First Light Ministries, Fields of Zion, Saco River Farms

Looking back on the day I asked the Lord if we could have a simple little farm… Well it seemed like such a simple thing at the time. But over time, it seems we as humans tend to make things more and more complicated. We tend to want to compartmentalize everything into little pieces that fit in whatever size box we want them to.

For many years now, I felt as if the Lord kept making things progressively more complicated in my life, until I realized it wasn’t Him at all. It seemed the path was very unclear, and I was being pulled in many different directions at once. What I did not understand, was that He was building something in me, which was bigger than I could see in any one picture.

Back in college, I studied architectural design. Learning to paint a clear picture of the vision which I could see in my head, so that others could see how it was to be built and what it would look like in the end. We used blueprints, which detailed every aspect of the buildings design, so that the builder could reference them as they needed. These blueprints had to be very clear and concise. If there was a specific area needing more explanation, we would expand out that section in a detail drawing. Everyone involved in the building needed plans for their individual parts. There is a framing plan, electrical, plumbing, mechanicals, etc. A site plan, showing exactly where the building would be located on the property was also included. These plans can be hundreds of pages thick for a big building, because there is so much explanation needed in order that everyone can do their individual jobs effectively. But the most important part of the whole plan is the cover sheet. Like the cover of a book, it clearly shows what the building will look like when complete. This is where the architect gets to really show off. Unlike the other pages, this one has no numbers or measurements. Instead it is the artistic rendition of what the designer sees in their mind… His vision. Everything else simply explains how that vision gets carried out.

We as humans tend to look at everything in three dimensions. But God is not as limited in scope. Being able to see beyond time and space. Unfortunately for us, we don’t readily have those abilities. So when He is saying go build something… a boat for example… His vision for that boat is much bigger than we can easily comprehend. Its not just the size of the boat that matters. He knows how this boat will effect not just our 3d space, but how it ultimately fits in His “Master Plan”. Which we will never fully know, because we’re not Him.

Perspective

The designer uses what is called a perspective drawing to communicate how the finished project will look. In fact, we could think of every page of the plan, showing a different perspective, or glimpse into the finished project. In order to carry out God’s plan for us, we must see as He sees, a complete finished work. We must fully understand what that vision of that finished work looks like. In Noah’s case, God gave him specific details like size and locations of doors/windows. But, Noah also had some room to be artistic. God left it up to him to determine what color to paint it, and perhaps what style of carpet… Lol, just kidding, but you get my point.

So when The Lord begins to reveal to us what His plan is, we need to take all that we are seeing… different perspectives and aspects of that master plan, and begin to see how they all fit together. Only when we see the complete picture, can we start to build, otherwise we labor in vain.

The Bigger the Vision… The Bigger the Plans

Since we are not capable of seeing from His perspective all at once, He must build up our understanding one piece at a time. Laying the groundwork, then the foundations, walls, roof, etc. Piece by piece, but sometimes the pieces we see don’t seem to fit, because we’re lacking something else which ties them together. These pieces will all come in time, but it may feel sometimes like we’re working with a giant jigsaw puzzle.

So lets go back to our topic… simple farm. What I did not understand at the time, was that He was leading even in this simple thought. He desired to build a simple farm for His family. Only I didn’t realize His family is a whole lot bigger than mine. So while I am thinking small, He is thinking big!

He began putting all these ideas in my head for business and ministry. They seem to clash at first, until we understand that every aspect of our lives is our ministry. We are the ones who try to separate work, personal and spiritual business. These are in fact ALL God’s business, and no part can be left out of that master plan. What we do in one area affects the others.

Next, He starts showing me what the future holds. Both good and bad. Without some understanding of what is happening around us, and what is going to happen, we can’t make a very good plan. Noah needed to understand what rain was. If rain was snow, he would have needed a different ark. By giving us glimpses into the future, God helps shape the puzzle.

Without making this post too long, let me try and give you an example of how the Lord instructed me. I got three different (perspectives) pieces.

Fields of Zion, First Light Ministries and Saco River Farms.

First Light Ministries is at the core, and describes my personal ministry. It describes the true identity which God gave to me, of a torch bearing guide, shining the way for weary travelers making their way through the wilderness on their path to Zion.

Fields of Zion is the plan to achieve that mission. For us that mission includes building Intentional Christian Communities centered around an agrarian lifestyle. We accomplish this through the planting of seed farms which act as Interactive Farmstead & Cultural Learning Centers. These farm/community centers offer valuable resources for people wishing to make the move to a homesteading lifestyle.

Saco River Farms is one example of that plan being put into action by faith. Like the apostle Paul, we believe everyone should have a tent making business. Something which generates a valuable service to others, more than just words. As the Bible clearly says, “faith without works is dead.” Like Noah’s ark, our farm and business, demonstrate that not only do we have a plan, but that plan is in fact being put into action, and it’s working! Other aspects of our work cover different parts of the plan, but also overlap each other. For example, we both house and feed the communities we are building around our farm.

Looking at these individual pieces from the outside, it can be hard to see the full picture. It has take me over ten years of seeking the Lord to understand the fullness of what this looks like. Over that time, we have built out many of the different “assemblies” which when put together, make up the whole. But most often, we didn’t fully understand the why, instead we simply trusted in God’s leading. Many times learning the why was much bigger, than we expected.

Synergy

Synergy is when two or more things work together to produce something greater than the sum of their parts. Here is where the magic happens! In 2010, we started to build a homestead farm, as a lifestyle change to simplify our lives, have more peace, shelter and security. We were, like Noah, building an ark that would carry our family though very difficult times. All the while we were learning what it takes to step away from the norm, and build a life in the wilderness. Self sufficient and sustainable!

We didn’t realize however, that God’s plan was much bigger. All the while He was teaching us through victories, failures, successes and trials, all the ways which do not work, and some that do. We made a huge number, of what many would consider… mistakes. But these mistakes always turned out to be learning opportunities.

We built a homestead for our family… a refuge, an ark, a Goshen. In the process though, our homestead became a farmstead, and our farmstead became a community. What began as 3 goats to provide milk for our family, has turned into a micro dairy producing artisan cheeses, yogurt and raw milk, which is then distributed to hundreds of customers throughout Southern Maine. The self serve refrigerator which once sat on our front porch, offering eggs and cheese, has been replaced by our on farm Natural Foods Market. Our market features not only our meat, dairy, & produce, but offers thousands of other locally produced farm fresh, sustainable foods, while at the same time creating an outlet to witness for Christ.

Besides providing food security to our neighbors and beyond, the farm provides a place for community gatherings. Recently, we added a large outdoor pavilion, which while being a nice addition to our backyard, allows us the room to host outdoor revival meetings in an intimate setting. A hot tub doubles as a baptismal during our cold winters months.

Stepping Stones – Homestead to Community-Stead

Building our homestead was a necessary stepping stone in our wilderness walk with the Lord. It has positioned us for the next step… community stead! Not just one, but the development of a working pattern which can be replicated almost anywhere, from a suburban neighborhood to a 1000 acre ranch.

We’ve come a long way from the idea of a simple farm. But, even though the vision has become much bigger, the idea of a simple lifestyle, where God can be at the forefront has not. Now we want to share our experiences with as many others as we can. Check out our next step…

Fields of Zion Wilderness Refuge, Goshen, Jamaica

If this sounds like a dream come true… If God is leading you to venture into the wilderness like pilgrims… Then consider climbing aboard as we build boats together.