Westminster Mission Focus – Food Sustainability Part 4 – God’s Garden

by Susan Denton, Director of Connections and Mission

When I started at Westminster, we were beginning to plan the groundbreaking for the refugee garden. At first, I did not know the difference between the refugee garden and God’s Garden. While both share the same area, the idea of God’s Garden originated in 2012. In May of that year, Westminster finalized its outreach plans for a new faith garden to be planted on the grounds of Calvin Community. God’s Garden was a tremendous new ministry to benefit those who are food insecure in our community.

I found it interesting to learn about our mission of having a faith garden versus a community garden. Comments taken from an All Things Considered document dated March 2013: “A faith garden is designed for giving to others, faith in action – putting Christian teaching of helping those less fortunate in place; faith gardens are grown to be enjoyed by God and the community; a faith garden is a community effort to grow produce for others, bringing people together for a goal of feeding others; it is a way for us to learn, serve and pray, while providing an intergenerational connection opportunity.”

Since then, the garden has been wonderfully successful, involving many volunteers and producing a bountiful harvest that is helping to feed the hungry in Des Moines.