The fortnightly column is written by a cohort of 10 ministers, former ministers, and churchgoing Presbyterians, all of whom have a heart for the countryside, or a farming background. Together, they offer personal reflections on faith and rural life, with a strong gospel message.
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An initiative of Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Council for Mission in Ireland, Dr Bruce is also Secretary to the Council and thanked everyone involved in getting the column to the printed page every two weeks for nearly four years. “For generations, farms and farming families have been the backbone of Ulster and life on the island of Ireland. They have also been the mainstay of so many of our congregations up and down the land,” he said.
“At the mercy of the weather, the changing of our seasons and prices at the Mart, it has never been an easy way of life. This why, at this special time of Harvest, we give thanks for the Lord’s provision, what has been gathered in and for the farmers and their families.”
Dr Bruce continued, “While the seasons change, God’s Word, His love for us and His message of salvation remain constant. For readers to be reminded of this each fortnight, or to hear it for the very first time, is a wonderful opportunity for which we are so very thankful. To everyone who makes this special column possible, especially Farming Life’s editor, Ruth Rodgers, and the contributors who prayerfully bring each message to life, ‘thank you’. This is a significant achievement and I offer my heartfelt congratulations on reaching this milestone.”
The column made its first appearance on 7 January 2017. The rhythm of the farming year, the beauty of the countryside, and farming life in general, have been brought together by the columnists in nearly 60,000 words over the last 46 months; together with 340 individual verses from 38 of the Bible’s 66 books. Each column also has a simple message for Farming Life’s 50,000 readers to reflect on, principally that they can have an eternal relationship with a loving God, through His Son, Jesus Christ. Verses that were most quoted came from John 14:1-6.
Books of the Bible most used in the column
| 1 John |
= 6 Jeremiah & Hebrews |
| 2 Psalms |
7 Proverbs |
| 3 Matthew |
= 8 Genesis / Acts / 1 Corinthians |
| = 4 Luke & Romans |
= 9 1 Peter & 2 Corinthians |
| 5 Isaiah |
10 Colossians |
Rev Kenny Hanna, whose family still farm in the foothills of the Mountains of Mourne, first had the idea for the column following the 2015 Balmoral Show and approached Farming Life’s editor. “First and foremost I would like to add my thanks to everyone involved especially the contributors, our editor Mark Smith, Dr Bruce who acts as our executive editor and Ruth, for her enthusiasm and for giving us the green light,” he said.
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“On the very first day it was published I have felt that to have the opportunity of sharing the good news of Jesus with fellow farming families in this way was a wonderful privilege. From a neighbour to our farm, the phone calls, emails and letters that I have received, to what our contributors tell me from their own experiences, I know that it is being read by folk from a great variety of backgrounds, the length and breadth of the country and for that I give God all the glory.”
Launched in 1963 Farming Life has a unique position within Northern Ireland’s farming community as it reaches many people each weekend providing farmers with the information they need to make daily decisions in the running of their farming business.
Offering her congratulations on the 100th column, Farming Life editor, Ruth Rodgers, said, "2020 has proven to be an exceptionally difficult year, but one in which the farming community has shown its resilience and ability to get on with the job at hand. While the daily work on the farm has largely continued as normal, many may be suffering due to the reduced opportunities to socialise and meet up with friends or family. Older people in particular may be feeling more vulnerable and lonely at this time and are worried about what the rest of 2020 and early 2021 will bring.”
Ruth continued, "It's amazing that the column has reached its 100th' message. I hope that during these difficult months people have turned to it each fortnight and found it a blessing and a message of hope and assurance that despite the current turmoil in the world, God is still in the business of changing lives.”
Each Saturday the column appears as a blog on the PCI website. You can read them here.
Former GP and Minister Emeritus of Castledawson and Curran, Rev Dr Kenneth Patterson, has written the 100th column, and you can read it here.
Photo: Dr Bruce is pictured at home reading Saturday's Farming Life, as his four month old grandson, Malik, looks on.