Farmer First: Addiction Recovery + Discipleship Through Ag

Working the soil is a powerful form of therapy.

Happy farmer first! This week we’re celebrating a particular rehab center providing something called horticultural therapy, and there’s growing evidence that it can help on a whole lot of levels.

There’s something about good dirt between our fingers, fresh air, and caring for things as they grow that reflects the God we follow, and when we live into God’s reality, the Kingdom comes.

Some of the recent findings are particularly compelling but ultimately just prove what many of you already knew: working the soil and growing things helps improve our mood, calm us down, reduce stress, and even lower blood pressure, not to mention the exercise and benefits of eating homegrown food.

Perhaps the best example of the restorative aspects of farming in our work is this rehabilitation farm in Central Asia (pictured above), where you’re supporting dozens of men as they connect with nature, develop a sense of purpose through Biblical discipleship, and experience the tangible fruit of their hard work in the context of a recovery-focused community.

The farm work and scheduled time together in prayer and shared meal responsibilities creates helpful structure for the residents. The rhythmic routines of planting, caring for animals, and harvesting produce patience, perseverance, and hope—all Fruit of the Spirit we love to see!

We’re about Kingdom-fueled agricultural development that follows local lead and honors local solutions, and this center ticks every one of those boxes. The center is seeing men baptized or recommitting in their faith! Fresh investment into the work has made a new building project possible, a hybrid dining hall/meeting room that will provide capacity for more residents. This work not only provides practical skills and a sense of achievement but also helps them cover their room and board, offering stability and dignity during their healing journey.

Through these shared efforts, they find purpose, build confidence, and rediscover the joy of contributing to a thriving community. Supporting these individuals as they cultivate both crops and new lives underscores our belief in the healing power of working the land.

A few prayer requests for this recovery center in Central Asia:

•⁠ ⁠The center is recovering from a recent fire. Nobody was hurt, but please pray as the team clears the debris and rebuilds.

•⁠ ⁠⁠One of the leaders at the men’s center recently pointed out how valuable a women’s shelter could also be, and the team is considering this idea! Please join us in asking God if this could be a good next step.

•⁠ ⁠⁠The team is building a new dining hall/meeting room that will significantly help expand the center’s capacity. Please pray this goes smoothly and we can continue serving more people into 2026!

Thank you for supporting fruitful work like this center.

For security reasons, we’ve avoided a lot of details but feel free to DM to hear more about this beautiful work, OR support it by donating to our C Fund below!