The Lord’s Acre Plan
4A\Y rural churches in Uoslorn \orlh
Carolina have adopted this unique plan and
the results throughout that section of the
State have been very pleasing.
By J. K. Illt kl lV
A SEW day ha. dawned for
country churcbe. of WeMern
North Carolina.
With the ca.h income of farmer»
rapidly shrinking during the deple¬
tion, the churehc* were faring a
■ituation that threatened extinction.
Introduction of the "Lord*. Acre"
£a at that lime not only MIrd them.
ha» »ince place.! them on a »ound
financial foot me that permit» reach¬
ing into new field» of usefulness and
lervice.
During the early spring, member*
of more than 200 congregation», repre¬
senting nine denomination» in 10
rountic* of the western half of the
•tale, dedicated plot» of land, live-
»toek or chicken» toward» tupport of
their respective cliurehe». according to
the Rev. Dumont Clarke, of AshcriUe,
*ho, aa director of the rrligioiu de¬
partment of the Farmer» Federation
of Western North Carolina, super¬
vise* the I»rd’* Acre program». Itible
claw» are undertaking group project*
and girl.’ Sunday .chool unit* have be-
come .untanned farmerette, to sup¬
plement the Lord’» Acre yield» of the
individuals
How the Plan Work»
Each spring. the membership of
rhurehea participating in the lord'»
Acre program» are given opportunity
to aigu card» pledging ehureh tupport
in kind in lieu of ca»h contribution».
On the land may
»*
planted whatever
eropa are beat .uitod to the aoil and
the climate. Reverend Mr. Clarke,
however, ofler» tuggeationa in nrier to
produce that produce mo*t readily
marketable. Too, he encourage* a
diversity of cropa ao that a poor »ea-
»on for one will not wipe out the
entire income of that particular
ehureh and harvest» will be gathered
throughout the summer and fall to
imuro a steady flow of contributions
Receipt» from live»toek and poultry
take care of the ehureh e«pen*c* dur¬
ing the sinter and early spring.
lord'* Acre plot» are planted,
cultivated and barvoated with the
ehureh member'» other crop, and the
yield, are turned over to the religion,
department of the Farmer* Federa¬
tion. There the bet price, are ob¬
tained anil the canh receipt* turned
over to the church to which it ha* U-en
pledged.
Some churches realize practically
their entire .upport from thi. source,
receiving aa much a* $500. Other,
get $350, *250, $200 and leas, depend¬
ing upon the «ire of their member-
ahtpa and the number taking thi*
meant of contributing.
“Honor the Lord with thy tub-
•tnnee and with the tint fruit* of
all thine inereate; ao «hall thy barn»
be filled with plenty," (Proverb. 3S)
i* given very literal application in tbc
Lord'» Acre project». The farm plot»
are dedicate*! to God by group,
gathered at the varioua farm* and
all project» donated to a ehureh ar.
dedicated .imultancou.lv in a «pccial
•ervice. Where there are group
project», the Itible or Sunday .chool
claw gather* in the center of the
field when the ground
»»
broken and
n.k* Divine aid in nuking a good
harvest. At harvest-time there i* a
thanksgiving service.
The Lord’i Acre Hymn
At the*- service* the I/ird'. Acre
h.vmn i« alway. lu.tily »ung to the
tune of "Stand Up, Stand Up for
Jesus." The word» are:
"We care for our Lord'* Acre,
And think of Jreu»’ wav;
Hi* beauty and Hi» goodnea*
Grow in u» day by day.
We dedicate three acre* —
Like field, the Maxtor trod-
And join with one another
In willing work with God.
“Thu. be our work and worship
Reneath the open »ky;
It make* the farm-life «acred
And bring» God'» pretence nigh.
In sunshine and in showers.
Mid flock and lowing herd,
God'a love i» ever with u»
Who work and heed Hi. Word."
One of the most ambitiou* of tha
Lord’* Acre project* boa been under¬
taken from year to Tear by Twee.!’»
chapel, in the fertile Cane Crock
section of Buncombe County. Tlie
church membership wa* organize.)
under a captain, the outstanding
farmer of the community, and
я
central plot wa* .ecu red. Able-
bodied ehureh member* were than
divided into drift, and were assign*!
definite work to do on the plot.
Wholesale Cooperation
To give the movement the proper
im|«-lu«. all of the men of the church
brought team* on the day of dedica¬
tion to break the ground. After tho
plowing had I ecu fini.hed, the perspir¬
ing worker* drew up their team* in
the middle of the field. With head»
uncovered, the bowed in humble sup-
plirntion to “Our Father who art in
Heaven.”
Each in turn then repeated a writ¬
able Bible verae from memory. "The
earth i» the Lord’» ami the fullna».
thereof; the world and they that
dwell therein.’’ mumbled one grizzled
ton of the aoil. “Therefore, my
brethren, be ye *toadfa»t, unnwvable,
alwav» abounding in the work of
the Lord, for a« much
в*
ye know
that your labor is not in vain in the
lord,” repeated another. With one
accord then, under the direction of
the pa.tor, they lifted their voicaa
in the "Lord"# Acre hymn,” and again
knelt in the new furrow in prayer.
The plot wa. then planted and
(Соя
It an tJ on poyr (irrn/y-faro)
