New York based evangelism organization, GRACE (Give Righteousness A Chance to Evangelize) Conduct is committed to being a brother’s keeper with its backyard poultry farming ministry, Chicken Coop Caribbean committing to J$6.5 million in grants to aid Caribbean parishioners in need over two years.
Already in operation, the organization has disbursed approximately J$750,000, to faith farmers in St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, and Hanover. It also has similar projects in the Caribbean Island of Grenada and looks to target, farmers in Guyana and Trinidad later this year.
“We may never be able to eradicate poverty in the Caribbean, but we can all aspire to make an attempt through tangible support opportunities. Led by the biblical principle of being our brother’s keeper, GRACE Conduct Ministries is committed to doing its part in making a difference through its Christian based initiative – Chicken Coop Caribbean,” said Program Administrator, Janice Julian.
She said the initiative, a fully funded small farmer poultry assistance program looks at empowering struggling Christian families by “giving them a start” transforming them into entrepreneurs and setting them on a path to self-sufficiency.
Julian reiterated that Poultry farming by tradition is quite popular in the Caribbean, especially in the rural areas, and it is a favorite go to for many low-income families looking to raise their immediate standard of living. Although popular, aspiring entrepreneurs face difficulties raising the financial and other well needed resources to get their businesses up and running.
She said, “Because these farmers operate on a smaller scale, often informal, they are not able to qualify for government assistance but with a grant from GRACE Conduct, their dreams can be realized.”
Through the local church, farmers are identified by their pastors, and then encouraged to apply. During the two-week application process, farmers are assessed for one-time financial assistance depending on their area of need. Once meeting all the prerequisites, funds are disbursed to either the church or a local farm store to purchase 50 chicks, 10 bags of feeding, vitamins, bulbs, feeding trays and water pans.
Recipients of the program are singing praises to God. Reverend Owen Johnson, Pastor of Maidstone Restored Church of God reports that his congregants are very grateful for the outreach and are happy that they benefitted from this wonderful project which is still in progress.
He said that the poultry farmers are recycling and giving God the glory. Several recipients are on numerous harvesting cycles.
Pastor Derick Smith of Greater Grace Temple in St. Catherine said, “I am very excited about the blessing and continue to pray for GRACE Conduct and Lighthouse Baptist Church. Our recipients are doing well. They first received fifty chicks and have been increasing ever since. One sister is currently raising 100 chickens of which she slaughtered 61 today.”
Pastor of Longwood Gospel Temple, Rev. Uriel Boothe, shared that he is giving God thanks that his parishioners are given a start to assist themselves, their families, and the wider community. He said, “We give God thanks for the persons and organization that have been so thoughtful to us for giving us this great start. I pray that God will continue to bless the giver, who has been so grateful to us.”
Members of Gregory Park Baptist, Trinity Baptist Church, and Fairfield Moravian Circuit of Churches are also grant recipients as well as Fairfield Bible College. The program executive also shared that small grants are available to not-forprofit Christian ministries missioned to serving the poor in marginalized communities.
Chicken Coop Caribbean is administered by GRACE Conduct under the advisory of Lighthouse Baptist Church, Queens, New York. The initiative is funded by GRACE Conduct, Lighthouse Baptist Church, corporate partners Caribbean Food Delights and Royal Caribbean Bakery as well as private individual support.
