Cuba

FARMS is actively working in Cuba and has been there since 2012. Although the economic system there makes it difficult for Cubans to provide for their families, the church is growing rapidly in Cuba. Many Cubans would like to start a small business since they were legalized by governmental reforms in 2010 but they do not have access to the funds required to do so. FARMS works with house churches across Cuba to provide loans for these businesses. Our programs have funded hog farms, carpenter shops, chicken farms, and more.

Find out more about this project in additional publications on our Resources page or in this blog post.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a diverse country with 164 million people that occupy a land area comparable to the state of Wisconsin. Our first program here began in 1996 with Christians living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. This area is known as the most diverse tribal area in the world. Bordering Myanmar on the east, it is a narrow strip of hilly land filled with remote villages connected by foot trails. We partner with an indigenous tribal church association to provide income generation loans for this rapidly growing Christian population.

Our second program in Bangladesh began in 1998, helping a community of Bengali converts from a Hindu background. These Christians are disadvantaged and extremely poor. Most of the projects involve farming and small animal raising.

A third program was begun in 2007 in the far southwestern part of the country just north of the Ganga Delta. Although this part of the country is culturally Hindu, there has been a real openness to the gospel. This region is nearly inaccessible, except by water. The main projects in this region consist of fish farming, poultry, and cattle raising.

Our most recent program in Bangladesh began in 2018. It is a unique project supporting the hostel education program by the Bangladesh Association of Baptist Churches. These hostels are critical to provide a hope for the future for the tribal people groups. The FARMS program is partnering in order to increase the self-sufficiency of these hostels.

Find out more about our Bangladesh project in additional publications on our Resources page.

Haiti

Haiti is recognized as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and its name has become synonymous with poverty and sometimes hopelessness. FARMS mission in Haiti is to confront the notion of hopelessness through our loan programs. We have been very pleased to see God move in hearts to produce genuine hope in believers, without the perennial scourge of dependency.

FARMS International has two programs in Haiti originating in 1997, one centered in the northern city of Cap Haitien and the other on the Central Plateau near Bohoc.

We partner with Family Life Outreach in Cap Haitien, which is the development arm of the indigenous Evangelical Church of Haiti, which consists of over 50 churches both rural and urban. This group of churches is fully independent and self-supporting, which is unique in Haiti. FARMS helps families with agricultural and small business loans.

Our other program, on the Central Plateau, reaches many local independent and denominational churches. Many here are unable to get credit and for those who are able the interest rates are often exorbitant. The plateau is extremely poor and FARMS’ interest free loans are a real blessing to Christian families.

Find out more about our Haiti project in additional publications on our Resources page or in this FARMS blog post.

Moldova

Moldova, a former satellite of the Soviet Union is a small nation landlocked between Ukraine and Romania. When our program started in 2005 it was a first for FARMS in Eastern Europe. Moldova is known as “the poorest country” in Europe. Formerly known as the “breadbasket” of Eastern Europe, Moldova was devastated economically when the Soviet Union broke apart. Its agricultural products were no longer welcomed in Russia. Although Moldova is a country rich in agricultural resources, it is still struggling as a nation.

The average Moldovan family lives on $1200 dollars a year. Imagine providing food, housing, and education for children at this income level in Europe.

The people of Moldova have a great work ethic and are proud of their history and our projects reflect this; a true entrepreneurial spirit prevails. Projects include beekeeping projects, mushroom growing, greenhouse vegetable farming and numerous animal and other agricultural endeavors.

It is our goal to see more and more families given an opportunity to use their skills to work, prosper, and maintain their dignity. We have been greatly encouraged by the testimonies of pastors who have seen increased tithing in their churches, which allows them to focus on ministering and sharing the Gospel.

Find out more about our Moldova project in additional publications on our Resources page or in this FARMS blog post.

Nagaland/India

Nagaland lies in the far northeast of India and the Naga people who live there consist of sixteen colorful and courageous tribes. The Nagas have embraced Christianity in overwhelming numbers with some estimates putting the percentage of believers at 80% of the population. Several revivals have swept through Nagaland and nearly every village has a church.

FARMS began working with churches of the Zeliangrong tribe in 2004. This tribe, because of its remoteness, has had few opportunities for economic advancement. In fact, many of them have relocated to better their livelihood. For years, security concerns have restricted travel of foreigners to any outlying villages. However, God opened doors for partnership. Representatives from FARMS International have the distinction of being the first foreigners in history to step foot in some of these villages!

God is working through FARMS in Nagaland and we have been encouraged by the reports of how increased tithing has enabled the Nagas to send missionaries throughout the region. The businesses who have been helped with a loan from FARMS consist of agriculture, fish farming, rubber tree plantations, silk production, animal husbandry, hand woven material, and more!

Find out more about our Nagaland project in additional publications on our Resources page.

The Philippines

The Philippines have a special place in the heart of FARMS. It was here that Joe Richter – FARMS’ former Executive Director – along with his wife Pat, served as US Peace Corps Volunteers. Joe and Pat received the Lord during this time and they knew that one day they would be back as missionaries. A decade later, the time came. FARMS Founding Director, Gareth Miller, convinced them that they should start a FARMS program as part of their missionary effort.

While skeptical at first, they decided to go through with it, and when they travelled to the mountains in northern Philippines they also established a FARMS program focusing on fisheries. The program assisted their ministry efforts and over the course of eight years the community they served experienced a complete transformation! Little did they know – at that time – that Joe would soon become the Executive Director of FARMS for the next 25 years!

FARMS began a program in Pangasinan in 2003 after being contacted by a predominantly Filipino church in New Jersey. The pastor of that church asked if we could start a program in his birthplace to help the many disadvantaged Christians. This area is noted for its agriculture, especially rice and corn. Bounded on the north by Lingayen Gulf it also has a large aquaculture and marine fisheries industry.

In 2018 the program in Pangasinan multiplied to form a second program located in Manila. A member of the existing committee thought it could really help the members of her church in Manila and the agreement was made to start a new program. This program is in a metropolitan area and is focused on small businesses such as t-shirt printing, making peanut butter, a hair salon, etc… God willing, the new committee desires to keep the multiplication going and form more programs in the future.

Find out more about our Philippines project in additional publications on our Resources page or in this FARMS blog post.

Thailand

In 1998, we began our first program in Thailand with churches along the northern border with Laos. The churches are primarily made up of Christians from the Hmong, Aka and Mien tribal groups. These tribal people are very disadvantaged and mostly live in remote villages. Historically, tribal farmers used destructive slash and burn farming practices which have been outlawed; forcing them to find new ways to support themselves.

FARMS loans have gone a long way in helping by funding many agricultural ventures as well as some small businesses. Coffee growing has turned out to be a profitable enterprise and our loans have helped farmers grow and develop this industry in their villages. The tribal people of Thailand have been receptive to the gospel and many churches have been planted along this border region. The FARMS program has truly been a blessing to both these people and their churches.

In 2003 we partnered with Thailand Lahu Christian Church (TLCC) in Chiang Mai. The Lahu people are a displaced people group with roots in Myanmar. This indigenous church group partners with the Evangelical Free Church in missions. The churches are in remote villages and most of our projects are in animal husbandry and cash crops like coffee. The Lahu people are hard-working and have a zeal for evangelism and missions.

Find out more about our Thailand project in additional publications on our Resources page or in this FARMS blog post.