A Farmer’s Generosity
A few weeks ago, I had the joy of sharing a testimony about God’s goodness to me through a farmer named George Jackson.
I only talked to him once. But the testimony of this farmer I will never forget, because he, in an immeasurable way, has shown me what it looks like to make Christ, not money, our treasure.
George Jackson was born on October 2, 1936 in California’s Central Valley. He became a farmer like his father before him, and operated Kingsburg Orchards, near the city of Kingsburg. The family business raises and sells primarily fruit—hundreds of varieties of apple pears, peaches, plums, pluots, etc.[1]
In 2020, about 3 hours south of Kingsburg, I began my theological studies at The Master’s Seminary (TMS). Through the Richard Mayhue scholarship, my tuition fees and living expenses were covered. I graduated in 2024, debt free and yet indebted to the sacrificial donors of TMS.
Or rather, I should say donor. Although I didn’t know it until midway through, George Jackson was the one who funded my theological education. And not only mine, but those of almost one hundred other M. Div. students, including one of our missionaries to Japan, Seichi Kamimura, whom we send off this week.
Measured by his trade, Mr. Jackson was a farmer of fruit. Measured by what he treasured, he was a Christ lover, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather—and to me, a trainer of men, paving the way for gospel ministers to bear eternal fruit for the Lord of the harvest.
In October 2023, I and other scholarship recipients got to meet Mr. Jackson during a special luncheon at the school. He was kind, warm, humble, and in the best way, ordinary faithful. In our short conversation, he was still giving away everything, the secret to his success—V-shaped orchard trees to maximize sun exposure—baskets of fruit from his farm, and above all thanks for the ministry that the Lord would do through us. He actually thanked us, when we owed him tens of thousands.
Just a year later, on November 18, 2024, at the age of 88, Mr. Jackson entered into the presence of His God and Savior, to receive his heavenly reward—for loving his Savior well, for loving his family, for serving his church, and even for being generous a bunch of TMS students, including one named Keith.
Of all the things I learned in seminary, what I learned the most is that I have been entrusted: entrusted with the knowledge of salvation, entrusted with theological training, entrusted with relationships and resources.
Mr. Jackson was not entrusted with pastoral ministry; instead, God entrusted him with wealth, and he used that wealth for the gospel. Now and forever, his generous life is bearing the bounty not of one gospel ministry, but of a hundred times that.
Mr. Jackson was a conduit, not a cul-de-sac, of grace; He knew that he was blessed to be a blessing, entrusted with all things to make disciples of all peoples. He reminds me that God has entrusted me with all that I have—that I would give it _all_ away in love. I have freely received; shall I not freely give?
However God chooses to use my life—as a friend, a counselor, a minister, a preacher, a pastor—it is in no small measure thanks to a farmer named George Jackson. I can’t wait to meet him in his heavenly reward. But until then, he will be to me a shining example of what it means to treasure, not earthly wealth, but Christ, the true reward.
[1] You can learn a bit about George and his company here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1CTSF5GAhg. The brands they sell under are listed here.