Mustard Tree Missions (MTM) was founded and is directed by Rick Burton of Meridian, MS.
He has been active in leadership in local churches for many years and was also a youth leader for
several years. It was his involvement with the youth ministry of his church which first led him to start
taking mission trips to Venezuela.
Originally from the Pittsburgh, PA area, Rick moved south over 40 years ago and began a career as
an insurance agent. After owning his own agency for many years, God led him to sell it in order to give
more time to missions.
Rick is ordained by Global Alliance Network. He and his wife, Lokey, live in Meridian, MS.
Mustard Tree Missions, Inc.
©2017
Rubén Turtulici, M.Ed. - FUNDAMOST President and Director, Maracaibo, Venezuela
Rubén is the President of Fundación Árbol de Mostaza (FUNDAMOST) which is the Venezuelan branch of
MTM headquarterd in Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Rubén holds a Master’s Degree in International Education from Framingham State College. He also holds
undergraduate degrees in Modern Languages, Philosophy, and Psychology. He is fluent in 4 languages –
Spanish, English, French and Italian.
A native of Maracaibo, Rubén has served in church ministry for many years in many different areas
including praise and worship, Christian education, and missions. For several years he assisted Teen Mania
mission teams that came to Maracaibo as a translator and team coordinator. As school teacher, he has
taught both children and adults for 25 years in local and international language schools and through private
tutoring. He is a practicing psychologist and also teaches online courses. He is ordained by Global Alliance
Network.
Rubén is now living in Dubai, UAE. He attends Fellowship Dubai and serves in their “Compass” and
“Celebrate Recovery” ministries. He is still actively invloved in MTM’s ministries in Maracaibo and maintains
frequent contact with José Andrade, our Assistant Director of Missions in Maracaibo.
Staff
José Andrade - FUNDAMOST Assistant Director of Missions in Maracaibo, Venezuela
José is 23 years old and lives in Maracaibo, Venezuela. He is a psychologist working with individual
clients and also in the Psychiatric Hospital in Maracaibo. Although he is an official employee of the
hospital, he does not get paid because of the current economic situation in Venezuela. He is currently
working on a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology.
He is also working with the projects that the Foundation (Fundamost/Mustard Tree Missions) has been
involved with, including helping other young people finish their college degrees. About the Foundation
work, he says, "I want to help people. Here in Venezuela there are a lot of people who need our help, and I
think we can do something good for them. It's a very difficult situation, especially in the Psychiatric
Hospital, but we have to do what we can to help each person who needs us!"
José attends Christ Church in Maracaibo.
Juan Grateron - Missions Representative in Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Juan
represents MTM in Barquisimeto and surrounding communities. He is also the founder and director of
Fundación Gotas de Amor (Drops of Love Foundation). We first met Juan when he was about 15 years old
and worked as a translator for us. We have kept in touch with him for over 20 years, watching him mature in
the Lord and in the ministry. He has been involved with missions most of his life and has a heart to help
hurting people in his country of Venezuela.
His foundation is currently furnishing food to Iglesia Dulce Refugio (Sweet Refuge Church) that is hosting a
children’s feeding program in the poor neighborhood of La Sabila just outside of Barquisimeto. Juan grew up
in this neighborhood and MTM has ministered in this community many times during the years we traveled to
Barquisimeto.
Juan is also working on building a mission facility on some recently donated property which would house his
family (his wife, Maria and 2 children), missionaries, and host a feeding program.
Juan, his wife, Maria, and their children attend Iglesia Vida de Cristo (Life of Christ Church) pastored by José
Alberto and Lina Durán in the community of El Tostao.
See the Drops of Love Foundation Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/fundgotasdeamor/.
To see more info and pics of what Juan and his foundation are doing in Venezuela, go to our News page.