Tierra Nueva, an ecumenical ministry located in Burlington, WA and a mission partner of the NPS Presbytery, recently received Self-Development of People grants totalling approximately $50,000 for two projects: Jubilee Farm and the Underground Coffee Project. Jubilee Farm is a small produce business seeking to promote God's Kingdom and shalom in the Skagit Valley through (1) cultivating organic produce for local sale, (2) providing advocacy and support of poor or marginalized women, youth, and families, and (3) the local promotion of sustainable, organic agriculture and healthy eating.

The Underground Coffee Project is a cooperative of people on the margins who are working together to create a business to meet the needs that cannot be met anywhere else -- that only God can meet. Ex-convicts, people from the street, addicts, gang members, peole who meet Jesus through Tierra Nueva chaplains and Bible studies at the Skagit County Jail are coming together once out of jail to move forward together spiritually and materially.

Grant funds are from the Synod of Alaska NW's allocated portion of the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering.