On a recent visit to a rehabilitation center in Kyrgyzstan, we witnessed one of those unexpected connections first-hand.

The center opened six years ago to serve men recovering from various addictions. The care facility can house up to 20 residents and is home eight men as of this writing…

Christian left Panama encouraged by the progress already made and optimistic about what's ahead — not because the week was easy, but because of what the week revealed: teams showing up, adapting, and executing under real pressure.

That's the kind of partnership AgGrandize is committed to — one built on presence, not just paperwork.

The mountains, the herds, the simplicity, and yet all of that belies the intense complexity of the region’s religious, social, and cultural mashup that has captivated so many of us.

Click to see the incredible documentary by Andy Eichner sharing his experience traveling and filming across Kyrgyzstan.

I walked a mile with Pleasure 
She chatted all the way 
But left me none the wiser  
For all she had to say 

I walked a mile with Sorrow 
And ne’er a word said she 
But, Oh the things I learned from her 
When Sorrow walked with me. 

—Robert Hamilton 

Happy Farmer First!

On the first day of this month, we take a moment to celebrate Zarina, a Kyrgyz woman who graciously hosted our Joseph Summit attendees last month in the small town where she works.

The 9th annual Joseph Summit is over, and it was our highest-attended event to date! Here are a few glimpses of the time together, as well as acknowledgements to you who made it possible.

For this month’s Farmer First, where we tell you a partner farmer’s story on the first of the month, we’re happy to introduce Sady Zhetyou Trade, a partner team of apple farmers operating in Almaty.

We should be careful not to compare our faithfulness with someone else's. Peter's story reminds us that every one of us is capable of stumbling, in fact we will stumble. Confidence in ourselves is a fragile foundation.

But Jesus didn't meet Peter with condemnation, he met him with breakfast.

This year, we’re taking time out to introduce you to the AgG Board, a group of dedicated individuals who are critical to the work you’re making possible.

Some help through spiritual guidance, others lead the charge on scouting, while others are front-line farm developers working in fields, and that’s a great way of describing Liz!

As we've seen many times before, war creates disruption. While we lament the conflicts and the pain they cause, we also know that wise responses to disruption can create opportunities for flourishing.

“Nitrogen is the most critical and concerning shortage,” Kevin explained…

We work at the intersection of faith, farming, and business to change that. Following the Jesus Way, we step alongside Kingdom-minded agricultural businesses in emerging markets—from Panama to Central Asia—to help them thrive.

Don’t miss the recording from this 45 min webinar!

Board Chair Kevin Stark sat down to share more of the work YOU make possible around the world, and now that includes work in the tiny, beautiful African nation of Eswatini.

All year now, we’ve shared quick highlights of our board members, their backgrounds, contributions, and incredible service to the work of AgGrandize, and this month we’re happy to highlight our Board Chaplain, David Goodyear…

This month, we asked Cebo in Eswatini (Southern Africa) what this young partnership between Heart for Africa and AgGrandize has meant to his team.

Cebo manages Farm Edene as part of Heart for Africa’s agricultural effort in the region. His warm welcome to our team and friendly, relaxed demeanor helps make these visits such a joy for our team!

Ben’s journey from the US American agricultural industry to Central Asia reflects both a professional calling and a deeply personal mission.

What’s unfolding with his team on this farm is more than a project, it’s a process of testing and experimentation, of successes and failures as the team discovers what truly works on the field.

Better seeds, better practices, and a stronger agricultural foundation can ripple outward, affecting not just farms, but communities.

In the end, it all starts with a simple idea: help farmers start the season off strong, confident in what and how they’re planting.

From there, everything else can grow.

“I believe deeply in the work of AgGrandize,” James shared. “We’re operating at the intersection of agricultural development and Kingdom impact—helping communities move beyond subsistence into sustainable, thriving livelihoods.”

Think of all the times you hear how we need to ‘live like Jesus’ from the preacher or at a Bible study gathering, yet now often is that explained practically? The idea of how to practice a worthy walk is often left very vague.

How, then, shall we actually live?

“We have a major protein shortage in East Africa, and soy is packed with protein,” Charles shared as we bumped along the packed streets of Kampala. “In our culture, animal protein is prized and considered ideal, but many can’t afford it in the day-to-day. We believe soy could be a stopgap for many low-income families

Thanks for following along as our teams scout and support partner businesses around the world. Our Executive Director is in SE Asia this week as our Board Chair wraps up these moments in East Africa.

There's so much opportunity, and we're thrilled to be in this work with all of you, thank you!!