“…if you have faith even as small as a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move and nothing will be impossible to you.” -Matthew 17:20
Looking Back…Looking Ahead… A Brief History of the Mustard Seed
OUR VISION...
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Over 27 years ago the Mustard Seed community was founded in order 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, our forefathers and foremothers incorporated a ministry organization and began meeting in local churches to takes steps of faith towards the above goals.
Our founders were originally few in number; however, they were people characterized by their vision and faith. The founding members were both parents of mentally challenged adults and others who 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 in the care of their loved ones. These visionaries knew that their loved ones had great potential for growth and the right to their own life experiences. At an early meeting God sent a music therapist who offered to organize a 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 and an abiding faith in God, the Mustard Seed was able to open a home on our present campus in 1986…with just one resident. Slowly but surely additional residents began to enroll and the homes began to grow. The remainder of our current campus was piecemealed together over the next few years into 7.5 acres with two homes, some trailers, and a metal workshop/garage. As our vision and faith matured so did our campus and programming. 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 (pictured below). However, through the abundant provision of God and his people, 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! Now with over 5,000 square feet in which to minister, our programming has been greatly expanded and diversified and enrollment increased to over 41 Seedsters! Thanks be to God.
