Lord's Acre Movement

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Originating in Bluffton, Georgia, in 1922, the Lord's Acre Movement began when Rev. Henry M. Melton asked farmers in his Bluffton Baptist Church to plant and harvest one acre and donate its proceeds to the church. The acre was called the Lord's acre, and seven farmers signed the agreement: J. B. Goodman, Dauss King, E. L. Gay, A. M. Hubbard, J. E. Shaw, W. G. Rish, and J. A. Mansfield. In 1923 the crops were reportedly unharmed by boll weevils, which led people to believe miracles were involved. Word spread, and inquiries came from across the United States and Europe; Time Magazine later covered its success. By 1924, about 100 Georgia Baptist churches started similar Lord's Acre programs aiming to raise about $20,000. In 1930, under Dumont Clarke, the Lord's Acre Plan was formalized, and the movement grew to more than 1,000 churches in 20 denominations. It expanded beyond farmland to include donated time and service, and later auctions and sales of homemade goods. The movement also spread internationally to India, China, Brazil, Mexico, and Japan. As of 2013, the Lord's Acre Movement continues to fund churches and related projects.