1956-1983
The Koinonia Farm newsletters describe daily life, opportunities, and challenges of the Koinonia Farm of Americus, Georgia. The newsletters are from the Clarence Jordan Collection located at the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives.
Koinonia Farm was founded by Southern Baptist racial advocates Clarence and Florence Jordan, along with American Baptist missionaries Martin and Mable England. In 1942, these individuals bought a 440-acre rundown farm, in Americus, Georgia, that they named Koinonia Farm. Their idea was to create a witness community for reconciliation between races and between the rich and poor. The community grew and became very successful in its mission. The Jordans joined the Rehoboth Baptist church, but, in 1948, the church told them that they were no longer welcome at their church because of their racial views. Jordan received more hostility when he agreed to help two African Americans enroll in the Georgia Business College. The Americus community decided it no longer wanted Koinonia Farm in the area, and every local business began to boycott the farm. While the farm was struggling to make ends meet, it was plagued with numerous charges and violent attacks. The roadside market that produced a large percentage of the profit was bombed. Guns were fired at the market and at the homes of people living on the farm. Eventually, all but two of the families left the farm in fear of their lives. During this time, Jordan was writing his own version of the New Testament – called the Cotton Patch Version. Profits from the publication of the Cotton Patch Versions helped the farm tremendously, and, with the addition of new families to Koinonia Farms, the establishment began to rebuild. The name was changed to Koinonia Partners, and they started filling mail orders for pecans, holiday candies, and cakes. Eventually, two new organizations were formed – Fund for Humanity and Habitat for Humanity.
