Four years ago we stepped across the threshold of family court with one of the single mothers who was fighting for custody of her 9 year old daughter.  It was a case in which the little girl had been kidnapped by her father who had weekend visitation rights.  He withdrew her from school and all activities and moved her into his parents’ home.  Because there was a legal court order this was a legal matter and therefore needed to be presented before the judge.  Emergency custody was filed.  Being green under the collar we thought “oh she will be home the week’s end.”  It took almost 10 weeks before the hearing.  It was our first experience in family court.  We were quickly sobered into the reality of the plight most of these women face as they attempt to procure protective custody of their children.

Over these years we have become students of the legal process.  The mustard Seed Project will provide legal representation only for those mothers who have legitimate reasons to fight for primary protective custody.  Examples are: father is drug addict; domestic violence in the home; etc.  In many cases the father has deep seated mental health issues for which he refuses treatment.

The tendency in family court is to split children 50/50.  It takes a good lawyer and sufficient finance to fight for the rights of a child.

Some women and children have stayed in unhealthy situations because the mother had no means to leave.  Statistics show it takes up to seven times for most women to finally leave domestic violence, once and for all.  And usually the step is taken when the mother’s eyes are open to how their children are being scarred in this atmosphere.

When children are forced to stay in such situations they suffer.  The longer they stay, the deeper the harm psychologically and emotionally.  There is a molding shaping that occurs that often sets up such children to gravitate to destructive habits as teenagers and adults.

The sooner the mother and children can be extricated and placed in a safe dwelling, the sooner they can begin to heal and be restored.

This is a questionnaire often used by mental and health care professionals.

Adverse Childhood Experiences

1. Emotional Abuse (recurrent)
2. Physical Abuse (recurrent)
3. Sexual Abuse (contact)
4. Physical Neglect
5. Emotional Neglect
6. Substance Abuse in the household (ie: living with an alcoholic or a person with a substance abuse problem)
7. Mental illness in the household (ie: living with someone with chronic depression or mental illness or attempted suicide)
8. Mother treated violently
9. Divorce or Parental separation
10. Criminal behavior in the household (e.g. a household member going to prison)

Many of the Mustard Seed single mothers entered adulthood with 5-8 of these markers in their lives which set them up to gravitate toward those who would match their childhood experience.  We are thankful to walk with them and their children as they break free of such generational bondage.  It is with great joy we are able to show these mothers that while they may have had many strong markers of adversity in their childhoods, because of their courage to step out and fight for the rights of their children, their children will not be as deeply scarred.

We are thankful to be able to provide these ladies with strong legal representation.  It is because of the prayers and financial investment of the many of you we are able to do so for which we are deeply grateful.

These ladies who, at one time, considered their identity to be defined by their past, flawed self-image wrapped in shame, we are now able to confidently say they are women of worth.  For so long these families were as plants experiencing root shock.  Now they are settled and thriving.

Thank you and God Bless You,

The Mustard Seed Family

“He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.  They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support.  He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.”  Psalm 18:18-19