A Recipe for Abundant Life:
FARM STEW’s Mission in Burundi & Uganda:
FARM STEW International equips families with the tools they need to fight hunger, disease, and poverty while nurturing spiritual growth. Thanks to $20,000 in project funding from ASI, FARM STEW plans to expand its ministry programs in Burundi and Uganda—where women will be trained to share health and life-skills education grounded in the Word of God.
In late 2024, FARM STEW’s founder and executive director Joy Kauffman was invited to the East-Central Africa Division’s year-end meetings in Kenya—the only external guest asked to speak. Church leaders responded with enthusiastic support, officially endorsing the FARM STEW program across the division’s territory.
“We’ve seen this work transform lives—one family at a time. Gardens start to grow. Kids get stronger. Mothers start small businesses. Fathers find hope again. And together, they begin building a better future—one rooted in our faith and a practical proclamation of Jesus’ love,” says Kauffman.
Training HEROs in the Field
The ASI-funded portion of the project focuses on empowering women as HEROs (Health Evangelists Restoring Opportunities) in their own communities. These volunteers will not be paid employees, but Spirit-led volunteers trained to teach their families, friends, and neighbors the FARM STEW recipe for life: Farming, Attitude, Rest, Meals, Sanitation, Temperance, Enterprise, and Water. This program will complement the paid FARM STEW trainers in Burundi and Uganda, widening both the scope and the impact of their work.
Each module includes both practical instruction and biblical teaching. From composting to cooking to budgeting and hand-washing, participants not only learn how to improve their family’s health and livelihood but also how to apply the gospel to everyday life.
Dr. Debbie Maloba, Women’s Ministries Director for the East-Central Africa Division, is a key partner in this work. “We are ready with our women to embark on this program,” she said during a presentation to church leadership.
The Burundi Model
One of the poorest countries in the world, Burundi faces extreme food insecurity, limited access to clean water, and widespread health challenges.Through a short, intensive training course, local Bible workers and community leaders will be equipped to teach the FARM STEW method. Each week, they will meet with families, helping them build gardens, purify water, and create small businesses. Participants will also study Scripture and experience Christian fellowship, preparing their hearts to receive the gospel.
FARM STEW’s model includes follow-up visits, certification, and long-term relationship-building. By the end of the program’s first year, families will have the knowledge, tools, and encouragement to become both physically and spiritually self-sustaining.
Sustainable, Scalable, Spirit-Led
FARM STEW’s impact has already been felt in over a dozen countries across Africa, Latin America, and the Philippines. With its local-trainer model and strong partnerships with church leadership, the program is designed to be scalable, cost-effective, and Spirit-led.
Learn more about FARM STEW: https://www.farmstew.org/
