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 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. 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
“...the birds of the air will come and nest in its branches.” ~ Matt. 13:32
Randy Farmer Businessman Meridian, MS Clark Richardson Hospice Pastor Columbus, MS Sarita Rainey Co-pastor Gospel Lighthouse Church Meridian, MS Ralph Henson Pastor New Life Community Church Meridian, MS MTM Board of Advisors:
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.
“...the birds of the air will come and nest in its branches.” ~ Matt. 13:32
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 and his wife, Lokey, live in Meridian, MS.
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. 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.
Randy Farmer Businessman Meridian, MS Clark Richardson Hospice Pastor Columbus, MS Sarita Rainey Co-pastor Gospel Lighthouse Church Meridian, MS Ralph Henson Pastor New Life Community Church Meridian, MS MTM Board of Advisors: Mustard Tree Missions, Inc. ©2017
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.
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 and his wife, Lokey, live in Meridian, MS.
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. 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.
Randy Farmer Businessman Meridian, MS Clark Richardson Hospice Pastor Columbus, MS Sarita Rainey Co-pastor Gospel Lighthouse Church Meridian, MS Ralph Henson Pastor New Life Community Church Meridian, MS MTM Board of Advisors:
Staff
“...the birds of the air will come and nest in its branches.” ~ Matt. 13:32
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.
Mustard Tree Missions, Inc. ©2017
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.