But be faithful to the LORD your God as you have done until now.
Joshua 23:8NLT
Happy New Year!
This year (2007) Mustard Seed Ministry’s online devotional enters its tenth year. If you want to do the math, that is over 2,500 daily devotionals. We’ve covered nearly every book of the Bible and almost every topic. The readership continues to grow. Each year, I have mailed, via the U.S. Postal Service, an end-year newsletter to anyone who was on my mailing list. In an effort to use expenses wisely and so that more people can read what God is doing, this year I decided to use one day to share my annual newsletter where the devotional normally appears. Unfortunately, to tell the ministry story often sounds like I am bragging. That is not my intent. If you are interested in what God is doing in this ministry, read on! If not, the devotional will return tomorrow!
Here are some highlights from this past year’s ministry:
Internet Ministry
The Internet presence continues to be the core of Mustard Seed Ministry. It always amazes me how this short devotional is many times the only “quiet time” people have. Also, it reaches places the church could never reach; literally around the world. This devotional is read in places where it is illegal to be a "Christian". Sometimes the only function of the devotional is to open a door to help someone who is hurting.
Over the last few years there has been an increased interest in using this devotional for teaching and encouragement through churches, Bible studies and prayer groups. This has given me the opportunity to minister to hundreds of pastors, Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders who have used these writings to minister to others.
This year two new areas of outreach were added to the Internet ministry. Myspace, a large social network of people, has presented these devotionals to an additional 2,500 people each day and that number is growing rapidly. In addition, the podcast of the devotionals launched late last year and is steadily finding new audiences.
Writing
This past year I was able to write for over a dozen publications. Most excitingly, I am now finding a niche in denominational and pastoral leadership magazines, further enhancing the opportunities to reach people through other ministers. It has been interesting to begin dialogues and friendships with people who first met me through one of my articles. I still have several books in the works. Hopefully there will be time and resources this year to concentrate on them and get one actually in print! I have presented some of my Bible study work to a major publisher and we are exploring possibilities together.
Retreats/Special Events
I had numerous opportunities to lead conferences this past year. Again, of special interest to me were the pastor’s retreats that I was able to conduct or where I was invited to speak or lead a break-out. I have a special heart for pastor’s and can identify with their struggles and challenges. I am lining up conferences for 2007 now and have several the first few months of the new year already on the calendar.
Radio
We are in our 13th year on the radio! It has amazed us the volume of people who consistently tune in to the show. Because of the many other commitments, I have actually dropped back (temporarily) to three days per week. Chuck and I are discussing ways we can enhance the radio experience. Since it is also available online (www.wjzm.com), our audience has grown to an international presence.
Church Work
All I can say here is wow! God has allowed us to be a part of a modern day miracle in church planting! This year Grace Community Church has reached so many lost and hurting people. I spend so much of my time trying to help people understand or appreciated God’s love that before now were not even open to discussing “religion”. We are learning so much and already attempting to help other church plants launch successfully.
Missions
Cheryl and I led a trip to Mexico this year. I was able to lead a pastor’s retreat, preach, and we did home evangelism. Nathaniel and I led a trip to Brazil where again I was able to preach and teach God’s Word. I was also able to encourage a Brazilian church planter and his family in their work. We have numerous opportunities being considered for 2007.
School
After a brief hiatus from my doctoral work, I hope to start pursuing this degree again this year as funds allow. I no longer feel the need to have these credentials as much as the need to continue to grow in my knowledge and love of God.
New Opportunities
I have a strong sense that God wants me to continue to find ways to increase this ministry in an effort to reach more people with hope and encouragement. One of the increased activities this next year will be to continue to grow my ministry to pastors and those in the ministry. I have a keen awareness that when I reach one person who is ministering to others that the ministry expands exponentially.
I have been presented with another online opportunity which should launch shortly after the first of the year. Similar to my podcast ministry where I read the daily devotionals, this would be a video version of the devotional. Online TV is the next wave of technology and this will put us on the cutting edge!
Personal/Accountability
I continue to read everything I can get my hands on about doing church in today’s culture. I want to be relevant, but remain true to the truths of God’s Word. I meet each week with my accountability partner. I continue to seek the wisdom of Godly men. I am also currently mentoring several young men, mostly men who are called into the ministry.
My family life is amazing! God has given us such wonderful times together this year. Each of us is growing spiritually and discovering new truths about God and His awesome grace and love. Both boys are finding ways to minister to other people as they continue to search out their sense of a call to full-time ministry. Cheryl continues to mentor young women and assists me in the business side of this ministry.
Business of Ministry
While the majority of our personal needs are met by my pastoring responsibilities, we continue to need funds for the expansion of ministry and to carry out the daily work of this ministry. Ministry (well really everything) is expensive. Our desire is to not draw salary funds from the ministry. If the obligations to fund this ministry can be funded by donations, then it can continue to grow and my personal needs can be met through my pastor responsibilities. We were able to accomplish that in 2006, taking no salary from the ministry. That’s a blessing, considering that our oldest son started college this year!
There is always more to do than the funds will allow, but as God makes opportunities available we will follow them. With this being largely an Internet ministry, the technology expenses are large. Constantly staying current through conferences, books and training is costly. So far the conference and freelance ministry does not support itself. Mission work, whether local or abroad is terribly expensive. (Each year I turn down opportunities here.) As you can hopefully tell, my heart is to help pastors. Most of the pastors I meet with have very limited funds for counseling or other growth resources. My goal is to make my services available to them for little or no cost.
I should not close this newsletter without expressing my sincere gratitude to Richard Schlief with Christweb. He “discovered” this ministry almost 10 years ago, brought it into the automated email world, and continues to handle the technical side of the website, allowing me to minister to people without worrying about things I know little about. Richard, I couldn’t do this ministry without you! Thank you!
If you made it all the way here, then can I say thank you for reading. I am so thankful for the hundreds of people (out of the thousands who read this) that I hear from every year; some seeking help and others simply offering encouragement. You are what keeps me doing this ministry! Grace greatly to you! Your prayers and encouragement are appreciated.
If you want to know more about this ministry or need to talk with me personally, send an email to
ron.mustardseed@Christweb.com For His glory,
Ron
Mustard Seed Ministry is reaching around the world with Biblical truths. The ministry is designed to spur the Christian from the smallest amount of faith, onto spiritual growth and maturity. This ministry goes places the church cannot enter. If you would like to support the work of this ministry, send contributions to Mustard Seed Ministry, PO Box 3698, Clarksville, TN 37043, or through Pay Pal (www.paypal.com) to
ron.mustardseed@Christweb.com email address.
I may not see in front of me, But I can see for miles around when I look over my shoulder, and Lord, it`s clear. You`ve brought me here, So faithful every step of the way. What can I do but follow you, For You are the Way, the Truth, the Life, And You`ve promised never to leave me, My Savior, my friend, From beginning to end. 
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