History of Mustard Seed Communities
History of Mustard Seed Communities
Mustard Seed Communities is a non-profit, community development organization that began in 1978 in the depressed community of Mona Common on the outskirts of the city of Kingston, Jamaica.
Mustard Seed's objective is to promote the enrichment and empowerment of the spiritually, psychologically and financially poor that live in urban communities, to assist them in leaving the cycles of frustration and hopelessness that dominate their lives.
Timeline
1978 Establishment of Mona Common site.
1979 Official start of Mustard Seed Communities.
1983 Day Care center begins at Mona Common.
Day School begins operation.
Squatter community established.
1984 Self sustainability efforts begin with the commencement of income generating activities, such as the Card Shop.
1985 First official home for children with disabilities opens.
1986 White Wing community established.
Farming and Block Making established.
1987 Board of Directors established and LLC Registered.
1988 Hurricane Gilbert hits; Move from Mona Common to Mahoe Drive.
1989 Official Opening of My Father’s House at Mahoe Drive Location in Kingston.
Printworks, Card Shop and Ceramics projects begin at Mahoe Drive.
1990 Outreach commences in other communities such as Bell Rock.
50 residents enter Children's Home.
1993 Mary's Child officially opened.
1995 Mustard Seed Communities conducts first Strategic Planning Meeting.
1996 Jerusalem! Officially opens in Spanish Town, Jamaica.
Acquisition of UWI & UTech land.
1997 Opening of Sophie's Place in Gordon Town, St. Andrew.
1998 Brother Joseph Francis & Brother Garvin Augustine take religious Promises.
Roots FM officially launched.
Land acquisition in Moneague.
1999 Mustard Seed Communities' missionaries begin a project in Nicaragua.
Development of Widow’s Mite begins.
2001 Zinc Link 1 - the first Internet Café in the inner city is officially opened.
Using video conferencing equipment a Distance Learning project to train care givers commences.
Land is donated in Montego Bay and plans are drawn up for Blessed Assurance.
Mustard Seed Communities is invited to come to Zimbabwe to help with the AIDS crisis after a visit by the Archbishop of Bulawayo - Pius Ncube
The first home for children and babies suffering from the HIV/Aids virus, Dare to Care, is officially opened.
Hogar Immanuel, a home for abandoned children is opened in the Dominican Republic
2002 A second home for children and babies suffering from the HIV/Aids virus is opened - Mathew 25:40
The second Internet Café - Zinc Link 2 - is opened at Mary's Child.
Care Plus and Care Plus 2 - physiotherapy rooms are now operating daily with continued training for the Care Givers via Distance Learning from Stewarts Hospital in Ireland.
2003 Mustard Seed celebrates its 25th anniversary!
Third egg production unit is built at Jerusalem!
Zinc Link 3 is opened at Dupont Primary School - an inner city basic school.
Internet Café Zinc Link 4 opens in Jerusalem! Spanish Town
Distance Learning project expands to provide training for MSC's teachers
Mustard Seed Communities begins distributing food packages at Sosua Garbage Dump in Dominican Republic
2004 Mustard Seed Communities expands Christ in the Garbage Ministries to serving people who live in La Chureca, the Managua City Dump
2006 Martha’s House established to provide residential care for thirty children living with HIV
Mustard Seed Communities Nicaragua purchased 3 acres of land in Diriamba to expand program to care for children with disabilities
Centro de Costura opens in Nicaragua to teach sewing skills to women living in La Chureca
2008 Mustard Seed Communities celebrates its 30th anniversary
Blessed Assurance official opening in St. James
2009 Martha’s House destroyed by fire
Martha’s House reopens on the Jerusalem campus eight months from the date of the fire
2010 Dedication of the chapel at Blessed Assurance, Our Lady of Fatima
Hogar Belen - Diriamba in Nicaragua officially opens.