Wheat Ridge announces 'Giving Gardens' project

“Giving Gardens” is a new project that Wheat Ridge Ministries of Itasca, Ill., has added to its “Hearts for Jesus” initiatives. Its purpose is to help feed childr en in Haiti and other countries where hunger persists.

Offered in partnership with Hope Seeds Inc., of Bradenton, Fla., the new program provides ways for financial gifts from schools, Sunday schools, vacation Bible schools, and small groups to “support the distribution of climate and cultural appropriate seeds, training, planting, and harvesting of gardens,” according to a Wheat Ridge news release announcing the project.

Each donation of $500 to Giving Gardens assures support for:

enough garden seeds to grow nutritious fruits and vegetables to feed many families and provide extra produce for them to earn money for other kinds of food, clothing, medicine, and education —  and from which seeds may be kept for future plantings.

special “garden schools” similar to vacation Bible schools, taught by trained teachers and missionaries.

Wheat Ridge also offers Giving Gardens resources that include daily activities for early childhood and elementary-age students, object lessons, chapel helps, a skit, a poster, postcards, chapel-offering boxes, and a copy of the book 3 in 1 (A Picture of God).

For more information or to order resources, visit the Giving Gardens Web site, www.wheatridge.org/givinggardens, or call (800) 762-6748.

“This is a project that will connect your children and families to a vital international ministry,” said Brian Becker, Wheat Ridge Ministries vice president for Ministry Programs. “Particularly after the recent flooding in Haiti,” he continued, “your participation will help to provide life-saving resources and bring the message of Jesus Christ to many. Your gifts will be wisely used for teaching, planting gardens, and sharing the love of Christ.”

Hope Seeds Inc. is a Christian charitable organization that provides seeds and agricultural support to missionaries and mission teams throughout the world. Its primary goal is to assure that no one goes hungry for lack of seeds.

Wheat Ridge Ministries is an LCMS Recognized Service Organization and independent charitable organization that seeds new ministries of health and hope in the name of the healing Christ. Currently, more than 100 ministries receive assistance through Wheat Ridge funding. In addition to funding grants, Wheat Ridge also connects and equips individuals, congregations, and organizations with health and hope ministries.

Wheat Ridge’s three other “Hearts for Jesus” projects are:

“Care of Widows, Cows for Kids,” which identifies widows with young children in extreme poverty-stricken situations in India and provides a milk cow to generate income.

“Hearts for Jesus: Hope for China,” sending volunteer medical mission teams to China to work with children and adults with physical disabilities.

“Bethlehem, We CARE,” supporting the Dar al-Kalima Academy, which includes a school and health and wellness center in Bethlehem, Palestine (Israel).

For information about any of these projects, go to the Wheat Ridge Web site at www.wheatridge.org.

Posted Sept. 18, 2008