Can you givE a gift to Mustard before Christmas? Please use the reply slip enclosed

or donate online at www.mustard.org.au

THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME THAT I WRITE TO YOU FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK. FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN’T HEARD, I WILL BE FINISHING AS DIRECTOR OF MUSTARD IN EARLY 2015.

I came to Mustard after working with Cricket Australia and Carlton & United Breweries, where I worked in junior roles. For me, the prospect of leading a small ministry organisation was a radically different scenario.

As I was considering this possibility, I spent a lot of time praying about what to do with my life. I considered the image of a swimming pool, and felt myself standing on the edge of the shallow end. Every kid knows that even though your parents tell you not to jump in where the water is shallowest, it isn’t overly dangerous but it is a little risky.

Standing on the edge of this pool I felt someone say to me “you consider yourself a risky person... well then take a risk for me.”

After this scene I was convinced that God was calling me to this “risky” role with Mustard.

From day one, I was struck by the immense support from many people for Mustard’s work and for me. There was, and still is, an excitement about our creative and innovative approach as we encourage students to consider what a relationship with God is about, and how to live out that relationship in a place that they spend so much time every week.

I have seen this approach have a significant impact. I can think of many students, by name, that now follow Jesus because of our humble efforts. I am convinced that there are many others. I can also think of students that have not only kept with their faith, but also embraced it and flourished to greater levels of faithfulness, obedience and passion.

It has been a wonderful blessing to be a part of Mustard for the past eight years. God’s encouragement to take a risk for

Him was worth it. I found that it wasn’t the shallow but the deep end into which I dove, and only through God’s faithfulness and power have I been able to swim.

People have been very kind in saying that my departure is a loss for Mustard, and I’m grateful for the encouragement. However I am not the only person that can lead Mustard, and I am convinced that someone else should lead Mustard for the next season. Please join me in praying that God makes it clear who the next Director of Mustard will be.

This is an exciting moment for Mustard, and I can’t wait to see the ministry flourish. For you, now is a perfect time to recommit, or commit for the first time to supporting Mustard. Please do not let my departure be a reason to stop supporting Mustard. It won’t be for me or my family.

Thanks again for your support over the past eight years. I can’t wait to see how God continues to bless Mustard in the years ahead.

Tim Clare Mustard’s Director

A COLLECTION OF STORIES FROM TERM 4

CONTACT MUSTARD . 12 JOHN STREET, KEW, VIC 3101 . PH (03) 9816 7131 . mustard@mustard.org.au . www.mustard.org.au

FROM THE MUSTARD BOARD

It’s been my great privilege to work with Tim over the past 4 years. In that time I’ve seen Tim display amazing creativity, endless enthusiasm, genuine humility, clearheaded thoughtfulness and a passionate commitment to the vision and work of Mustard. It’s been a delight to watch Tim grow in his leadership, all while thousands of students across secondary schools in Melbourne have heard the gospel and grown in their faith. We give thanks to God for Tim!

We are planning to formally farewell Tim at an event early next year, and we would love for you to join us. It will be a great opportunity to thank

Tim and celebrate his time with Mustard. We will have more information in the New Year, so please keep an eye out for the details.

We are confident that God is raising up another leader to take Mustard into its next season. The work of Mustard is unique in our schools, and we know it makes a big impact on many of the 8,000 students who we engage with each year.

The board is keen to ensure that we start the next season of Mustard strong and in the best possible way. As we head into the Christmas period, a solid funding base for the beginning

of the year would be a great gift we can all give to the new Director as they step into leadership of Mustard.

Please join us in praying for Mustard – for a new Director, for our staff, for our volunteers, for the students, and for the associated schools and churches.

Joy Linton On behalf of the Mustard Board

8 YEARS AND AN AMAZING LEGACY

Continued inside

Tim brought his

passion, energy and flair

for relationships

to his role in

mustard,s leadership.

IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL BLESSing TO BE A PART OF MUSTARD FOR the past 8 YEARs.

AFTER EIGHT YEARS AS DIRECTOR OF MUSTARD, TIM CLARE IS MOVING ON TO SOMETHING NEW.

Tim leaves the ministry of Mustard in great shape. God is at work in schools throughout Melbourne. Students are powerfully impacted as they are encouraged to explore the good news of Jesus in non-government schools. Christian students are strengthened and nurtured to live out their faith in all schools through Lunchtime Groups. At this significant moment in Mustard’s history, we take a moment to reflect on Tim’s ministry and all that has been achieved under his leadership.

Tim has brought passion, energy, a great flair for relationships and an innovative approach to ministry. He spends much of his time building strong relationships with chaplains, schools, churches and supporters. He works tirelessly to ensure the viability of Mustard’s ministry, managing things behind the scenes to support the incredible staff team. This has enabled Mustard to grow from its foundations, to its current strong position.

GETTING A SNAPSHOT OF LUNCHTIME GROUPS During Term 4, we conducted a census of the Mustard Lunchtime Group network. You may wonder whether we do this to get students in our groups to think about what it was like in the time of Jesus’ birth in some sort of lame nativity activity. Sadly this isn’t the case; rather it is a way for us to get a snapshot of the beautiful diversity of the Lunchtime Groups that meet in schools on a weekly basis.

Currently we have 21 groups meeting across Melbourne consisting of students with a range of ages, backgrounds and stages of faith. Each group is unique and gathering information through a census gives us the

opportunity to ask some important questions of the students. We ask why they come to their group, what they have learned about God through their time in the group and how the group has encouraged them to take steps to live out their faith at school.

It’s such an exhilarating thing when the filled out census packs come back to our office! Reading over the responses from each student reminds us that our groups are vital places of nurture and support for these young followers of Jesus. Even more importantly, it reminds us that every group is made up of children of God with real experiences, real struggles and real dreams.

You’ll find a collection of responses that we received from the students inside this newsletter. We invite you to take a moment to stop and pray for the people behind the words as you read what they have shared with us.

DURING TERM 4, WE CONDUCTED A CENSUS OF THE MUSTARD LUNCHTIME GROUP NETWORK.

our groups are vital places of nurture and

support for these young followers of jesus.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK TIM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP OF MUSTARD.

8 years and an amazing legacy

Mustard has a profound opportunity through Mustard Live to explore the good news of Jesus with thousands of students in non-government schools each year. Tim has played a significant role in these events over the years. Russell Lloyd, Mustard’s Creative Director, suggests that Tim’s unnaturally loud voice, his relaxed style and ability to connect with students has thwarted his own attempts to step back from speaking or hosting these events, and this year alone Tim has spoken to nearly 5,000 students.

“He’ll always be my first pick for an MC or speaker. There are few people with Tim’s ability to capture the attention of a group of students and encourage them to explore a particular topic. Tim shares his passion for Jesus with these students simply, profoundly and with a remarkable amount of ease,” says Russell.

Tim’s heart for students and the work of Mustard is probably most clearly reflected in his support of the students in the Lunchtime Groups in which he has been involved. He’s led groups at Carey, Ashwood College, Caulfield Grammar and, most notably, Camberwell Grammar. Many of the amazing stories that have been shared in these pages over the years have come from the students that Tim has personally supported, encouraged, and discipled.

Aaron, a former student from Camberwell Grammar, describes Tim as one of the most caring, loving and passionate people he knows. “Along with the other boys from Camberwell Grammar, I owe him so much. His ability to listen and communicate the word of God means that he will definitely be missed.”

Stories like Aaron’s make their way to Mustard HQ on a remarkably regular basis. All those that have been involved in Mustard over the past eight years are incredibly grateful for the leadership, support, creativity, relationships, and ministry that Tim has brought to his time with Mustard.

On this great foundation, Mustard will surely thrive into the future.

ALONG THE DUSTY ROAD, OFF THE BEATEN TRACK IS A PATH EVERY PERSON ON PLANET EARTH HEWS. WE ALL ASK THESE QUESTIONS: “WHERE DID I COME FROM? WHAT AM I DOING HERE? WHERE DO I BELONG? WHO AM I?”

The exploration of these questions drove four days of Mustard Live events at Trinity Grammar with their Year 7 and Year 8 students, which saw a team of 30 volunteers from 22 different churches interacting with 300 students during the school’s Faith Week.

Over two days the Mustard team challenged the Year 7 students to consider where their identity comes from and by whom it is shaped. We suggested that we are more than what we do, how we look or what we own. “If God is the designer of each of us, and said He had made us very good, where do we see that value in ourselves and others?” speaker Kyle Schroeder asked. This led to great conversations and discussions exploring the many angles of this most elemental question.

The Year 8 students were encouraged to consider belonging and where it is they are loved and accepted

completely. We posed a question asking where our inherent desire to belong to others and to be loved comes from, showing that this tells us something about God’s desire for us to find belonging and be in connection with Him.

Once again, the highlight of this huge Mustard Live event has been the conversations happening between our team and the students, whether they agree with our perspective or not. It’s encouraging to see God at work, and witness ‘lightbulb moments’ for students as they come to understand who they are in the eyes of God.

For Mustard Live to be able to come into the world of these young men, to help them see their inherent value, and to humbly suggest that God is the source of that value, is an amazing privilege.

Continued from page 1

HALLO FRIENDS OF MUSTARD!!A few weeks ago the class of 2014 officially finished our VCE examinations! Being on the other side of Year 12 is one of the most exhilarating experiences I will ever encounter.

On behalf of the Mustard Year 12’s, I would like to thank those of you who held us in your prayers throughout the year and over the exam period. Knowledge of your support gave us the motivation we needed to keep on going through the hardest of times. Personally I realised that God’s word is true when it says He will never leave us nor forsake us.Thank you for the community of love you have created, and continue to create within schools all around Melbourne. I think this is what being the hands and feet of Christ is about. So keep it up, we appreciate

it so much, and the best is yet to come for the future of Mustard. God bless xxHannah Friebel Mentone Girls Grammar School

SOMETIMES I SIT DOWN AND THINK, WHAT

IS THE MOST UNDERRATED CLICHÉ?

Silly. I know. Who does that? But my mind went instantly to

Paul Kelly and The Messenger’s ‘From Little Things Big Things

Grow’. So, when I think ‘Mustard’, when I think ‘prayer’, I

think of the little, selfless things they do for other people, this

authentic altruism that is often underrated or ignored.

On behalf of the Year 12’s I must express my deep thank you to

all those who prayed for our wellbeing during this important time.

Thanks to you and these little acts of kindness,

I feel that my exam period was a lot less

stressful than it should have been.

Now, the sense of relief empowers

my thirst for the future, urging me

to close my laptop, stop binge watching Breaking Bad and instead follow in the footsteps of

the wonderful people at Mustard

– strive to help others and find my place in life’s journey.

Kapil Bhargava Scotch College

WHY DO YOU COME?

from the CENSUs...

WHAT HAVE YOU DISCOVERED ABOUT GOD AND LIFE?

from the CENsUS...

THANKS FROM A YEAR 12 STUDENT

THANKS FROM A YEAR 12 STUDENT

8 years and an amazing legacy

Mustard has a profound opportunity through Mustard Live to explore the good news of Jesus with thousands of students in non-government schools each year. Tim has played a significant role in these events over the years. Russell Lloyd, Mustard’s Creative Director, suggests that Tim’s unnaturally loud voice, his relaxed style and ability to connect with students has thwarted his own attempts to step back from speaking or hosting these events, and this year alone Tim has spoken to nearly 5,000 students.

“He’ll always be my first pick for an MC or speaker. There are few people with Tim’s ability to capture the attention of a group of students and encourage them to explore a particular topic. Tim shares his passion for Jesus with these students simply, profoundly and with a remarkable amount of ease,” says Russell.

Tim’s heart for students and the work of Mustard is probably most clearly reflected in his support of the students in the Lunchtime Groups in which he has been involved. He’s led groups at Carey, Ashwood College, Caulfield Grammar and, most notably, Camberwell Grammar. Many of the amazing stories that have been shared in these pages over the years have come from the students that Tim has personally supported, encouraged, and discipled.

Aaron, a former student from Camberwell Grammar, describes Tim as one of the most caring, loving and passionate people he knows. “Along with the other boys from Camberwell Grammar, I owe him so much. His ability to listen and communicate the word of God means that he will definitely be missed.”

Stories like Aaron’s make their way to Mustard HQ on a remarkably regular basis. All those that have been involved in Mustard over the past eight years are incredibly grateful for the leadership, support, creativity, relationships, and ministry that Tim has brought to his time with Mustard.

On this great foundation, Mustard will surely thrive into the future.

ALONG THE DUSTY ROAD, OFF THE BEATEN TRACK IS A PATH EVERY PERSON ON PLANET EARTH HEWS. WE ALL ASK THESE QUESTIONS: “WHERE DID I COME FROM? WHAT AM I DOING HERE? WHERE DO I BELONG? WHO AM I?”

The exploration of these questions drove four days of Mustard Live events at Trinity Grammar with their Year 7 and Year 8 students, which saw a team of 30 volunteers from 22 different churches interacting with 300 students during the school’s Faith Week.

Over two days the Mustard team challenged the Year 7 students to consider where their identity comes from and by whom it is shaped. We suggested that we are more than what we do, how we look or what we own. “If God is the designer of each of us, and said He had made us very good, where do we see that value in ourselves and others?” speaker Kyle Schroeder asked. This led to great conversations and discussions exploring the many angles of this most elemental question.

The Year 8 students were encouraged to consider belonging and where it is they are loved and accepted

completely. We posed a question asking where our inherent desire to belong to others and to be loved comes from, showing that this tells us something about God’s desire for us to find belonging and be in connection with Him.

Once again, the highlight of this huge Mustard Live event has been the conversations happening between our team and the students, whether they agree with our perspective or not. It’s encouraging to see God at work, and witness ‘lightbulb moments’ for students as they come to understand who they are in the eyes of God.

For Mustard Live to be able to come into the world of these young men, to help them see their inherent value, and to humbly suggest that God is the source of that value, is an amazing privilege.

Continued from page 1

HALLO FRIENDS OF MUSTARD!!A few weeks ago the class of 2014 officially finished our VCE examinations! Being on the other side of Year 12 is one of the most exhilarating experiences I will ever encounter.

On behalf of the Mustard Year 12’s, I would like to thank those of you who held us in your prayers throughout the year and over the exam period. Knowledge of your support gave us the motivation we needed to keep on going through the hardest of times. Personally I realised that God’s word is true when it says He will never leave us nor forsake us.Thank you for the community of love you have created, and continue to create within schools all around Melbourne. I think this is what being the hands and feet of Christ is about. So keep it up, we appreciate

it so much, and the best is yet to come for the future of Mustard. God bless xxHannah Friebel Mentone Girls Grammar School

SOMETIMES I SIT DOWN AND THINK, WHAT

IS THE MOST UNDERRATED CLICHÉ?

Silly. I know. Who does that? But my mind went instantly to

Paul Kelly and The Messenger’s ‘From Little Things Big Things

Grow’. So, when I think ‘Mustard’, when I think ‘prayer’, I

think of the little, selfless things they do for other people, this

authentic altruism that is often underrated or ignored.

On behalf of the Year 12’s I must express my deep thank you to

all those who prayed for our wellbeing during this important time.

Thanks to you and these little acts of kindness,

I feel that my exam period was a lot less

stressful than it should have been.

Now, the sense of relief empowers

my thirst for the future, urging me

to close my laptop, stop binge watching Breaking Bad and instead follow in the footsteps of

the wonderful people at Mustard

– strive to help others and find my place in life’s journey.

Kapil Bhargava Scotch College

WHY DO YOU COME?

from the CENSUs...

WHAT HAVE YOU DISCOVERED ABOUT GOD AND LIFE?

from the CENsUS...

THANKS FROM A YEAR 12 STUDENT

THANKS FROM A YEAR 12 STUDENT

Can you givE a gift to Mustard before Christmas? Please use the reply slip enclosed

or donate online at www.mustard.org.au

THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME THAT I WRITE TO YOU FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK. FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN’T HEARD, I WILL BE FINISHING AS DIRECTOR OF MUSTARD IN EARLY 2015.

I came to Mustard after working with Cricket Australia and Carlton & United Breweries, where I worked in junior roles. For me, the prospect of leading a small ministry organisation was a radically different scenario.

As I was considering this possibility, I spent a lot of time praying about what to do with my life. I considered the image of a swimming pool, and felt myself standing on the edge of the shallow end. Every kid knows that even though your parents tell you not to jump in where the water is shallowest, it isn’t overly dangerous but it is a little risky.

Standing on the edge of this pool I felt someone say to me “you consider yourself a risky person... well then take a risk for me.”

After this scene I was convinced that God was calling me to this “risky” role with Mustard.

From day one, I was struck by the immense support from many people for Mustard’s work and for me. There was, and still is, an excitement about our creative and innovative approach as we encourage students to consider what a relationship with God is about, and how to live out that relationship in a place that they spend so much time every week.

I have seen this approach have a significant impact. I can think of many students, by name, that now follow Jesus because of our humble efforts. I am convinced that there are many others. I can also think of students that have not only kept with their faith, but also embraced it and flourished to greater levels of faithfulness, obedience and passion.

It has been a wonderful blessing to be a part of Mustard for the past eight years. God’s encouragement to take a risk for

Him was worth it. I found that it wasn’t the shallow but the deep end into which I dove, and only through God’s faithfulness and power have I been able to swim.

People have been very kind in saying that my departure is a loss for Mustard, and I’m grateful for the encouragement. However I am not the only person that can lead Mustard, and I am convinced that someone else should lead Mustard for the next season. Please join me in praying that God makes it clear who the next Director of Mustard will be.

This is an exciting moment for Mustard, and I can’t wait to see the ministry flourish. For you, now is a perfect time to recommit, or commit for the first time to supporting Mustard. Please do not let my departure be a reason to stop supporting Mustard. It won’t be for me or my family.

Thanks again for your support over the past eight years. I can’t wait to see how God continues to bless Mustard in the years ahead.

Tim Clare Mustard’s Director

A COLLECTION OF STORIES FROM TERM 4

CONTACT MUSTARD . 12 JOHN STREET, KEW, VIC 3101 . PH (03) 9816 7131 . mustard@mustard.org.au . www.mustard.org.au

FROM THE MUSTARD BOARD

It’s been my great privilege to work with Tim over the past 4 years. In that time I’ve seen Tim display amazing creativity, endless enthusiasm, genuine humility, clearheaded thoughtfulness and a passionate commitment to the vision and work of Mustard. It’s been a delight to watch Tim grow in his leadership, all while thousands of students across secondary schools in Melbourne have heard the gospel and grown in their faith. We give thanks to God for Tim!

We are planning to formally farewell Tim at an event early next year, and we would love for you to join us. It will be a great opportunity to thank

Tim and celebrate his time with Mustard. We will have more information in the New Year, so please keep an eye out for the details.

We are confident that God is raising up another leader to take Mustard into its next season. The work of Mustard is unique in our schools, and we know it makes a big impact on many of the 8,000 students who we engage with each year.

The board is keen to ensure that we start the next season of Mustard strong and in the best possible way. As we head into the Christmas period, a solid funding base for the beginning

of the year would be a great gift we can all give to the new Director as they step into leadership of Mustard.

Please join us in praying for Mustard – for a new Director, for our staff, for our volunteers, for the students, and for the associated schools and churches.

Joy Linton On behalf of the Mustard Board

8 YEARS AND AN AMAZING LEGACY

Continued inside

Tim brought his

passion, energy and flair

for relationships

to his role in

mustard,s leadership.

IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL BLESSing TO BE A PART OF MUSTARD FOR the past 8 YEARs.

AFTER EIGHT YEARS AS DIRECTOR OF MUSTARD, TIM CLARE IS MOVING ON TO SOMETHING NEW.

Tim leaves the ministry of Mustard in great shape. God is at work in schools throughout Melbourne. Students are powerfully impacted as they are encouraged to explore the good news of Jesus in non-government schools. Christian students are strengthened and nurtured to live out their faith in all schools through Lunchtime Groups. At this significant moment in Mustard’s history, we take a moment to reflect on Tim’s ministry and all that has been achieved under his leadership.

Tim has brought passion, energy, a great flair for relationships and an innovative approach to ministry. He spends much of his time building strong relationships with chaplains, schools, churches and supporters. He works tirelessly to ensure the viability of Mustard’s ministry, managing things behind the scenes to support the incredible staff team. This has enabled Mustard to grow from its foundations, to its current strong position.

GETTING A SNAPSHOT OF LUNCHTIME GROUPS During Term 4, we conducted a census of the Mustard Lunchtime Group network. You may wonder whether we do this to get students in our groups to think about what it was like in the time of Jesus’ birth in some sort of lame nativity activity. Sadly this isn’t the case; rather it is a way for us to get a snapshot of the beautiful diversity of the Lunchtime Groups that meet in schools on a weekly basis.

Currently we have 21 groups meeting across Melbourne consisting of students with a range of ages, backgrounds and stages of faith. Each group is unique and gathering information through a census gives us the

opportunity to ask some important questions of the students. We ask why they come to their group, what they have learned about God through their time in the group and how the group has encouraged them to take steps to live out their faith at school.

It’s such an exhilarating thing when the filled out census packs come back to our office! Reading over the responses from each student reminds us that our groups are vital places of nurture and support for these young followers of Jesus. Even more importantly, it reminds us that every group is made up of children of God with real experiences, real struggles and real dreams.

You’ll find a collection of responses that we received from the students inside this newsletter. We invite you to take a moment to stop and pray for the people behind the words as you read what they have shared with us.

DURING TERM 4, WE CONDUCTED A CENSUS OF THE MUSTARD LUNCHTIME GROUP NETWORK.

our groups are vital places of nurture and

support for these young followers of jesus.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK TIM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP OF MUSTARD.