Ministry or Farming?

To go into the ministry or to pursuit farming, that was the question. What was the answer? Yes. While some my say that as a “Believer” you are already in the ministry, I would agree but it’s not an active pursuit. There for the actual meaning to my question was: “Should I get into full time ministry or is not that my calling?” this would accurately reflect the thoughts I’ve had ever since I left MSU as a biology student (7 years ago).

In all my faults, there still is a desire to please the Giver of Life the one in whom my “rest” is completed. With that desire a 7 year journey comparable to that of a blind man walking in a glass house, where everything was glass and could be bumped into, tripped over, kicked around and broken to pieces. This is the feeling to which I had and to some extent still feel on various other things in life. So, Farming or Ministry, and again, I say both.

Today, I ran into a pastor of the Church where I am currently going (still feel uprooted as far as a home Church is concerned, though that is quickly diminishing here at James River Assembly of God -JRA), his name was Tim Keene and in his slightly preoccupied but not really state we conversed while standing in the main area of Panera Bread Co. We eventually got onto the subject of what I am doing now and proceeded to discuss my plans and Idea about the Self-Sustaining Farming idea. I began to show him some of the Small Farmer’s Journals I had with me (because I was there to get online…and look up various farming websites). As soon as I showed it to him he said: “Wow this is a magazine of how they used to do things the old way!” I kind of laughed a little and said: “Nope, this is how they now do things the new way!” Of course, that began a conversation to which was reminiscent of a salesman giving his pitch.

After I came home I realized that while I was discussing those things with him I remembered the ordeal that started me down this path. It was a desire to spend time with God and to help others do the same. It began this rush of thoughts to my ideas of starting a place where a self-sustaining farm could provide shelter and sustenance to people who need to be at peace for a while to clear their minds. They need “A way out” for a while. This idea stemmed from the fact that I needed help to do the farming chores because I am only one person and cannot do it all myself and that if someone were to stay on the place they could work the place for their room and board. While this idea may not be the right direction (I really don’t know yet) I think the principles are correct. It is like a great big Jigsaw Puzzle and you put some pieces together and you get a part of a big picture but it’s just a part. And while it helps to see the big picture as a whole, it is still a small part. Time is required to put the rest of the pieces together.

My point is, I don’t know where God is taking me on this journey but I do know that the Journey begins with Him, where it goes is up to Him, the choice to follow…that is up to me and my focus while on self-sustainability for the direction of the farm, I must remain Sustained by my Lord. One things for sure, music is part of the big picture, how it works in I dont know.

Below is one of my major projects. It didn’t start out as such but has morphed into one big project. I was given a lot of cedar logs to build my “Woodshed” now with the extra building material the “Woodshed” has turned into a “Barn” and a sort of “Timber frame” style at that. Therefore the new plan is to have the barn built by the time we have our “Old-Time, Music and Potluck Get-together” on October 4th. I am hoping to have it all ready by this time…at least the structure up and the roof on.

Stripping the bark off the log.


Logs that have been stripped.

Not all are Cedar, but most are and they will really add a neat dimension to the barn.

Below is the sifter that I use to separate the large rock from the sand. Once the sand is through I just tip over the sifter and the big rock falls off…its really quite easy.


Here is some of the rock work I am doing. These rocks do not hold a load; they are only a “Skirt” around the piers that do hold the load. I will lay the rock around the piers to cover up the blocks so that it doesn’t show and also to strengthen the blocks so they don’t tip while raising the barn frame. The building will be quite nice when it is finished.


It’s planned to be a 12x16 building with the bottom story 8’ high and the second story 3’ on the sides and 7’ in the center therefore making enough room to walk upright and store hay. It will have a loft door also in the front.

Take care, everyone.

God Bless you all.
Jeremy and Brandy Myers