If you drove by one 16-acre field in rural Ontario, you might miss the blue sign with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank logo. But a bigger sign might catch your eye: “Harvest of Hope.” This plot of land is growing more than crops—it’s nurturing compassion, community, and Christ-like care for the hungry.
Farmer Jelte van de Belt has been involved in a Growing Project for the past two years. He and Arnold Ypma, who has been participating for a decade now, both attend Crosspoint Community Church (formerly Tillsonburg CRC). The Growing Project supports Canadian Foodgrains Bank, of which World Renew is a founding member. CFGB is a partnership of churches and organizations across Canada committed to ending global hunger. Through Growing Projects, farmers and volunteers plant, harvest, and sell crops, donating the proceeds to support food assistance and agricultural development in vulnerable communities around the world.
“We rotate crops every year,” van de Belt explains. “It’s good for the soil and helps prevent disease. After harvest, we apply manure to keep nutrients in the soil.” But the real story isn’t just about farming—it’s about generosity and collaboration.
“The seed is donated,” he said, noting that a number of farming companies supported this project. “Fertilizer is donated. Farmers prepare the field, plant, spray, and harvest. Even the trucking is donated. Everyone pitches in.”
This particular project is ecumenical, officially a partnership between Crosspoint and Mount Elgin United Church, but also involves members from Alliance and Netherlands Reformed congregations. “Everybody comes together to make it happen,” van de Belt says. “That’s what church should be—working together to bless others.”
For 20 years now, this project’s harvest proceeds have been donated to Canadian Foodgrains Bank and matched up to four times through a variety of public and private sources, multiplying its impact. The project has raised over $1 million CAD (about $712,415 USD), providing emergency food aid and supporting long-term food security in places affected by drought, conflict, and poverty.
Peter Timmerman, executive director of World Renew Canada, visited the field during harvest and reflected on the deeper meaning of the work. “We want to thank the people who participated in this project,” he said. “This is a great example of churches and community members working together, which is what Canadian Foodgrains Bank is all about.”
Timmerman also emphasized the tangible connection between Canadian farmers and those they’re helping. “Part of the reason why this is really meaningful is that this is maize corn, which many of the farmers we work with around the world also grow as a staple crop. It’s their livelihood. It’s their life. So seeing this project—the actual corn being harvested right now—is a tangible connection to those farmers.”
This year 16 acres were harvested, producing 3,322 bushels of corn valued at about $19,000 CAD (about $13,535 USD) at current market rates.
Van de Belt sees farming as a way to live out the calling to work toward a world where everyone has enough. “At the end of the year, when everything’s done, it’s great to look back and say, ‘We did it again.’”
What Is Canadian Foodgrains Bank?
Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of 15 church-based agencies, including World Renew, the relief and development arm of the CRC. It works to end global hunger through emergency food aid, nutrition programs, and sustainable agriculture. Growing Projects are one way that local communities can support this mission—by turning crops into compassion. Learn more at worldrenew.ca/foodgrains.
How You Can Get Involved
You don’t have to be a farmer to participate. CRC congregations can:
• Pray for farmers and communities affected by hunger in North America and around the world
• Volunteer with a local Growing Project
• Donate through World Renew or during Canadian Foodgrains Bank Sunday
• Learn more at worldrenew.ca/foodgrains
About the Author
Naomi Bula, World Renew