OVERVIEW

There was a time in America when love generated fear. There was a place in America where kindness created hatred. There was a time and a place in America where religion and racism collided with a force that is still felt today. The time was the 20th Century and the place was a radical Christian commune called Koinonia Farm located in rural Southwest Georgia.


Front row, left to right: Will Marchant, Bobby Ingram, Dick Cowles, Heinrich Arnold, Bo Johnson. Back row, left to right: Gilbert Butler, Conrad Browne (1950-51)

Briars in the Cotton Patch is a documentary film that explores the unusual story of a community founded on the principles of non-violence and sharing that changed the lives of thousands of people, both within and outside of their commune. The members were, and still are, followers of Jesus who actively show their faith in their lives and their social activities. They are "briars" because their lives prick society's norms.


Ambassador Andrew Young

Narrated by former Atlanta Mayor and UN Ambassador Andrew Young, this one-hour television documentary examines the remarkable personalities and events of Koinonia Farm. Although not widely known, its significance and impact stretches around the world because it is the seed from which Habitat for Humanity International grew. This is a powerful story of Christian persecution, racial injustice and uncommon courage.

Briars in the Cotton Patch follows Koinonia Farm from its humble beginnings in 1942 through the challenges of the 21st century.

One of the most challenging times for Koinonia Farm was during the late 1950s when residents faced down terrifying acts of violence, persecution and terrorism. Koinonia was a constant target of the Ku Klux Klan and the white power structure of Sumter County. Despite months of frightening attacks -- including bombings, shootings and beatings -- the violence at Koinonia was disregarded by local, state and federal law enforcement. In fact, local authorities accused Koinonia's residents of committing the violence themselves. Koinonia even survived a damaging county-wide economic boycott.


Clarence Jordan, Founder of Koinonia Farm

Why the persecution? The residents of Koinonia Farm radically believed in the equality of all people. Whites and blacks worked and lived together as equals on the farm when segregation was the law of the land. They broke bread together, worshiped together and were ready to die together if necessary. Their actions were prickly dark briars in the pure white southern traditions of the day. But with the undaunted leadership of Koinonia's founder, Clarence Jordan, the small farm not only survived, it changed the way people - both locally and globally -- think and act today.

Nearly four years in the making, Briars in the Cotton Patch includes interviews with more than 30 people who experienced these amazing events first-hand. Hundreds of old photographs, archive film footage, newspaper articles and documents have been painstakingly researched and pieced together to tell this remarkable story. Still today, many residents of Americus and Sumter County hesitate to talk about the Koinonia-related events that took place more than 40 years ago.

If you'd like to learn more, visit our resources page and/or the Koinonia Partners website.
 

KOINONIA TIMELINE:


Clarence and Florence Jordan and children (1944)

November 1942 - Clarence Jordan and Martin England move to Sumter County, Georgia and determine to be guided by the following principles:

  1. All people are related in God's eyes
  2. Live in accordance with Christ's love
  3. Common ownership - distribution according to First Century Christian principles based on need, not profit

1943

  • First building completed, Florence Jordan and Mabel England bring children and join husbands
  • Bible study for neighbors, mainly children

1950

  • Fourteen adult residents
  • Active in county extension neighborhood canning program
  • Jordan family voted out of Rehoboth Baptist Church for views on racial equality

1950-1952

  • Successful, bountiful farm endeavor
  • Provided leadership and expertise in developing poultry industries in Sumter and surrounding counties
  • Increasing number of residents
  • Sermon on the Mount published by Clarence Jordan (Judson Press, Valley Forge, PA)

Koinonia Farm (Sumter County, Georgia)

1953

  • Beginning of youth clubs
  • Will & Margaret Wittkamper arrive
  • Beginning of active resistance to Koinonia by the outside local community

1954

  • School desegregation suit, increased hostility
  • Drought brings lower crop yields and first irrigation system is installed

1955

  • A plot is purchased on Route 19 South -- produce stand is erected
  • Interracial summer camp is held

1956

"The injustices and indignities that you are now confronting certainly leave you in trying moments. God grant that this tragic midnight of man's inhumanity to man will soon pass and the bright daybreak of freedom and brotherhood will come into being."
-Martin Luther King, Jr. in a letter to Clarence Jordan in 1957.
Click here for entire letter.

1957

  • Grand Jury investigation held - no official action taken
  • Produce stand burned a second time (January 14)
  • Klu Klux Klan holds a rally and drives to Koinonia to threaten more violence unless farm is sold (February 24)
  • New business started selling pecan products by mail
  • Motto: "Help us ship the nuts out of Georgia"
  • Americus merchant who sold to Koinonia has place of business bombed (the owner, Herbert Birdsey, resided in Macon, Georgia)
  • White Citizens Council asks Clarence to leave the county

1958

  • Fifty-eight people remain at Koinonia
  • Clarence records a tape telling the Koinonia story

1960

  • Wittkampers sue when children are denied entrance to Americus High School
  • Boycott continues, economic stress increases

1963 - Only four adults remain on the farm.

1964

  • Civil Rights Act
  • Volunteers help to keep Koinonia going

1965-1967

  • Clarence travels on lecture tours.
  • Jordans propose relocation/redirection -- offer 1100 acres of farmland to friends

1968

  • Millard and Linda Fuller and family arrive in July
  • Clarence begins translating the New Testament directly from the Greek into contemporary southern dialect which he termed his "Cotton Patch" versions(Association Press): Paul's Epistles, Matthew and John, Luke and Acts
  • With the Fullers, Clarence sees a chance to put his new Partnership/Fund for Humanity ideas to work. Thus, Jordans change their minds about leaving Koinonia.
  • "Common goods" community discontinued. Replaced by "Partners" receiving a very modest stipend based on size of family. No one received a salary.

Clarence Jordan and Millard Fuller (late 1960's)

1969

  • Incorporated as Koinonia Partners as..."a means by which disciples of Christ can be faithful to His teachings. The Koinonia "Fund for Humanity" is established to raise funds for new initiatives referred to as "partnership housing, farming and industries."
  • Millard Fuller becomes director enabling Clarence Jordan to spend more time on his Bible translations, interpretive Bible story recordings, "Discipleship Schools", and public speaking.
  • Pecan industry is expanded. Pecan cookbook is published.
  • Clarence Jordan dies from cardiac arrest at age 57 (October 29)

1970

  • New partnership initiatives bring large increase in volunteers and resident Partners
  • A structured volunteer program is established
  • Industries started such as cottage handicrafts, polyester garments, pottery and worm farm
  • First "Partnership House" completed with mortgage signed by Bo and Emma Johnson

1971

  • Koinonia Child Development Center established - first class begins with 19 pre-schoolers.
  • Suit brought against the county Board of Education for refusing to hire a Koinonia resident

1972 - The Substance of Faith and Other Cotton Patch Sermons by Clarence Jordan published (Association Press, New York)

Millard and Linda Fuller

1973-1976

  • Active volunteer work-study program
  • Intentional sharing community guidelines set up
  • Fuller family lives in Zaire, Africa to test the partnership housing idea in a predominently poor nation
  • Sewing industry folds

1976 - Fullers return to Koinonia and begin Habitat for Humanity moving operations to Fuller's new law office in Americus within less than one year

1979

  • Koinonia participates in month-long boycott for better school buildings
  • Strong youth program
  • Three couples and their children receive affirmation from Koinonia to establish Jubilee Partners in Comer, Georgia

1980

  • Peace activism through participation by community members in vigils throughout Georgia and in Washington, DC
  • Partners and volunteers imprisoned for civil disobedience at demonstrations
  • Covenant and lifestyle guidelines developed.

1981 - Cotton Patch Gospel musical by Tom Key and Harry Chapin based on Clarence's translation of Matthew debuts on Broadway in New York

1982 - Prayer vigils concerning nuclear armaments begin and continue for ten years

1983 - Enough to Share video about Koinonia is produced

1987

  • "Snow Birds" and other volunteers continue to be a significant mainstay of the community
  • Florence Jordan dies June 17. She is the last remaining resident of the original four

1989

  • Bo Johnson retires after 43 years association with Koinonia
  • Original building (dining hall and shop downstairs/residence upstairs) is deemed unfit for habitation and razed
  • Bo & Emma Johnson complete payments and the whole community celebrates with a mortgage burning (June 23)
  • Five more house mortgages paid off
  • Pecan warehouse burns down

1991 - New Koinonia Child Development Center is dedicated (20 years after first KCDC opened)

1992

  • Koinonia celebrates 50th year with grand reunion of more than 500 people
  • Housing program is discontinued after building 190 houses in Sumter County
  • For various reasons, the number of Partners begins to decline

1993-Present - The income sharing community dissolves and Koinonia continues as a Christian organization with its mission directed to rural neighborhoods in Sumter County. Presently, Koinonia works to strengthen families and empower the community. It also serves as a meeting ground for people of many different backgrounds who come together to work, study and actively participate in issues of social justice and faith.

PROGRAMS:

  • operating mail order pecan and peanut products and marketing of Koinonia-related books and tapes
  • sustaining row-crop farming of grapes, corn, peanuts, soybeans and collard greens
  • caring for environment through organic farming reduced waste, recycling, and animal husbandry
  • selling organically grown vegetables
  • continuing child development program
  • home repair program (30 mortgages retired)
  • encouraging responsible home ownership
  • offering work/study program for volunteers
  • hosting visitors and sharing Koinonia's history
  • providing mentoring for youth
  • assisting senior citizens
  • developing community leaders
  • holding regular inter-denominational worship services