them to the place where we’d cut the twines and shake the straw. It was a big job for a couple of little kids after school everyday.

Last weekend, my wife and I visited our daughter and son-in-law in Nashville, Tennessee. They’ve lived there now for over two years. Last year they bought a house on a quiet street in a nice neighborhood. A couple times a week, several of the neighbors will bring their lawn chairs and gather in their driveway and sip ice tea and share everyday stories of their lives. It’s a curious thing – kind of like Mayberry in a way, only not so much.

South Dakota ran a live convention this year on April 12, 2021 at the state fairgrounds in Rapid City, South Dakota. It may be spring, but not so much in the Black Hills. Temps hovered in the 30s with strong winds and light snow. But the weather didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the Future Farmers of America or the Fellowship of Christian Farmers. Jerry Druhan here. I have been writing these eNewsletters since 2012, when Executiver Director Dennis Schlagel hired me on the spot the first time I came into the Fellowship office.

Happy Mother’s Day everyone! In honor of our mothers, today’s column is about children. The old adage says that children are to be seen and not heard. Really? Show me a child not making noise, and I’ll show you a child who isn’t feeling well. I’ll take a rambunctious, happy child any day of the week – including Sunday.

Sowing, Serving, Reaping for Christ around the world embodies the mission of The Fellowship of Christian Farmers International (FCFI). The three pronged ministry of FCFI, evangelism, disaster relief, and short term mission trips, enables us to show the love of Christ through a wide range of settings. All this is made possible through God’s grace and mercy and the volunteers that serve as the hands and feet of Jesus. FCFI is truly blessed to have a strong core of volunteers that give sacrificially of their time, talents, and finances to support the mission of FCFI. The FCFI Board of Directors offers our heartfelt thanks to our staff and all the volunteers that convey the message of Acts 16:31 “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved-you and your household.”