<b>By TIM ALEXANDER<br>
Illinois Correspondent</b> </p><p>
 
LEXINGTON, Ill. — The Fellowship of Christian Farmers International (FCFI) has come a long way since 12 farmers attending a worship service at the 1985 San Antonio Soybean Expo decided to launch a ministry that would reach out to farm families.</p><p>
Originally based in Johnston, S.C., the ministry relocated to Lexington, Ill., in McLean County in 1994, where newly-appointed executive director Dennis Schlagel lived and worked.</p><p>
Today, the nonprofit, nondenominational FCFI boasts 14,000 members and reaches out to more than 100,000 people in the United States and Canada each year, providing, among other services, emergency aid to farm families whose operations have been affected by natural disasters such as hurricanes, blizzards, floods and wildfires. The organization also sponsors several annual mission trips to locales such as Albania, Jamaica, Russia, Mexico and Israel, which consist of both aid and evangelism.</p><p>
As 2008 arrived, Schlagel said the time had come for FCFI to look to expand its base of operations from its tiny storefront office in downtown Lexington to a larger, more modern facility with room for expanded offices, warehouses and a conference center.</p><p>
“We’ve reached the point that the fellowship has outgrown our current office building and must expand,” Schlagel told Farm World. “We need a facility in which we can better respond to major disasters and be in a better position to help farmers.”</p><p>
The toll natural disasters have taken on the nation’s farm families recently has been devastating, Schlagel said, and as FCFI extended aid to affected areas (such as building fences in Louisiana’s bayou country), its visibility grew along with requests for its services.</p><p>
As a result, there is a great need to expand FCFI’s office workforce and construct a facility that centralizes all of its equipment and materials.</p><p>
“We’ve been using a couple of different warehouses in Lexington, but we really don’t have anywhere to store things like trailers or to stage loads of hay,” Schlagel explained.</p><p>
“We also are in great need of new administrative offices so we can expand our staff to better accommodate our operations, including our mission trips and emergency rapid response program.”</p><p>
Schlagel, FCFI president Randy Ehninger and other officials with the organization hope to keep their base of operations in or near Lexington. They are seeking a 5-10 acre tract near Interstate 55 on a non-posted road that can accommodate large trucks and farm machinery, while allowing room for future growth.</p><p>
Schlagel said locating a suitable property is one of FCFI’s top goals for 2008.</p><p>
When asked whether the fellowship is seeking a donation of land for their new office/warehouse complex, he admitted it would be a “wonderful development” and is “something we’re praying for.”</p><p>
In addition to serving the basic needs of FCFI’s operations, plans for the new facility include a modern conference room that will be available for use by other area agriculture and social organizations.
And, in order to take advantage of the 50,000 vehicles that traverse I-55 near Lexington each day, FCFI plans to include an informational display of ag-related kiosks and possibly a farm museum in its new structure.</p><p>
More space to store materials FCFI distributes at farm shows across the nation, as well as storage for the fellowship’s signature “wordless walking sticks” – of which they have distributed 1 million – is also needed.</p><p>
‘Full-court press’ for funding</p><p>

When it comes time to turn to funding for the construction of its new digs, Schlagel said FCFI’s board of directors will begin a “full-court press” for fundraising from a combination of private, public and business sectors.</p><p>
“We’ve had enormous support from agribusinesses in the past when it came to our emergency rapid response efforts,” he said. “When it comes to helping farmers, they’ve been very generous.”</p><p>
FCFI will also be calling on volunteers from the local workforce to help with chores such as grounds preparation and finishing detail.
“We would consider that to be a mission project that stays right here in central Illinois,” Schlagel said.</p><p>
The fellowship would like to see its vision for a new home office come to fruition by 2010, and will soon announce and extend opportunities for others to help through news releases and one-on-one contact at farm shows. </p><p>
“We’re starting the new year by sharing our vision with others, gathering input and letting people know this is something we really need to do,” Schlagel said.</p><p>
Contact the FCFI at 309-365-8710, via e-mail at fellowship@fcfi.org or learn more through its website at www.fcfi.org