Back to the Garden

For more than 13 years the Adventist Agricultural Association (AdAgrA) has been on a mission to call God’s people back to the garden. Founded on the biblical principle found in Genesis 2:15, which says, “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it,” AdAgrA believes that agriculture is more than growing food; it’s about restoring a way of life designed by God for spiritual, mental, and physical renewal.

The annual AdAgrA National Conference (held in in Texas, United States, in January 2025) drew nearly 1,000 attendees from across the globe. The next one is scheduled to take place in Glen Rose, Texas, January 20-25, 2026. These gatherings offer practical, faith-based instruction in agriculture, homesteading, true education, and country living. The growing interest has led to international conferences in Europe, Australia, and Brazil that will, in 2026, expand to include Zambia.

Since 2024, AdAgrA launched regional meetings across North America, bringing the message closer to where people live and work. Locations now include Alabama, Georgia, Colorado, California, and Ontario in Canada. These regional events, which create space for personal connection and outreach, are bearing fruit.

At a recent conference at Wildwood Health Institute in Georgia, several non-Adventists attended and shared powerful testimonies. One visitor, who said the experience was “life-changing,” had never encountered such a blend of practical knowledge and spiritual depth. These events are part of AdAgrA’s evangelism strategy to use agriculture as a bridge to reach people who may never walk into a church but will walk into a garden.

AdAgrA believes that country living and agriculture are tools for end-time preparation. Christ Himself often retreated to gardens, and His greatest victory was won in one. In these final days, getting back to nature is essential to character development.

The ministry has expanded beyond events. Through the Roots membership program, AdAgrA supports individuals and families year-round with educational resources in agriculture and homesteading, mentorship, and coaching to help people implement what they’ve learned. AdAgrA has also established a K-12 agriculture curriculum called Acquainting Agriculture, which is used in schools across the globe.

One attendee shared at a recent conference: “I’m still on a spiritual high! It was my first time attending an AdAgrA conference, and it was life-changing. I didn’t want it to end. There was so much valuable information and so many seeds planted. The last day was the icing on the cake. Absolutely amazing!”

AdAgrA’s goal is not simply to inform, but to transform lives—one seed, one family, one garden at a time. They believe God is using the movement to prepare His people for the days ahead by teaching them how to live simply, healthfully, and missionally.

What began as a once-a-year event has become a worldwide movement. People are hungry not just for organic food but also for purpose, truth, and connection with their Creator.

Through AdAgrA God is restoring hearts, homes, and habits.

The original version of this commentary was posted by Outposts Centers International (OCI). OCI is a supporting ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, not affiliated to the corporate church. To learn more, click HERE.