Mustard Seed Missions

Dear Youth & Parents,
We have booked a week long service project at the Mustard Seed from Aug 14 to 19, and want you (your son/daughter) to consider joining the team!

The Mustard Seed offers a program called "Summer Urban Placement" for groups of youth.  These is an excerpt from their brochure: 

You can make a difference.  
Come spend a week at The Mustard Seed and be immersed in Edmonton’s inner city. This is an opportunity
for you and a group of youth to explore and gain an understanding of issues of poverty and social justice.
Not only will you learn a lot but you will leave with ideas for ways you, as an individual or group, can respond in
practical and tangible ways.

• You start your week on Sunday at 6 pm and we wrap things up on Friday morning at 11 am.
• The cost per person is a suggested donation of $175. Groups are also asked to raise funds or
the food to provide two evening meals. The cost of an average meal is about $700-800.
• This is your adventure...come prepared to learn and grow!

What is involved?
• Take time for regular quiet and reflection times.
• Serve and prepare evening meals for our inner city community.
• Participate in special work projects (painting, cleaning etc.) around The Mustard Seed.
• Leave your comfort zone behind and get out into the inner city to experience what life is like on the streets.
• Play games and spend time in group discussion to get you thinking about what you’ve observed during the day.
• Think about ways that “you” can make a difference.

Who can come?
• Any group of people over the age of 12 (junior/senior high, a mix of adults and youth etc.)
• We require a five to one student to adult ratio.
• The minimum number of people per group is 10.  The maximum number is 20.

Changing the face of poverty together. 
     Inspired by Christian faith, we value...
People – Recognizing the value and potential in everyone.
Community – Drawing people into authentic and fulfilling relationships.
Learning – Deepening our understanding of God, the world, each other and ourselves.
Justice – Pursuing social justice and making things right.

The Mustard Seed Church owns a house two blocks away from the main facility.  This is where we will be living for the week.  The house doors will be locked at all times.  The only people who have a key to this house are the youth leaders and Mustard Seed staff members.  Safety rules will be discussed with the group the first day they arrive and leaders must be with the youth at all times.  The Mustard Seed staff will also be with the group from 8 am to 10 pm every day and the group will always be in the house before dark.  The majority of the activities will be inside the the Mustard Seed building.

The youth leaders and Mustard Seed staff will have cell phones.  Youth will not need money, cell phones, laptops or any other portable electronics this week.

There are a variety of activities the group will be doing, including preparing and serving meals, hearing Mustard Seed community member testimonies and stories, work projects, learning and devotional sessions regarding poverty, social justice and faith, an inner city tour, & getting to know community members.  

Representatives from the Mustard Seed will be at SVBC on Tues, June 28 at 7 pm in the Fireside Room.   They have a short powerpoint presentation and will be available to answer any questions.  Please join us if you are interested in this service project!

If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Justin


Thanks!