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
 		 An Aerial View of Kingston
An Aerial View of Kingston
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 Income generating activities begins; Jack Samwel's association with Mustard Seed begins; Haitians brought to Jamaica to start Card shop.
 
1985 Home for and focus upon children with disabilities begins; low cost housing project started.
 		 Burnt Shell of Mona Common Facility
Burnt Shell of Mona Common Facility
1986 White Wing community established; Economic activities: Farm and Block Making established.
 
1987 Fire at Mona Common; Board of Directors established and Limited Liability Company Registered
 
1988 Hurricane Gilbert hits; Move from Mona Common to Mahoe Drive.
 
1989 Major Opening at Mahoe Drive; Printworks, Card Shop and Ceramics projects begin.
 		 Official Opening of Mahoe Drive Facility
Official Opening of Mahoe Drive Facility
1990 Outreach commences in other communities such as Bell Rock; 50 residents enter Children's Home.
 
1991 Establishment of Executive Committee.
 
1992 Draft Vision Statement prepared.
 
1993 Mary's Child officially opened.
 		 Official Opening of Jerusalem!
Official Opening of Jerusalem!
 
1994 Staff 175; Children 74; Mary's Child averages eight women and six babies throughout the year.
 
1995 Mustard Seed Communities conducts first Strategic Planning Meeting.
 
1996 Jerusalem! Officially opens; 35 Children, 25 Staff; Archbishop Edgerton Clarke becomes head of Mustard Seed Communities Board; Acquisition of UWI & UTech land.
 
1997 Opening of Sophie's Place in Gordon Town, St. Andrew.
 		 Duchess of Kent at a MSC Official Opening
Duchess of Kent at a MSC Official Opening
 
1998 Brother Joseph Francis & Brother Garvin Augustine take religious Promises; Cradle of Jesus opens in Haiti; Roots FM officially launched; Land acquisition in Moneague; Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent visits and opens several MSC projects.
 
1999 Mustard Seed Communities' missionaries begin a project in Nicaragua; Development of Murray Mount, Jamaica begins.
 
2000 Second Strategic Planning Meeting scheduled.
 
2001
  • Zinc Link 1 - the first Internet Café in the inner city is officially opened by Mr Robert Gregory - Executive Director of Heart Trust and the National Development Agency
  • Using video conferencing equipment a Distance Learning project to train innercity care givers commences
  • The Mustard Seed web site is rebuilt
  • Holy Innocents Prep School and a bakery are opened by the Prime Minister at Sophie's Place in Gordon Town where a retreat centre was also recently built to house visiting volunteers and mission groups
  • More chapters open in the US - Ohio and California
Zinc Link In Action
Zinc Link In Action
 
  • Land is donated in Montego Bay and plans are drawn up for a large project which include a village for physically and mentally challenged children, income generating and food production projects
  • Mustard Seed Communities is invited to come to Zimbabwe to help with the Aids crisis after a visit by Archbishop of Bulawayo - Pius Ncube
  • The first home for children and babies suffering from the HIV/Aids virus, Dare to Care, is officially opened by Harry Belefonte and the Minister of Health John Junor
  • 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 by Minister of Industry, Commerce and Technology - Mr Paulwell
  • 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
  • Roots Meadows - a joint housing project with Food for the Poor commences
  • Haitian project expands to include a school for 150 children
Physiotherapy In Action
Physiotherapy In Action
 
  • Headquarters of Mustard Seed USA moves from Atlanta to New York
  • Mustard Seed Communities affiliates with Heartbeats of Jamaica (now known as Heartbeats of the World)
  • A respite center for parents and older children is to be built on a donated piece of land in Irish Town, St Ann
  • Land and a building in North Street is donated to MSC - Martha's House will be set up here
     
2003
  • RootsFM Radio station expanded to include a News Room. Plans are afoot to develop the commercial potential of the project to the point of financial self sustainability
  • Finance secured from the Montego Bay Development Project
  • Third egg production unit is built at Jerusalem!
  • Zinc Link 3 is opened at Dupont Primary School - an inner city basic school and an epal (email) project starts with the school children in a Primary school in Ireland and Dupont Primary in Jamaica
  • Internet Café Zinc Link 4 opens in Jerusalem! Spanish Town
  • Distance Learning project expands to provide training for MSC's teachers
  • Web site now features an online donation facility and a shop that sells hand made greeting cards (from banana tree bark and leaves) made in the inner city
  • Mustard Seed celebrates its 25th anniversary