HISTORY OF THE MUSTARD SEED

The Mustard Seed was founded in 1981 when a group of families saw the need for a Christ-centered ministry in the community. Prior to The Mustard Seed’s establishment, many families felt that there were limited options for their loved ones with disabilities. The dream for The Mustard Seed was to provide a place that would “meet the spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual needs of adults with developmental disabilities by providing a loving and protected Christian community with meaningful activities that allow the participants to fulfill the potential God created within them.” So, with that dream, and because of our founders’ faith and vision, a seed was planted, and The Mustard Seed began to take root.

Since 1981, God has blessed The Mustard Seed, and because of Him, The Mustard Seed is continuing to “move mountains” within the special needs community.

THE MUSTARD SEED TIMELINE

1981 The Mustard Seed was founded and incorporated. Our founders began meeting in local churches to take steps in achieving our mission statement.

1983 The Bells of Faith handbell choir began performing at local churches and organizations and has continued to minister through meaningful worship and by positive example.

1986 The 1085 Luckney Road campus was purchased, with one resident moving into the group home.

1989 The group home began to grow, with the workshop program beginning in its storage room. We had a contract to pour greenware for The Charter Hospital of Jackson’s art therapy program.

1990 We purchased a second home on campus, which became our Women’s Group Home.

Early 90s The Junior League of Jackson and many other generous volunteers transformed the rudimentary workshop into a functioning ceramic studio and art therapy program for our Seedsters to enjoy and learn artistic skills.

2000 Construction began on a new multipurpose Activity Center, with over 5,000 square feet of activity space, allowing our program to greatly expand.

2001  A fire, caused by an overheated kiln, completely destroyed our workshop. Thankfully, a new and improved workshop was constructed and quickly put into operation.

2011 2011 began with 10 Seedster ladies moving into The Mustard Seed’s NEW Women’s Group Home! By July, our former Women’s Group Home was renovated into a new gift shop and office complex.

2012 We purchased 3.2 acres on the corner of Hand Drive and Newport Road to further expand our campus.

2013 The doors opened to a state-of-the-art Ceramics Workshop and a much-needed renovated Activity Center, which included two safe rooms and a covered porch that housed nine kilns. The new spaces provided classroom areas where Seedsters could enjoy small group activities, classes, ceramic hand-building, and many more life-enriching programs.

2016 In September, we broke ground and began construction on a new Men’s Group Home on the southwest corner of The Mustard Seed campus.

2018 We opened our new Men’s Group Home with 10 men excited to move in. This home replaced our former Men’s Group Home at the front of our campus. Thanks to many supporters, the day the home was opened, the home was completely paid in full!

2023 In January of 2023, we opened a second Gift Shop in the Old Town Railroad District of Ridgeland, MS, giving our ministry greater visibility in the tri-county area.

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