ABOUT THE BOOKS
by Westina Matthews, Ph.D.

When Westina Matthews penned a short, inspirational book in 2005 entitled Have a Little Faith: The Faith of a Mustard Seed (32 pages), she was astonished by how her simple message of hope touched people.

Buoyed by the response, she’s published two 32-page sequels: Have a Little Faith: For Women Fully Grown (2004) and Have A Little Faith in the Midst of Relationships (2005). Each book includes a packet of mustard seeds with this verse from Matthew 17:20 in the Bible printed on it: “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘move from here to here,’ and it will move: and nothing will be impossible to you.” In each book, steps are provided for having faith with prayers and meditations.

Westina first learned about the importance of the mustard seed when she was going off to graduate school. Her family did not have a lot of money, but her mother wanted to give me something, some expression of love, hope, and faith. Her mother gave her a gold-plated chain on which hung a small glass bulb containing a mustard seed.

“Honey,” her mother said. “I don’t have much to give you, but I want you to have this. Remember, so long as you have the faith of a mustard seed, all things are possible if you only believe.” For the three years that Westina was completing graduate studies, she never took off that necklace. There were days and nights that she rubbed on that glass bulb, crying out in the darkness of the night for the faith of a mustard seed.

Today, from time to time, Westina still finds herself reaching for her mustard seed when in the midst of some crises of faith. That’s why she puts a packet of mustard seeds in her books (and it is sheer so you can see the seeds), and written on each packet is this scripture from Matthew…because she knows that all it takes is the faith of a single grain of mustard seed. The faith of just one seed.

Over the past four years, this message of faith has traveled throughout the country at churches, colleges and universities, and other gatherings. More than 16,000 books have been sold – an amazing accomplishment given that they are self-published. “God certainly is busy in this seed ministry,” Westina remarked. The books are beautifully designed by Reeves & Reeves, Inc. who provided the design and artwork without charge. Each packet of seeds is lovingly and prayerfully prepared by Westina and her family to include with the books.

“This has become a labor of love for me,” she said. “The response has been overwhelming. I receive notes from perfect strangers, and people are passing the books along to others. The books are comforting people during an illness, a loss, a broken relationship, a lost job. That was the intent, and it’s been so rewarding to watch that.