Koinonia Partners

Koinonia was founded in 1942 by Clarence Jordan. Its principal work in early days was to provide resources and education for impoverished sharecroppers in the area, and farm workers it hired were paid equally, eating and worshipping together regardless of race. For its belief in this brotherhood, as well as for its pacifism and economic sharing, the community endured persecution (including boycotts, threats, sabotage, and bullets). Koinonia survived to become the birthplace of Habitat for Humanity and several other social justice projects: Jubilee Partners, New Hope House, and the Prison & Jail Project.

Our 573 acres of land in rural Georgia are home to large pecan orchards; fields of crops; an organic garden; two villages of Partnership Housing; wooded areas including a Peace Trail; and the main farm, with a museum, store, woodshop and ceramic shop, bakery, dining hall, office, and community housing. Koinonia operates its farm, bakery, and mail order business in order to support our ministries and sustain our community. Our ministries include a community outreach center with programs for youth and elders; assistance to our neighbors on home repair projects; a community intern program helping people experience the Koinonia way; local social justice projects; and classes and seminars on peace and justice issues, Koinonia history, and aspects of faith. We are sustained by donations, sales of our products, farm revenues, and the labor and prayers of our community and its supporters.

We live as a community, making time to pray, study, work and serve together daily. We care about the earth and strive to live simply and sustainably.

Year-round, people and groups share in Koinonia's life, work, and open-minded worship by coming to visit, retreat, or serve as interns. We are open to people of all faiths. We have guest housing and RV accessibility. Visitors and interns serve alongside our community members in baking and shipping mail order products, farm and garden and grounds work, office tasks, serving children and seniors at our community outreach center, helping with the upkeep of our buildings and the homes of our neighbors, etc.

As Koinonia moves into its sixth decade, our vision is to continue living the legacy of Clarence Jordan and the early Koinonians, responding to the same spirit that moved our founders, as we adapt to the challenges and struggles of the twenty-first century.

• Week of June 11th-17th, 2006
• Koinonia is about 620 miles from Ft. Thomas: go to Atlanta, and take a right a few miles down the road....
• A relatively new project at Koinonia is the "Heart to Heart" program: neighborhood homeowners request assistance in the repair or maintenance of their homes. Projects include plumbing, roofing, drywalling, etc. These homes are the predecessors of Habitat for Humanity homes: they were built in the early seventies, primarily for poor residents who couldn't afford a standard mortgage. Residents had 20-year, no interest mortgages. Now, many years later, those homes require some fixing up. Residents pay for their own repairs (although some of them may get grants --
• Not the SWAP model: we would provide our own breakfast and dinner; lunch is communal, with Koinonia's residents gathering.
• Promised: housing for 30 (rooms sleep 4-5, no A/C). Some might sleep in hotels in Americus, Georgia, about 10 minutes away. Camping is also available (hookups). We could presumably take more than 30, but that's the number they've committed to housing.
• Base cost: $16/day (for lodging and lunch); they would not require anything further, although we might choose to fund some of the projects (along the lines of the SWAP model).
• Projects would probably be within walking distance. We'd break for lunch, and return afterwards. We'd need new volunteer roles, since we'd be providing our own breakfast and dinner.
• Other volunteer possibilities: they'll be running a summer camp (K-6, roughly) for local children during the week (and all summer long). They've suggested that we might like to direct that for them during our weeklong visit. Alternatively, we could enroll our children in that camp. In any event, another role for volunteers might be in helping with and guiding children. VBS at Koinonia? This would allow families with children to go.
• Other possible roles: working in the fields and orchards (blueberries, pecans, corn, some livestock); working in the store.
• In the area: Plains, GA (Jimmy Carter's home and center); Andersonville Prison. Americus is the headquarters of Habitat for Humanity.
• Koinonia's website: www.koinoniapartners.org.
• Possible fund-raisers:
  • Chili and Potato Dinner, Saturday, 11/12
  • Dinner (Theatre?), 2/12?
  • Garage Sale (in April?)