23/03/2025
"Damascus Farm - a Success Story
The example of Damascus Farm in Mbombela under Pastor Tobie (TJ) Mare is a beacon of hope in recovery of the marginalized. It’s inspiring that Damascus Farm has had success in turning around lives, offering not only a place to stay but also the opportunity for people to contribute, work, and find a sense of purpose.
Pastor TJ Mare’s leadership and the farm's holistic approach likely provide a model for community-driven recovery—one that integrates both practical needs (food, shelter, work) and spiritual support, helping people regain their sense of dignity, purpose, and identity. This combination of practical assistance and emotional or spiritual upliftment is essential in helping people who have lost hope rediscover their potential.
By offering not just charity but a chance to work, grow, and reconnect with their value, Damascus Farm helps break the cycle of hopelessness. It doesn’t just give people "manna" but teaches them to cultivate their own "manna." For many in these marginalized communities, that shift—from being recipients of charity to active participants in their own healing and transformation—can make all the difference. They are no longer defined by what they lack but by what they contribute, no matter how small that contribution might initially seem.
Pastor TJ Mare’s work likely highlights the role that faith and community play in transformation. Faith-based outreach efforts often have a unique capacity to speak to the deeper emotional and spiritual needs of people, offering not just physical survival, but the strength to believe in change.
Community is another pillar of this approach—when people feel like they belong, when they are part of something larger than their immediate struggle, they can begin to break out of isolation and start seeing themselves as part of a greater effort, rather than as victims of their circumstances.
In conclusion, the situation is complex, and the challenges are daunting. While there are reservations about whether these individuals can be "saved"—and I can understand why, given the deep psychological and societal issues at play—the key may lie in a combination of external support, internal empowerment, and a focus on the younger generation. At the same time, even when the older generation appears to be beyond hope, stories like the one from Damascus Farm show that transformation can happen, even if it takes time, persistence, and the right kind of support. Sometimes, all it takes is one successful model to inspire change across a broader community.
It is right to focus on the importance of hope—and the younger generation is often where that hope resides. But the older generation, too, needs care, compassion, and survival while they navigate the inertia that has defined their lives. They may not all find redemption, but they can still find moments of dignity, meaning, and connection.
Author unknown.
