Bethesda Lutheran Church celebrates 25 years of Sharecroppers Program
Bethesda Lutheran Church recently commemorated its 25-year partnership with the Sharecroppers program, highlighting its impactful contributions to global hunger relief. The project was founded by church member Lorne Smith, and the late Gerhard Schickedanz, and his son, Arthur, owners of Galten Farms.
The celebration included a presentation by Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) representatives Clayton Reesor and Lucas Burkholder of Markham. They shared insights from their CFGB-sponsored trip to Nepal and showcased how CFGB programs exemplify living out Christ’s mission in today’s world through an informative PowerPoint presentation.
For 25 years, Bethesda has partnered with Schickedanz-Galten Farms to grow grain and raise funds for CFGB. These donations generated over $600,000, which the Government of Canada matched 4:1, leading to an impressive $3 million. These funds are directed through Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) to support sustainable agriculture and hunger relief initiatives worldwide.
During the event, Lorne Smith presented plaques from Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti and the city council, recognizing the contributions of Bethesda Lutheran Church and Schickedanz-Galten Farms. Additionally, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank awarded a Certificate of Celebration to the Schickedanz family, accepted by Charlotte Schickedanz, who spoke movingly about her parents’ personal connection to the cause as former refugees who experienced hunger firsthand.
The 2024 Sharecropper Project has raised over $30,000, with donations still being accepted.
The church team encourages continued support for the 50-acre soybean crop grown by Arthur and Gus Schickedanz in partnership with the church. Together, these efforts bring hope and sustenance to those in need around the globe.
Visit bethesdalutheranchurch.ca to donate and for more information.
Photo: Arthur Schickedanz presents Lorne Smith with a cheque for $23,772, the profit from the 2024 soybean crop.