Looking back... Looking ahead...

A brief history of The Mustard Seed

 
Thirty years ago the Mustard Seed community was founded. The mission was to meet the spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual needs of mentally challenged adults by providing a loving and protected Christian community and meaningful activities which allow the residents to fulfill the potential that God created within them. In 1981, the Mustard Seed incorporated and began meeting in local churches to takes steps to achieve their goal.

our old workshop
Our founders saw the need for a Christ-centered ministry in the community. Prior to the Mustard Seed’s inception, many families felt that they had limited options. They knew that their loved ones had great potential for growth and the right to their own life experiences. One of the first successes was the hand bell choir, the Bells of Faith, which has continued to minister through meaningful worship and by positive example since 1981.

Propelled by a vision for Christian community, the Mustard Seed was able to open a home on our present campus in 1986… with just one resident. Slowly additional residents began to enroll and the homes began to grow. The remainder of our campus was pieced together over the next few years into 7.5 acres with two homes, some trailers, and a metal workshop/garage.

In 1989 a workshop program began in the storage room of one of the group homes with a contract to pour ceramic green ware for Charter Hospital’s art therapy program. Subsequently, the Junior League and many volunteers transformed our rudimentary workshop into a functioning ceramic studio and art therapy program. In 2001 an overheating kiln caught fire and completely destroyed the workshop. Within four months a new and improved workshop was constructed and went into operation.

At the same time of losing our old workshop to fire, construction was completed on our new multipurpose Activity Center and the old trailer was finally removed! With over 5,000 square feet, our programming has been greatly expanded and diversified and enrollment increased to over 44 Seedsters!

In January of 2011, there was a ribbon cutting here at the Mustard Seed. Finally a new women’s home! The number of women that could live on campus grew from 7 to 10. The beautiful building is state of the art and adds to the quality of life for the ladies who live at the Mustard Seed. In total, 7 men and 10 women live on our campus.

On July 27, 2011 we cut the ribbon to a new-to-us gallery and office complex! Our future plans include the expansion of our studio and activity center spaces with a kiln porch and a clay classroom.

The name of the Mustard Seed comes from the Bible. Matthew 17:20 says that “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." God has blessed the Mustard Seed and we know that he has moved the Mountains for us here at the Mustard Seed.