Mustard Seed International 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 5/25/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
Mustard Seed International is an interdenominational, international, evangelical Christian missions organization, established in 1948. For over fifty years faithful supporters of TMS have sown seeds of hope through the wide range of evangelistic outreach ministries the organization sponsors across Southeast Asia. These include: orphanage/children's homes, christian schools (kindergarten through high school), vocational training, medical clinics, hospitals, Bible colleges, theological institutes, churches and as needed relief efforts. All TMS missions are staffed by indigenous Christian personnel and cross-cultural missionary families.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Mustard Seed International
PO Box 91569
Austin, TX 78709-1569
Website: www.mustardseed.org
Phone: (843) 388-9314
Email: info@mustardseed.org
Organization details
EIN: 952053950
CEO/President: Paul Richardson
Chairman: John Irwin
Board size: 5
Founder: Ms. Lilian Dickson
Year founded: 1959
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1993
Purpose
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 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. We believe in the importance of local leadership; therefore, we train and equip indigenous youth with the necessary tools to help their society flourish.
Mustard Seed International empowers the next generation and establishes thriving communities through a holistic model of transformative Christian Education.
Mission statement
TMS uses the following to express its Mission Statement:
"To present Christ as Savior to all we meet, to heal disease and all manner of suffering and to love sincerely and deeply those people whose lives we are privileged to touch."
Statement of faith
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Evangelism Support
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 727 of 913 | 36 of 51 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 780 of 915 | 38 of 51 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 814 of 915 | 44 of 51 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 281 of 913 | 16 of 51 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 5% | 9% | 8% | 5% | 6% | 4% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 4% | 9% | 8% | 5% | 6% | 4% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 98% | 97% | 99% | 93% | 99% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 5% | 5% | 7% | 4% | 4% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 7% | 1% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 77% | 79% | 76% | 78% | 84% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 94% | 171% | 161% | 76% | 128% | 98% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 78% | 132% | 127% | 58% | 100% | 83% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 6% | -71% | -61% | 24% | -28% | 2% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 6% | -125% | -45% | 22% | -26% | 2% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 10% | 18% | 16% | 17% | 17% | 12% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.21 | 1.96 | 0.97 | 0.62 | 0.85 | 1.14 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.28 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.98 | 1.96 | 0.97 | 0.62 | 0.85 | 1.14 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 19.99 | 15.64 | 23.00 | 32.14 | 9.01 | 146.75 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.04 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.11 | 0.01 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.68 | 5.75 | 11.88 | 18.74 | 12.57 | 10.43 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 5% | 35% | 20% | 15% | 30% | 15% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 78% | 33% | 83% | 138% | 83% | 74% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $34,148 | $28,267 | $224,872 | $195,027 | $225,660 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $98,111 | $124,035 | $29,795 | $1,791 | $0 |
| Short-term investments | $12,015 | $116,072 | $109,174 | $145,466 | $134,329 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $144,274 | $268,374 | $363,841 | $342,284 | $359,989 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total assets | $144,274 | $268,374 | $363,841 | $342,284 | $359,989 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $9,227 | $11,670 | $11,322 | $37,989 | $2,453 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $9,227 | $11,670 | $11,322 | $37,989 | $2,453 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $41,304 | $41,491 | $41,666 | $63,251 | $52,669 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $41,304 | $41,491 | $41,666 | $63,251 | $52,669 |
| Total liabilities | $50,531 | $53,161 | $52,988 | $101,240 | $55,122 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $93,743 | $215,213 | $310,853 | $241,044 | $272,136 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $32,731 |
| Net assets | $93,743 | $215,213 | $310,853 | $241,044 | $304,867 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $161,193 | $156,396 | $291,109 | $211,349 | $413,257 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $4,031 | $4,906 | $4,379 | $15,358 | $5,536 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $4,031 | $4,906 | $4,379 | $15,358 | $5,536 |
| Total revenue | $165,224 | $161,302 | $295,488 | $226,707 | $418,793 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $217,355 | $205,138 | $172,549 | $227,516 | $346,061 |
| Management and general | $49,732 | $41,896 | $37,552 | $50,437 | $48,388 |
| Fundraising | $14,987 | $12,166 | $15,578 | $12,577 | $17,042 |
| Total expenses | $282,074 | $259,200 | $225,679 | $290,530 | $411,491 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($116,850) | ($97,898) | $69,809 | ($63,823) | $7,302 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($116,850) | ($97,898) | $69,809 | ($63,823) | $7,302 |
Compensation
Compensation data for this ministry has not been collected.
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 5/25/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
Mustard Seed can trace its roots to founder Lilian Dickson's (1901-1983) work in Taiwan just after World War II.
In 1969, 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".
Since then, Mustard Seed has expanded to other areas of Southeast Asia and continues to focus on building education programs. Through the schools we start, staff, and operate, we provide hope to our students, teachers, and the communities they live in. The education, training and discipleship they receive nourishes their hearts and minds. In every classroom and children's home we run, we teach in words and deeds about our greatest Hope. Driven by that Hope, teaching is our small act of worship.
Holding strongly to Lilian's legacy, we are focused on training and empowering indigenous leaders after God's own heart. Currently, almost all of our sites are led by local leaders. We're aiming much bigger - we established an innovative teacher and leadership training program to exponentially increase the number of local leaders who will be equipped to serve communities all over their nation. It is through this generation that the mustard seeds we're planting will grow into something Christ-sized big!
Program accomplishments
2020 In Numbers:
3 new schools opened
91 children received love and care in Mustard Seed children's homes
540 youth received mentorship and life skills through youth outreach programs
71 teachers-in-training were equipped and discipled through the transformation program
402 teachers provided love and mentorship for their students
41 transformation interns served children in village schools
45 communities rose up in new hope for their future
3643 children discovered their true potential through transformative Christian education