Fishers of Men Farm serves families

Down on the Farm

A local couple opens up their land and hearts to serve others

PHOTO COURTESY OF FISHERS OF MEN

Fishers of Men Farm offers outdoor activities to connect families with God and nature.

BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE

In 2007, Dedra and Eddie Adams started their nonprofit, Fishers of Men International Ministries, after the two of them felt called to serve on annual short-term mission trips. Having been all over Central and South America—Costa Rica, Honduras, Brazil—and to Uganda on multiple evangelism, medical, and construction journeys, the couple also felt they should be ministering in the United States, too—specifically to the people in their community.

Growing up on his grandfather’s farm, a dream was planted in Pinson native Eddie’s heart to one day manage land of his own. His vision was a place where families could gather to not only create beautiful memories, but also build and restore relationships in the backdrop of God’s creation. No stranger to ministry herself, Dedra was born and spent 18 years living in Guatemala as the daughter of missionaries. Six years after starting FOM, Eddie and Dedra purchased 80 acres in Steele, putting the vision in motion. “The dream for Fishers of Men Farm continued to grow,” says Dedra, “and in 2015 when our youngest, Levi, was born with special needs, we realized the importance of building a community of support for other families with children with differing abilities. Helping families connect to God and each other—and letting them know they are not alone on this journey—is what Fishers of Men Farm is all about.”

The Adamses aim to provide a safe, familyfriendly place where parents and kids can

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

disconnect from the chaos of life and instead connect with each other outdoors in a variety of activities that take advantage of the tranquil environment. “We want families to make memories and build lasting relationships,” they say. Dedra adds that, guided by a Kingdom perspective, the Fishers of Men Farm “desires to minister to families and individuals who may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in activities such as hunting, fishing, and other outdoor events. We aim to continue developing our facilities to ensure that they are fully accessible to include all children and individuals with differing abilities.”

In that spirit, the organization offers two free events to reach the community. Inspired by son Levi, 5—the Adamses are also parents to Noah (15) and Caleb (13)—Levi and Friends Day is a day for families who have children with special needs. “We offer fishing, archery, and horseback riding along with other yard games, bubbles, coloring,” says Dedra. “And we have plenty of volunteers on hand to love on these families. If the parents just want to sit in the rockers and relax, they can do that while our volunteers take a one-on-one approach with the children. This day is all about community. It really doesn’t matter what type of diagnosis they have—we all just need to be around other parents, families, and siblings who understand the ins and outs of our daily lives, because knowing that we are not alone on this journey is what really matters. We want to be an encouragement for those families, pointing them to the One who can carry them through even the most difficult aspects of their lives.” You can make plans to join the next Levi and Friends Day on November 6.

A second free event, the Restoration Academy Farm Day Field Trip for first graders, typically takes place once a year. “Restoration Academy is a Christian inner-city school, and most of those children have never been out in the country, much less caught a fish, shot an arrow, or ridden a horse,” says Dedra. “They come out for a fun day on the farm, and the delightful squeals and giggles you hear all throughout the day are an indication that this is a day they will never forget!”

These events are possible thanks to individual donors, sponsors, and facility rentals at the farm. “We rent out the outdoor gazebo, large covered pavilion, and an indoor event barn with full kitchen facilities for weddings, church events, birthday parties, family reunions, etc.,” says Dedra. For a donation, photographers can make use of the farm for family, engagement, and even senior portrait sessions. “The property offers a wide variety of beautiful scenery including a 6-acre pond, fishing piers, a 100-year-old cabin, meadows, red and white metal barns, a gazebo, and much more.”

In addition, Eddie offers guided deer hunts on the property. This hunting season, Fishers of Men is partnering with another ministry that works with battle-wounded servicemen and women to offer them guided deer-hunting sessions. “In the short term, we hope to continue offering farm day type events to families as a way of building relationships and community,” says Dedra. “The long-term plan is to add familystyle cabins to the property for close-to-home weekend getaways. The dream is to be able to expand toward having a week-long family camp for individuals with special needs, complete with volunteers who are assigned to one person the entire week, giving parents a chance to rest while their children are involved in farm recreation and education.”

To get there, Fishers of Men will continue to rely on financial support from donors so that they can continue doing what they feel called to do, which, says Dedra, is to love and encourage families of children with special needs. “The next phase in our plan is to complete the road system to the other side of the pond, where we plan to build four to six guest cabins.” Factoring in drainage pipes, chert, gravel, and excavation, the expected cost of the project is around $28,000. Expenses for two- and three-bedroom guest cabins will range from $75,000 to around $87,000. “Our plan then is to build a handicapaccessible playground and swimming pool near the guest cabins.”

In keeping with the Kingdom mindset, both Dedra and Eddie agree: “Our greatest privilege in this life is to point others to Christ, and using this farm for His glory is what we aim to do. When people step foot on the property, they often comment how peaceful it feels, and they are right. Some may think that peace comes from the surroundings, but, early on, we dedicated this land and this ministry to the Lord’s service. We believe that His presence is what makes Fishers of Men Farm so breathtakingly unique!”

For more information about Fishers of Men, visit fishersofmenfarm.org.