Koinonia Farm Celebrates Black History Month Invites Community to Join Celebration

Published 9:53 am Friday, February 28, 2020

Americus – Since its founding in 1942, Koinonia Farm in Americus intended to live according to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and as nearly as possible follow the example of the first century Christian church. Founders and subsequent members and residents welcomed and shared with anyone and everyone regardless of race, religion, no religion, background or anything else that divides people.

This year, the Farm invites everyone in the community to celebrate Black History Month featuring Sumter County middle school students essay and poster contest winners. The theme of the contests is “Civil Rights Heroines and Heroes of Georgia.”

The celebration will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at Koinonia Farm Dining Hall, 1324 GA Hwy.49 S, Americus.  There is no cost to attend the event.

In the 1960’s, for welcoming all comers and treating all as equals, the residents of Koinonia Farm endured the trauma of bombings, beatings, boycotts, burnings, and bullets from white segregationists. Clarence and Florence Jordan, the co-founders of the Farm, were white southerners and the parents of several small children. They stated publicly that they would give their lives, if necessary, for the cause of justice, equality, and Christian hospitality. Miraculously, no one at Koinonia was murdered, although the persecutions left emotional scars that endured for decades.

Bren Dubay, Director of Koinonia, stated, “Given our history at the Farm and the legacy of our founders, we are humbly grateful to celebrate Black History Month with our neighbors black, white, and brown. We are grateful to live in relative peace and harmony today. We would love to have a diverse crowd to help us applaud the students who participated in the contests.”

According to Grace Terry, volunteer event planner for Koinonia Farm, the following organizations and individuals generously donated to the success of the contests and to the celebration: The Americus Times Recorder, Rob and Kate Bailey of Sun Art, Susan Bragg of Georgia Southwestern University, Sunni Zemblowski, Mr. Andrew Stringfellow and The Americus-Sumter County Fair, Mr. Kirk Lyman-Barker and Clients First Financial, One Sumter, South Georgia Technical College, Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, Jelena Hoston and the Ethyn Johnson Foundation, Kudzu Publications, the Americus, Georgia, Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Mattie J. T. Stepanek Foundation, the Americus Sumter County Arts Council, the Albany Civil Rights Institute, the Huss Foundation, and Mr. Clay Jones of Jones Builders, Inc. and the Sumter County Board of Commissioners.

For more information, contact Grace Terry, local organizer, at graceterry727@aol.com or call 727.487.3207 (mobile phone).

Koinonia Farm is an intentional Christian community with a rich history of standing for social justice. The Farm currently focuses on hospitality, sustainable farming, and an internship program. For more info, visit www.koinoniafarm.org