Agrimissions is somewhat unique among non-profits in its approach to agricultural assistance. We couple our Christian faith and agricultural training in an effort to meet the spiritual and physical needs of God’s children.
Our Board of Directors is composed of agricultural specialists, educators, and pastors. The current Director, Larry Williams, has approximately 30 years of experience in agricultural education including two graduate degrees in agriculture and over 10 years of experience in international agriculture.
In the mid-1980's Larry was serving four churches in the Pikeville, Tennessee area when he felt the Holy Spirit calling on him to utilize his agricultural training in his ministry. The name Agrimissions and the motto: First the bread - then the Bread of Life also came to Larry at this time. During the coming years he attempted to move forward with God’s plan but no doors seemed to open.
It was, however, in 1998 that the opportunity came to him to move forward with Agrimissions. While serving as pastor of Sand Mountain United Methodist Church (UMC), the Reverend Dr. Curtis Schofield retired for the Holston UMC Conference and moved his membership to Sand Mountain UMC. During this time, Dr. Schofield also became Vice President for Development at The Mission Society (now TMS-Global) in Atlanta. He mentioned to Larry about the need for agricultural assistance to the impoverished people of Kazakhstan.
Our Board of Directors is composed of agricultural specialists, educators, and pastors. The current Director, Larry Williams, has approximately 30 years of experience in agricultural education including two graduate degrees in agriculture and over 10 years of experience in international agriculture.
In the mid-1980's Larry was serving four churches in the Pikeville, Tennessee area when he felt the Holy Spirit calling on him to utilize his agricultural training in his ministry. The name Agrimissions and the motto: First the bread - then the Bread of Life also came to Larry at this time. During the coming years he attempted to move forward with God’s plan but no doors seemed to open.
It was, however, in 1998 that the opportunity came to him to move forward with Agrimissions. While serving as pastor of Sand Mountain United Methodist Church (UMC), the Reverend Dr. Curtis Schofield retired for the Holston UMC Conference and moved his membership to Sand Mountain UMC. During this time, Dr. Schofield also became Vice President for Development at The Mission Society (now TMS-Global) in Atlanta. He mentioned to Larry about the need for agricultural assistance to the impoverished people of Kazakhstan.
After Contacting TMS, Larry was invited to travel to Kazakhstan. He immediately began seeking a team of pastors and agricultural specialists to travel with him. After sending out invitations and communicating with respondents by phone, the following individuals joined the team: Rev. Steve Johnson, pastor of Truckee UMC in Truckee California and former fruit and nut farmer; Dr. Earle Goodman, State Veterinarian for the State of South Carolina (now deceased); and Wilson Lee, Community Development Specialist from Auburn University (now deceased).
For the next 10 years, Larry traveled and developed projects in Bangladesh, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, Paraguay, Peru, and Thailand. In addition to traveling, Larry also developed agricultural projects remotely through phone and electronic communications including the countries of Kenya, India, Indonesia Jordan, Pakistan, and Togo.
After ten years of service as Director, Larry decided to step down and Doug and Becky Neel became Directors. The Neels came to Agrimissions after serving as missionaries in Ecuador with SIM International. During Doug and Becky's tenure with Agrimissions agricultural assistance was provided to the countries of Ethiopia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Sudan as well as domestically in the US.
After ten years of service as Director, Larry decided to step down and Doug and Becky Neel became Directors. The Neels came to Agrimissions after serving as missionaries in Ecuador with SIM International. During Doug and Becky's tenure with Agrimissions agricultural assistance was provided to the countries of Ethiopia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Sudan as well as domestically in the US.
After the Neels retired, Rachel Kelley became Director of Agrimissions. She met Larry Williams and became familiar with Agrimissions while a student at the University of Georgia. During her tenure, Rachel worked closely with local Paraguayan missionaries, Christian and Angelica Dickson, by visiting, supporting, and promoting the Ag Center.
When Rachel resigned, Larry assumed the reign as Agrimissions director again. During Larry’s current directorship, the Board decided to make Agrimissions an official non-profit organization separate from The Mission Society. Additionally, Agrimissions was incorporated in the state of Georgia and trademarked the Agrimissions Logo through the US Trademark Office.
When Rachel resigned, Larry assumed the reign as Agrimissions director again. During Larry’s current directorship, the Board decided to make Agrimissions an official non-profit organization separate from The Mission Society. Additionally, Agrimissions was incorporated in the state of Georgia and trademarked the Agrimissions Logo through the US Trademark Office.