In 1961, Dr. Martha R. Jones established a Trust Fund at Asbury Theological Seminary (ATS) for the Martha R. Jones Foundation for Health Education. The foundation was established to give Seminary students — particularly those who were preparing to go as missionaries to underdeveloped areas of the world — a working knowledge of food values and soil fertility and to teach, by demonstration, the relationship between good soil, good food, good health, good friends, and good Christians. The ability to evaluate native diets and soil fertility, and knowledge of simple means of correcting faults in both, would be invaluable in maintaining their own health and efficiency and in promoting health, friendship, and the cause of Christ throughout the world.
To accomplish these ends, activities such as academic lectures, clinical assessments and consultations, a demonstration farm, research projects and a “clearing house” at Asbury Theological Seminary for the dissemination of information related to health education were established.
The Foundation functions through a Board of Trustees to continue to facilitate these goals. The Martha R. Jones Foundation awards grants in keeping with the established goals of the Foundation to advance the Gospel of Christ globally by funding gardening, health and wellness initiatives, primarily, though not exclusively, through Asbury Theological Seminary.
The MRJ Foundation adheres to applicable legal requirements to distributed a pre-determined percent of assets annually in the form of grants. The Board of Trustees generally meets at least bi-annually to review and approve appropriate grant applications and conduct Foundation business.