About Us
Clarence and Florence Jordan and Martin and Mabel England founded Koinonia in 1942. Their vision was communal—a group of people living a common life together, taking the Early Church and the Sermon on the Mount seriously, and doing all they could to serve others. If you’re interested in learning more about our members, please read on. If you’re interested in visiting or exploring how Koinonia serves, click the links: Visit, How We Serve.
Our Life
Our life is one of radical welcome. We invite everyone to visit and share life with us—people of all races, religions, no religion, backgrounds, and anything else that might otherwise divide.
We believe that all people are created to be loved. For us, being Christian means striving to embody that love in practical ways—welcoming the stranger, sharing unreservedly, and creating a space of inclusion. While the word “Christian” has sometimes been overshadowed by less loving examples, we are committed to reclaiming its essence through our actions. Grounded in the Sermon on the Mount and a life of prayer, work, study, service, and fellowship, we seek to love boldly and unconditionally.
What We Believe
We believe every human has a filial bond. We are siblings, and each person is to be treated with dignity and respect. While we do not expect all people to live in a community such as ours, we have chosen (or been chosen by) this setting to live out our commitment to God and God’s people.
We believe that through the Incarnation, God came to dwell among us, showing us, in the flesh, how we are to love one another. For us, Jesus is the Word (the Logos). It is not our intention to convince others of this, but we do hope, in some small way, that others see in Koinonia a glimpse of the love Jesus pours out.
All people are welcome at the table. We believe we are especially called to work for those routinely turned away from the world’s table. Radical welcome defines our work and whatever cause we serve.
Five Pillars
Prayer, Work, Study, Service & Fellowship
Prayer
We pray. Prayer is the cornerstone of our shared life, the wellspring from which all our actions flow. Everything we do—whether work, study, service, or play—is deeply rooted in this life of prayer, shaping and guiding us daily.
Work
Our work binds us together. Whether running a house of hospitality, baking in the bakery, maintaining our online store, or cultivating the land on our farm, we work collectively to sustain ourselves and fund the services we offer others. Through this shared labor, we grow closer as a community.
Study
We study a wide range of topics, constantly seeking to learn more about the world and broaden our understanding beyond our own experiences. This openness to learning is essential to living in community and growing together.
Service
Our service extends both on and off the farm. It’s not confined to a single ministry or cause, allowing us to adapt to the needs and challenges of the times. We work for social justice, using the people and resources we have to make a meaningful impact whenever and wherever we can.
Fellowship
Fellowship is at the heart of our community. Whether we’re swapping stories while pruning the grapes, enjoying a day at the lake, or playing board games late into the night, we laugh and play together, knowing that joy and connection are vital to a healthy, thriving community.
Guiding Principles
To help us stay on track—and we admit we often veer off course—we return to these guiding principles to ground us and point us in the right direction.
A Note on the Word “Christian”: We recognize that for some, the word “Christian” has taken on a negative connotation because of actions that conflict with its true meaning. At Koinonia, we strive to embody its authentic spirit—creating a community rooted in the Early Church’s radical sharing, care, and welcome for all people. We don’t seek to convert or proselytize; instead, we hope that our lives quietly reflect the light Christianity was meant to offer. Though we stumble and often fail, we aspire to walk in the way of Christ, showing kindness, humility, and compassion.
Three Core Ministries
In a nutshell, we live life together rooted in the Sermon on the Mount, and from that rich soil comes our work to Feed the Hungry physically and spiritually. We serve in various ways, but our core ministries are hospitality, an internship program, and demonstrating sustainable farming on a small farm.
Hospitality
Our commitment to the ancient Christian tradition of hospitality and welcome is central to everything we do. This has remained unchanged since our founding. We welcome everyone, no matter their background, faith, or no faith. Many people come to Koinonia to visit—some for lunch and a tour, others to stay for a few nights or even months. While our guest housing is simple and unpretentious, it is clean, comfortable, and inviting.
Internship
Koinonia has offered an internship program in one form or another since the beginning. Learning to live in community is at the heart of it. Our internship is not just for young people—interns come from all stages of life. Individuals, couples, couples with children, single parents with children, gap year students, college students, those just finishing school, mid-career professionals, and retirees are all welcome to apply.
Sustainable Farming
Healthy, biodiverse soil produces nutrient-dense food, which is our focus. We don’t use conventional pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. Pecans are our main crop, but we also grow vegetables, blueberries, and grapes. Our animals are treated humanely and play an essential role in nurturing the soil. Some become food for those who eat meat, but they are raised in open spaces and never treated with hormones.
If this introduction to our life and work resonates with you, and you’d like to learn more about membership, follow the link below.