We are Mustard Seed.
We plant seeds of change in the lives of Indonesian children.
Why Indonesia?
Are you curious to know why we serve Indonesian people? Click here to find out:
How We Do It
Mustard Seed International empowers the next generation and establishes thriving communities through a holistic model of transformative Christian Education.
WE TEACH
We plant seeds of hope in the hearts of children because we believe that life-giving education can change the future of Southeast Asia.
WE LOVE
We love because God first loved us. It is this love that compels us to go into remote areas to start schools, care for orphans and serve those in need.
THEY LEAD
We believe in the importance of local leadership; therefore, we train and equip indigenous youth with the necessary tools to help their society flourish.
2023 in Numbers
Leader's Messages
Find encouragement from the messages written by our leaders:
Slippery Rock: A Lighthouse of Hope in Borneo
Hidden away in the lush tropical jungle of Borneo, Indonesia, Slippery Rock is a place where hope blooms. Pioneered by MSI’s founder, Lillian...
Journey to Mentawai
Mentawai’s school is located on one of the most remote islands of West Sumatera, Indonesia. This past summer, Kiera and Jules visited the school to...
The Matrix
Before the start of each new school year, MSI leaders in Indonesia gather to pray and ask God for direction. This annual leadership retreat is where...
A Call to Excellence: Our Journey
1952-1983: Lillian Dickson's Footprint
In 1952, Mrs. Lillian Dickson opened and dedicated a Vocational Training Institute and a chapel in Taiwan. These were additions to Mustard Seed’s existing Rescue Home for boys. “People will be our kind of work,” she explained. As she watched the beaming children march from the Vocational Building to the Chapel, she reflected: “This is the pathway of Hope”.
In 1971, at the age of 70, Lillian expanded the work of Mustard Seed to Indonesia. Since then, Mustard Seed has expanded to other areas of Southeast Asia and continues to focus on building education programs. in 1983 Lillian passed away, but her legacy and work continued to grow.
2002-2011: The Development of A Model Christian School
In 2002 a model Christian school for Indonesian children was developed, which would later serve as MSI’s Lab School. By 2011, The Lab School grew to exceed 800 students.
2011-2012 Development of Teacher Training Program
Training indigenous youth to become teachers was the most effective way to educate children, especially in remote areas, and so in 2011, the TransformNation (TfN) Teacher-Training Program was born.
In 2018, The Elevate Teacher-Training Program was developed to equip village teachers with an intensive
3-month course. Our Agricultural Training Center, known as Victory Place, opened to help train village teachers in self-sufficiency and agribusiness.
2021 - Now: Expanding Influence Across the Nation
In 2021, MSI’s Lab School was acknowledged by the Indonesian Department of Education as one of the three most influential schools in the country. The lab School is working with the Department of Education to design the curriculum for government schools across the nation.
In the same year, TfN graduates are pioneering Christian schools in the most remote villages of Indonesia.
Today, lives and communities continue to be transformed through life-giving Christian education.
