Congregants at Conetoe Chapel Missionary Baptist Church doubted Pastor Richard Joyner’s idea of farming for health and self-sufficiency. Conetoe, a small, predominantly Black community, lacked a grocery store and faced widespread poverty. Despite initial skepticism, Joyner’s initiative flourished, leading to the creation of the Conetoe Family Life Center in 2007. The center now produces 1,500 boxes of vegetables weekly. Partnering with schools, hospitals, and food banks, the farm provides fresh produce, significantly improving the community’s health.
Climate Challenges Affecting the Farm
Joyner’s farm faced devastating floods caused by hurricanes, first by Matthew in 2016 and then by Helene. These natural disasters destroyed crops and prompted some to question whether divine intervention was behind them. Joyner, however, attributes the flooding to human-caused climate change, not an “act of God.” His response is now rooted in environmental advocacy, and he recently joined the Extreme Weather Survivors group, which aims to highlight the impact of climate change on weather events.
“We’re in the Bible Belt,” Joyner said. “When my farm floods, people go: ‘Well, God don’t want you to do that. That’s why he keeps flooding it, and you need to stop being hard-headed.’”
Joyner’s new rejoinder: “God is not flooding the land. Our behavior is destroying the environment. That’s what flooded the land.”
Pastor Joyner’s Journey into Environmental Activism
Joyner’s environmental awareness was gradual despite growing up in a farming family. His early life as a sharecropper’s son and later experiences as a hospice chaplain shaped his view on life and the environment. Today, Joyner’s farm serves as both a community food source and an educational hub. He encourages sustainable farming practices, including using high tunnels to combat flooding.
Joyner’s advocacy is now intertwined with his spirituality. He believes in living harmoniously with the earth and teaching future generations the importance of preserving the environment. His farm continues to evolve as he searches for ways to mitigate the impacts of climate change on his crops.
Source:
How a pastor became a farmer and climate activist
Photo by Megan Thomas on Unsplash
About Post Author
