In 2025, Mustard Seed International continued its mission of empowering the next generation through transformative Christian education. Across Indonesia, schools remained places of learning, stability, and hope as teachers, students, and communities pressed forward in settings that often require patience, resilience, and faith.
At the center of this work are local teachers. Their daily presence shapes classrooms, strengthens communities, and helps children grow not only in knowledge, but in character and purpose.
We Teach. We Love. They Lead.
Mustard Seed’s approach to education is grounded in long-term commitment. Teaching opens opportunities for children who might otherwise be left behind. Love compels service in remote and underserved areas. Local leadership ensures that change is rooted within each community and sustained over time.
This is clearly seen in the experience of Teacher Ester from Sumba, whose story reflects how many schools first begin.
“We had no school at the beginning. Two young village teachers simply gathered the children wherever they could, under the trees or in open fields, and began to teach. Many children from nearby villages had never been to school because no teacher had come. Then some caring people saw what we were trying to do and decided to help. With their support, we built classrooms, a water well, toilets, and our teachers received training. Now our children are learning and growing in character. Kids from other villages are starting to come. I believe they are the hope for our island. Through education, God will raise them up to bless many people here.”
—Teacher Ester, Sumba
Her testimony reflects a pattern seen across many Mustard Seed communities. Education often begins with limited resources, grows through faithful teaching, and takes root over time.
Education and Care in 2025
During the year, 4,780 children participated in Mustard Seed’s education programs. A total of 532 teachers provided instruction, care, and mentorship in classrooms and village schools across Indonesia. Through the TransformNation program, 85 teachers in training were equipped and discipled, while 42 TfN interns served alongside local teachers in village schools.
Care extended beyond the classroom. Ninety-seven children’s homes continued to provide daily care and stability. Youth outreach programs supported 322 young people through mentorship and life skills development, and 60 children received tutoring and enrichment support. Altogether, 5,355 people were connected through the MSI network in 2025.
Communities and Schools in Progress
Across Indonesia, schools and communities experienced growth shaped by local needs and circumstances.
In Slippery Rock, Borneo, planning continued for campus expansion as preparations were made to open an elementary program. In the Papuan Highlands, Tirta’s Village School added a school clinic and the village’s first toilet facility, improving daily conditions for students and families.
At Wana Walinge, education continued despite repeated disruptions caused by political and tribal unrest. Teachers and TfN interns remained present, serving 92 students while hoping and praying for peace to return to the village. On Sumba Island, the school campus expanded with the launch of its first junior high program, supporting 98 teachers and 881 children across village schools.
In Java, MSI’s Lab School continued to serve as a center for Christian education and teacher development, supporting more than 1,400 students through training and youth programs. The TransformNation Teacher Training Program welcomed 13 new trainees and held its first reunion, bringing together trainees, interns, and alumni serving across Indonesia. In Solo, leadership transitioned to support vocational education, helping young people develop practical skills for work and daily life.
Looking Ahead
The work of education is steady and long-term. Progress is often gradual, seen in classrooms that continue to grow, in teachers who remain committed, and in students who begin to imagine new possibilities for their future.
In 2025, Mustard Seed International again witnessed how faithful teachers and local leadership shape communities over time. The seeds planted through education continue to grow.
