10 Years of Disciplemaking
Empowering young leaders to find their purpose through Christian service, relationship building and discipleship training
Our Impact In Numbers
The impact of our local Umatilla, FL farm has reached communities around the world through food production and making disciples over the last ten years.
200+
Students and Interns
12
Churches in Collaboration
75%
Of Food Grown Provided For Families In Need
40+
Credit Hours Available
50+
Interns Sent On Mission Trips
30+
Countries Represented By Interns
20+
Discipleship and Farm Classes Offered
128
Monthly Community Outreach Hours
300+
Local Families Served Monthly

COMMUNITY LIFE
We provide a faith-filled, healthy, and safe environment for people to experience sustainable farming, community life and a global mission for hunger relief.
CHRISTIAN SERVICE
All of our interns and students learn the principles of community development and participate in serving in the local community.
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
We provide education opportunities for regenerative agriculture, discipleship, and world missions. This includes hands on learning opportunties in intensive pesticide free food production utilizing diverse grow systems such as organic raised beds, hydroponic and aeroponic towers.

Sustainable
Discipleship
Pastor Bobby “Buddy” Walker founded Empower School & Farm in 2013 on the foundational pillars of faith, integrity and purpose. The vision came from his heart for sustainable discipleship and developing leaders who would go on to disciple others. Regenerative farming has been woven into the discipleship program from the beginning, empowering young leaders to address both the spiritual and practical needs of their communities and beyond.
DEVELOPING THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW
Church
Planting
Team
Ministries
World
Missions
Community Outreach
"and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also."
2 Timothy 2:2
Our Timeline
Discipleship School Begins
Empower School and Farm started in 2013 with the aquisition of our first mission house. We had 6 students enrolled in our School of Discipleship and started our continued long-term partnership with Lake Cares.
Our First Long-Term Food Distribution Partnership
In 2014, we established a long-term partnership with the City of Eustis to lead a monthly food distrubution. This was as part of the city's larger One City project, which aimed to unite the diverse communities of Eustis. In addition, Empower began to offer produce to the local community through a market partnership with Green Apple Market in The Villages, FL.
Expanding Local Partnerships and Distribution Locations
In 2015, Empower formed a partnership with Lake Yale Baptist Retreat Center. Empower also started an additional monthly food distribution site at the Faith Christian Fellowship Church in Tavares, FL.
A New Garden at Faith Christian Fellowship
In 2016, we were blessed with funding to start a new garden on the property of Faith Chirstian Fellowship Church. This opportunity came from the food distribution started at the church in the previous year. Throughout the year we also had successful community service projects with Publix as well as Lucky's Market.
Partnership with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms
Empower become a WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) host in 2017. This allowed us to expand our reach and begin welcoming farm interns from across the world. We also received a grant to install our first high tunnels from Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), allowing us to increase productivity.
Partnering with Atlantic School of Ministry
In 2018, Palm Beach Atlantic School of Ministry began accepting our credits as college transfer credits. In addition, we added three yurts onto the property to allow us to welcome more students.
Students Pursuing Agricultural Training
In 2019, we saw an increase in college students pursuing sustainable agriculture during the gap year. The number of students we hosted nearly doubled.
Hosting MESA students
Our continued partnership with MESA (Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture) started in 2020. This includes offering our students Agroecology courses as well as hosting MESA's students as part of a cultural exchange program.
Plans to Expand
Discussions with Valley Dream Farm began in 2022, which lead to the formation of a new farm site in Tennessee. This marks our first site outside of the State of Florida. We also built two more greenhouses as part of our partnership with NRCS.
A New Leadership Team At Empower Florida
In 2023, we installed two final high tunnels at the farm. Pastor Buddy transitioned a new leadership team at Empower Florida as we expand to Tennessee.
Partnerships Throughout 2013-2023
Empower at Valley Dream Farm
Perched in the hills of Knoxville,TN, our retreat center fosters Christian discipleship and facilitates regenerative agricultural practices.
Here we will offer Christian leadership and discipleship training to college students and recent graduates alongside hospitality and sustainable agricultural training.
Breaking Ground In September 2023
Christian Retreat Center
Our retreat center will include cabins and short-term leasing properties, a commercial kitchen and a dining area for hosting events.
Intern Village
Our intern village will house 24 interns quarterly.
Sustainable Agriculture
Our students will learn agricultural practices that offer practical solutions to world hunger and food security to low income areas.
Church On Site
Our on-site church will support discipleship, community outreach and other Christian service opportunities.
