Christian Farmer Outreach is a Christian ministry based in Hampstead that travels to agricultural events throughout the mid-Atlantic region to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, using beaded bracelets.

"Statistics show that seven out of 10 people never got to church, so it's very important what we're doing," said Wilson Lippy, president of the CFO board of directors.

The luncheon included more than just farmers, as educators, business owners and politicians filled the banquet hall. Special guests included Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., Comptroller William Donald Schaefer and keynote speaker State Secretary of Agriculture Lewis R. Riley.

"When you combine Christian fellowship with farmers, you don't get any better than that," Ehrlich said in his brief remarks to the audience.

The CFO showed a video highlighting some of the group's accomplishments of 2004, including donating enough venison to homeless shelters to provide 42,000 meals and making 54,000 of the beaded bracelets to distribute at events. According to the CFO Winter 2006 newsletter, more than 9,000 people became Chris-tians through CFO during winter and summer programs during 2005.

"It's about the Holy Spirit working through us, touching hearts," said John Mike Myers, vice president of the CFO board.

In his speech, Riley spoke of the importance of setting a good example and contributing to a family heritage through the way we live our lives. It's by interacting with their families that children first learn about love, how to express themselves, how to relate to others, how to forgive and how to be forgiven, he said.

"Each day of our lives we're developing a heritage," Riley said. "We have to ask ourselves, is it one that we want to hand down?"

Riley said his favorite photograph is a picture of his grandmother driving a mule cart with him and three of his brothers in the back. Some may look at that picture and see a family that were victims of poverty, Riley said, but that has never been his view.

"[His grandmother was] a benefactor of Christian love, and you don't forget those things," he said.

Riley encouraged his audience to strive to make each year better than the last, to take simple steps such as to drop an old grudge, to vow not to make a promise you can't keep, to keep in touch more often with family and friends.

"We're all connected in humanity through our need for one another," he said.

Reach staff writer Carrie Ann Knauer at 410-857-7874.