Faith as Small as a Mustard Seed

Greensboro News & Record

Sunday, October 18, 2026

By: Beth McKee-Huger

Faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. Faith as small as Mustard Seed Community Health can move mountains of diabetes, heart problems, many extra pounds, no insurance, hopelessness, unsafe housing, and high-stress low-wage lives.

Karla’s dad works hard. Without insurance, he struggled to get medical care to figure out why he was feeling sick. His life changed dramatically when he was welcomed at Mustard Seed and diagnosed as diabetic. He learned what to eat and how to take control of his own health, regaining energy and confidence. As a UNCG student in nutrition, Karla could see the impact and began an internship at Mustard Seed teaching classes in preparing healthy meals. Participants loved sharing recipes using low cost – but delicious – dishes from their cultures and delighted in improving their own health. Karla recruited additional nutrition interns when she graduated, so the tiny Mustard Seed healthy food initiative could grow.

Karla’s dad and 630 others each year have relied on Mustard Seed for high-quality holistic primary care in a 900+ square foot house on English Street. But around 75,000 people in Guilford County are below the poverty line and over 10,000 of those who recently had health insurance are losing it with policy changes for Medicaid and Obamacare.

So, Mustard Seed Community Health is now moving mountains, renovating a former residential building to become a new larger clinic in the Glenwood neighborhood that will double the number of patients receiving care, nearly triple their space, give them five exam rooms and three counseling rooms, a large kitchen and community room, a second physician and additional case managers, all under one roof for the first time. Dr. Shelby Stoneking, a family practice physician, will be joining Dr. Beth Mulberry, the pediatrician and internal medicine physician who had the faith to plant that mustard seed.

At the annual Movers of Mountains event this past week, the Mustard Seed board announced the tremendous success of the capital campaign, with honorary chairs Mike and Katherine Weaver leading the way with Weaver Foundation’s pledge of $1 million to inspire others to step up. The campaign has now reached one third of the goal for the purchase and renovation of the new clinic. Speakers inspired guests at Movers of Mountains dinner to have faith the size of a mustard seed to move the remaining mountains to support their services so more people can regain hope and health.

Health is more than the finest medical care. Mustard Seed’s bilingual team addresses the many barriers to good health: isolation, unsafe housing, unhealthy food. This works! Last year, 79% of patients with hypertension lowered their blood pressure and 80% of patients with diabetes brought the A1C levels down. In the new clinic, they can help twice as many people achieve these health goals. There will even be a community garden and playground so children can play and parents can make new friends.

Of course, more people would have health insurance and more productive lives if North Carolina and our nation had health policies that promote wellness: Medicaid, healthy food, safe housing, environmental and employment protections. Is there a doctor in the House? Or the Senate? We can tell lawmakers about the high cost to our community of leaving so many workers and care givers out of eligibility for healthcare—preventive checkups, chronic disease management, medications and counseling. When people do not have insurance, they do not seek medical care until they are so sick they need to go to the hospital. Hospitals close with high levels of uncompensated care for desperately sick patients. Without access to health care, essential workers become disabled, contagious diseases spread, and people die. We can tell lawmakers that health insurance and access to healthy food and stable housing and safe employment promote our country’s health.

Now is the time to move mountains for health. Donate to support Mustard Seed Community Health growing to serve many more families in our community. Speak up for wise health policies.

Beth McKee-Huger is an Episcopal Deacon, housing advocate and vegetable farmer in Browns Summit.