We are simply a normal family who believes that Jesus is calling us to something bigger. I (Andy) am a public high school teacher, Serenity is a homemaker and our four kids spend their time bouncing off the walls and acting like monkeys. We live in a nice home in suburbia outside of Portland, Oregon in a tiny little town of 3,000 people called Hubbard, Oregon. A few years back the Gospel began to make the comfort, uncomfortable (the Bible contains over 300 verses on the poor or social justice, as well as God’s deep concern for both), and we knew that the Lord was ushering in a change in our lives.
(From left to right: Avery, Luci, Serenity, Eva, Andy and Ally)
On June 16th, 2008 our family embarked on a journey around the United States and Canada seeking out the lost by connecting with churches and ministries who had the same heart for the poor. Most of the time however, we simply responded to the Holy Spirit and did our own thing to love on the people God was putting in front of us each day. We traveled 16,652 miles throughout the United States and Canada. We made it to 35 states, 3 Canadian provinces, and 30 or so major cities where we connected with over 70 mercy ministries that reached out to and loved on the poor. It was a year of obedience, a year of learning, and a year of falling deeper in love with Jesus as we served the “least of these.”
We are back home now and know we are exactly where the Lord wants us. Our heart is still to love on the poor, and we hope to develop a deeper sense of community amongst our neighbors right here in Hubbard. We have started the Jubilee Food Pantry, a food pantry right out of our home’s garage where folks from the community can come get a sack of groceries if needed. You can click here to go to the JFP website.
Our Ministry
We call our ministry “Mustard Seed Ministries,” based on the parable Jesus told about the Kingdom of God being like a mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32), one of the smallest seeds that grows into a strong tree. Our mission is to spread God’s love through small acts of kindness, and these small “seeds” will grow into strong trees of faith. One way we can do this is by bringing life’s basic necessities to the poor.
Our Mission Statement
BRINGING THE LOVE OF JESUS TO THE POOR AND MARGINALIZED THROUGH LIFE’S BASIC NECESSITIES
Our Vision
Jesus said that we would always have the poor with us, but that is no excuse to not acknowledge them as people who are loved as children of our Lord and Savior. Our desire is to love on the people God sets before us, rich, poor, the homeless, or people who happen to have a roof above their head. We also fully understand, and this is the crux of our message, that we have nothing REAL to offer people other than the love of Jesus. Our desire is to spread this love through simple acts of compassion: buying a meal for a homeless man, providing a box of food for a working poor family, or just being available in our busy society to sit and listen.
Our Core Values
- Follow Jesus
- Love People
- Be Simple
Mustard Seed Ministries 