One of our primary goals at Fields of Zion International is to establish resilient local community networks of believers, equipped with the resources, wisdom, faith and leadership skills necessary to not only weather the storms of life, but more importantly to help others around them during their times of need.
Mark bevan, Founder
A community is any grouping of people sharing similarities such as:
- values
- geographic location
- goals
- beliefs
A community center is a place where people with these similarities gather to share ideas, resources and needs. Working together with a common purpose.
At the heart of any community, lies the understanding that meeting the basic needs of its members is extremely important. The further a community gets away from the sources which meet these basic needs (food, water, shelter, clothing, etc.) the less resilient and sustainable that community is in times of tribulation and trial. In other words, when the storm of life come, the community as a whole is more vulnerable to shortages in regards to the material resources necessary to meet its own needs.
For generations communities were centered around the necessities of life. But in our current age of global travel, the distance between where these necessities are produced and where they are consumed or used has become grown to hundreds if not thousands of miles. This “New” way of doing business is not time tested and proven. There are weak points throughout the system which all have the potential of turning into major problems. A good example of this can be seen in the supply shortages which shook the world during the Covid-19 crisis.
A community which can not meet its own needs in times of trouble, is weak and powerless to help meet the needs of others. To be well prepared for difficult times is not only prudent but wise.
For example: Consider what happens during a natural disaster like a hurricane? The power is often out for days or even weeks. Even if you live in a city, your water supply often depends on pumps which run on electricity. Where will you get clean water in the event of an emergency? Do you know the answer to this question? During these types of situations communications such as phone and internet often fail as well, so if your plan is to rely on Google or YouTube when the time comes, you’ll probably be left wanting. In this situation, your very survival may be threatened.
However, a community with well conceived plans is organized. They already have a plan of action and know how to work together effectively to meet each others needs and those of others outside their community as much as they are able. The extent that they are able is determined mostly by what extent they have planned ahead.
Proper planning can only be accomplished by a team of people who place the needs of others above their own. The planning process itself takes time and resources. Proper planning additionally requires experience, understanding and wisdom in the areas of focus. It should implore the use of much prayer in seeking understanding regarding the overall needs, thus providing direction and guidance moving forward.