Lancaster Bible College Education majors Bethany Carpenter (’26) and Keturah Landis (’26) traveled to Fort Myers, Fla., over LBC’s 2025 Spring Break, where they volunteered at ECHO Global Farm, a ministry that teaches small-scale, sustainable farming methods so families can provide for themselves and their communities. While there, they learned about agricultural missions and served in a hands-on capacity, helping with weeding, harvesting crops, folding frost cloths, shoveling soil, mulching and helping to clean up areas of the farm.
Keturah Landis and Bethany Carpenter served together at ECHO Global Farm & Nursery in Florida after their Spring Break.
“The trip was such a good experience and felt purposeful,” Keturah said. “We got to enjoy being in Florida for our break while also serving others and a gospel-centered mission through this agricultural missions organization. The Lord is using this organization to reach others who need to hear the gospel and to assist those who are unreached, specifically through the use of agriculture.”
Bethany and Keturah enjoyed working alongside the ECHO staff and other volunteers, as well as learning many new farming and gardening skills. Due to the farm’s various climate zones, they had the opportunity to try fruits commonly grown in other countries, like sapodillas, black sapote, and prickly pear cactus.
While on the trip, Bethany said God gripped her heart with the message of John 6:27: “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life.”
“While ECHO’s mission of supplying food to satisfy people’s physical hunger is incredibly valuable,” Bethany said, “their mission also seeks to satisfy people’s spiritual hunger, which is fully met by the gospel of Jesus Christ. While food is eaten and leaves people hungry again, I’m thankful that Jesus is the Bread of Life, the all-satisfying Savior who fills our hungry souls to overflowing.”
