SOD Farm: A Story to Retell

I don't feel like SOD Farm is my idea.  I don't feel inspired enough to assume full responsibility (or blame) for this.  Rather, I see it as an extension of ongoing conversations at Mechanic Grove and with the larger church.  In the fall of 2013 our Care Group took a look at "The Naked Anabaptist" by Stuart Murray which looks at the essentials of the Anabaptist faith.  In general we felt it accurately displayed our longing for the church, but was far from a reflection of what church currently is.  This was perhaps the culmination of discussions that have been similar.  "We understand what we think the church should do.  But why does the church not look like that?"

We felt challenged in some way to begin to live out some of these convictions of discipleship, accountability, community, thoughtful engagement with culture.  One of the core questions was "How do we change 'What if' questions into 'Why not' questions?"  We feel like Mechanic Grove has so much going for it.  There is a lively discussion of people honestly seeking to follow Jesus.  There is a place that takes ministry to the community seriously in its Children's Outreach Ministry.  But perhaps we are also a people who speak frequently of discipleship and community without experimenting with the full ramifications of those words.  So SOD Farm is perhaps one, meager attempt to experiment with this.  It would be a radical step beyond what is "normal" ministry.  I acknowledge that the details are far from finished, nor do I wish or think it right to figure out all the details by myself without the community of people.  Others will have to live with the reifications.  Others will have to place themselves on the altar willing to sacrifice for Jesus and his kingdom.

SOD Farm: Core Values

There are many programs and ministries that seek to teach the next generation.  Our goal is to closely link intentional discipleship building with the local church.  SOD Farm shares the core values of Mechanic Grove.

Unconditional Love - We believe all are welcome to come as you are with the expectation that you will leave differently than you came.  We seek to model this love through hospitality towards those that would partner with us as well as those in our community need hospitality.  We expect visitors at our table.  We expect to see strangers at the farm.  Romans 12:13 instructs us to share with those in need and practice hospitality.

Jesus-centered Worship - Jesus is the model for our lives.  We seek to be citizens of his kingdom and to do the work of his kingdom.  We approach the Bible with Jesus Christ at the center of our understanding.  At the SOD Farm we engage in community worship each morning and afternoon with those living at or working at the farm.  We also understand that we try to make everything we do an act or worship.

Faithful Service - The SOD Farm is a serve to the church as it seeks to educate disciples on living intentionally, with every area of life surrendered to Jesus.  We seek to serve the local community through growing food for the local food bank, assisting those who are in need through education and to seek the general peace and prosperity of our local and global community.  We believe we are called to live out our faith in actions.

Lifestyle Witness - We seek to model Jesus and the values of the kingdom of God through the way we live our lives.  We try to be aware of our impact on the earth and on the people God loves.  We believe that through living lives dedicated to Jesus and by teaching those around us about Jesus, others will be drawn to relationship and surrender to Jesus.

Developing Disciples - SOD Farm seeks to be a place where the church is challenged to think deeper about what real discipleship and surrender to Jesus means.  We want to be a partner in raising a new generation of leaders that will impact the church and the world.  We ask partners to commit to a new level of surrender and service and to grow through biblical training and engaging the world.

Anabaptist Heritage - We have a heritage connected to those once called "Radicals."  They were called radical because of their complete surrender to Jesus and their intense drive to become better disciples of Jesus.  These were a people connect to God, to each other and to the land.  We uphold these convictions through seeking Jesus, being connected to one another and working closely with the earth.  The SOD Farm connects with the local church through Brethren practices of foot washing, Love Feast, and baptism.  We try to pursue peace between ourselves and our neighbors and our enemies.  We try to live simply in order to provide more resources for others to simply live.  We try to live connected to one another, understanding that is is in community that God exists and speaks.

SOD Farm: Who and What?

The School of Discipleship Farm would attempt to connect with people in a variety of ways.  The primary way would be through Partners, age 18-30, who commit 10 months of their lives to come and learn and serve at the SOD Farm.  The farm would connect with the Mechanic Grove congregation by learning from the experience of elders and serving alongside different ministries of the church.  SOD Farm would also seek to be a place that connects with those in need in the community and provide resources and education.

What is it?

SOD Farm is an intentional community of disciples who commit 10 months of their lives to come and live, learn, serve and explore in community.  This that come to SOD Farm would find a curriculum focused on Bible training, cultural engagement and seeking the peace and prosperity to the place we have been called to live.  Partners would learn how to connect their faith in everyday work on the farm, growing and preserving food for themselves and others through the local food bank.  They would also be a part of serving neighbors through community service and volunteering in the local church.  The partners that come to SOD Farm will commit themselves to live by a Rule of Life focused on serving God and serving others in Christian community.

SOD Farm

Have you ever wondered if Jesus really meant the stuff he said?  What if he meant "Go and make disciples"?  What if he meant all that stuff about loving your neighbors (and even enemies)?  What might it look like for the church to live some of this out in radical obedience?

Some of us at Mechanic Grove have been asking those same questions.  In our world; in our culture, what would it look like?

Enter SOD Farm.  This is a new idea at Mechanic Grove, but one which is very much in line with our tradition, our core values and our calling.

SOD Farm is short for School of Discipleship Farm.  What we are trying to do is have a place that takes discipleship very seriously.  It's not that the rest of the church doesn't take it seriously, but this would be an experiment in costly discipleship.

The idea is to have a farm where people commit 10 months of their lives to come and live in community, learn the Bible and theology, serve the community and larger congregation, and explore what God is doing in the world.  These partners would come to live at the farm and work the farm.  They would engage with rigorous biblical and theological training.  They would also serve in different community ministries such as food banks, rescue missions, etc. as well as different ministries of the church.  My hope is that they would also get three cross-cultural experiences during the 10 months as well.

In the coming posts we'll explore some of the questions that need some answering as we begin this journey.