Kosovar Nazarenes are using greenhouses to bring food security to local families overcoming economic challenges. As part of the Central Europe Field’s Flourishing Church Initiative, the Kosova Greenhouse Project allows Churches of the Nazarene to provide practical and compassionate resources to the community.

Utilizing the interconnected dynamic of the Kosovar culture, Nazarenes planned to connect three greenhouses to impoverished families living in economically struggling neighborhoods. The Kosovar church submitted a three-year initiative to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. 

Families are chosen based on their needs, such as orphans, widows, or families with a sick member. The chosen family hosts a greenhouse on their property and blesses other needy families with some of the produce for the next three years. The host family reinvests 15 percent of sales back into the fund and commits their time to help build the next one. Local Nazarenes stay connected throughout the entire process. 

Thanks to the willingness of local people and businesses to donate and reduce supply costs, the number of greenhouses has increased to five within the project's first year. The response of the people exemplifies a compassionate faith community. 

“I did not know that we could do a project like this, but as we see its impact, we are realizing that NCM creates so many global opportunities to make a difference,” said Selim Kolgeci, co-creator of the Kosova Greenhouse Project and pastor of Suhareka Church of the Nazarene. “In our country context, NCM is effective because it is based upon both compassion and promoting Jesus.”

Kolgeci and co-creator Sarah Thibault said their expectations have been exceeded in several key ways, including generous actions from the community and high involvement from church members.

“Everybody in the church has gotten involved,” Thibault said. “From spreading manure to working the ground to donating agricultural expertise — and the results are exciting. Families from the first two greenhouses donated 100 kilograms of food to other families in the first year.”

The Greenhouse Project develops resources and relationships while limiting the possibility of church dependency, stepping towards the end goal of a flourishing church and community. 

--Church of the Nazarene Eurasia