Zhoukou Christian Council
Henan Province, China

Rural areas within the Henan Province in China have been tragically affected by HIV/AIDS. In the mid-1990s, a pharmaceutical firm, with the local government's consent, collected blood samples from the local population. For families whose annual income was about $80 the opportunity to make $5 for donating blood was very appealing. Much of the adult population participated. The company held down costs by reusing needles. The result was a mushrooming of HIV/AIDS infection throughout this region of poor farmers. Those infected were the middle generation. Some children born to women with HIV/AIDS were also infected. Many children lost parents and elderly lost their means of support in old age. This tragedy has destroyed families and has weakened an already tenuous economy.

There are over 1,200 churches in the Zhoukou area with close to 500,000 Christians. There are only about 5 pastors, far too few to minister adequately to so many believers. Over 90 percent of the believers come from rural villages and have little education and few opportunities. Under such circumstances, there is a need for pastors to be better equipped in order to provide the necessary pastoral care. In reality, however, pastors in Zhoukou face many hardships as well and have little opportunity for the training they need. Some pastors have to leave the province so they can earn a living themselves. The number of pastors is dropping, making the shortage of pastors even more acute.

Global Ministries works with partners in Henan Province on several projects including a Small Loans project which supplies milking goats to families, a Literacy Project, a project Rebuilding Homes, all aimed at providing support and services to the poorest in the region and support for children through the Global Ministries Child Sponsorship Program.

The new Tree Farm Project is implemented by the Zhoukou Christian Council. This sustainable agriculture project aims to educate seminary students and villagers about the techniques of multi-storied agriculture and also helps the church to be financially sustainable. Of the revenue generated, half will be used to sustain the church financially and the other half will be used to fund the training of pastors. The Zhoukou Christian Council is establishing this project on a 12-acre plot land.

The multi-storied agricultural model integrates traditional agricultural techniques and modern scientific farming. It considers conditions in the natural environment and growth cycle of plants to enhance the growth of the plants. A multi-storied agriculture project uses a single piece of land to grow a combination of plants that can each grow without hindering the others or may even be mutually beneficial. The climate and rainfall in Zhoukou lend themselves to the integrated planting of ilex trees, palm trees, and honeysuckle trees. These trees have a variety of uses including several medicinal uses and as raw materials for fabric, rubber, and wood products. According to the proposed model, the highest layer in this agricultural base will be the ilex tree, with the palm tree in the middle and the honeysuckle tree, which can stand a shady environment, at the lowest stratum. While the harvesting of the ilex and palm trees can be done at any time, the harvest period of the honeysuckle tree is April. In addition, the project also calls for the raising of domestic chickens on the land. In addition to the high market value of domestic chickens, the chickens contribute by eating harmful insects and pests. The chicken waste also fertilizes the trees.