THE New Testament parable of the mustard seed has parallels with the English proverb - great oak trees from tiny acorns grow.
The principle is the same - from small beginnings great things can happen.
That's certainly the case with Garstang's very own Mustard Seed... the overseas goods shop at the town's Methodist Church.
The Mustard Seed was set up in September 1991 by members of Garstang Methodist Church who were keen to promote and sell 'one world' products then unobtainable in Garstang.
The Methodists converted part of their church building into a shop and, with the addition of comfortable seating, made a meeting place where refreshments and fairly traded goods from around the world could be sold.
It has since become a permanent, much-used and much-loved part of the Garstang community.
The idea was the brainchild of Methodist minister, Rev Peter Hayward, who was also one of Garstang's Fairtrade pioneers.
Since he moved on the work of the Mustard Seed has been co-ordinated by stalwarts John and Margaret Allen, who have led the volunteer's team.
Margaret has been treasurer almost from the shop's inception, and her skills in balancing the funds, buying new stock and making donations to needy causes have been greatly appreciated.
John said: "It's amazing how a volunteer group has kept together for so long, but if you have a good cause then your survival becomes enduring.
"We have had some wonderful people from Garstang and further afield working with us. Many are busy people who don't seek the limelight, but they and our regular supporters call to buy their regular Fairtrade goods. They are the bedrock that is underpinning Garstang as the world's first Fairtrade town."
John explained: "It soon became apparent that local people were keen to see a wide range of products from around the world.
"New sources of supply presented themselves, especially through personal contacts. As time passed, small donations have become a regular means of practical aid to particular overseas communities."
The Mustard Seed has in many ways become the Garstang community's focal point for Fairtrade, recognising the town's position as the world's first Fairtrade Town.
Supporters of the Mustard Seed have been at the heart of the town's Fairtrade campaign, which aims to promote the sale of fairly traded goods (which carry the Fairtrade mark) and guaranteeing benefits to the growers.
Records are kept of events that have taken place either at the Mustard Seed or neighbouring church hall. Many visitors from within the UK and abroad have been attracted to the Mustard Seed where they can examine a variety of reports and testimonies on the
benefits of Fairtrade.
Staffing is entirely by
volunteers who give a few hours of their time each month. Volunteers are drawn from people throughout the community, not necessarily church-goers.
In the first few years, all profits were ploughed back into buying stock and helping craftsmen and women to have a future in their homelands.
Since 1991 more than £25,000 has been raised for causes in Africa, South America and Romania.
John said: "The relevance of a One World Shop could never be greater than today. The power of communication has made the world a shrinking place to the extent that recent problems, such as the unrest in Kenya, are everyone's problems."
The Mustard Seed has had a variety of 'VIPs' over the years, including a Methodist bishop from Kenya, Third World producers and trades union leaders, TV newsreader George Alagiah, and farmers and trades unionists from Africa and the West Indies who are involved in Fairtrade.
John said a defining moment for the volunteers was lending support in 2001 to the Garstang Go Global youth group mission on its fact-finding mission to Ghana.
He said: "They brought back proof that Fairtrade works! This fired me up to become a passionate supporter."
Mustard seeds are not for sale at the Mustard Seed, but plenty of other items - food and non-food (crafts) - all fairly traded - as well as cards and other gifts are.
At the Mustard Seed visitors can admire the crafts and stationery from around the world.
Contacts have been made not only with UK suppliers of fair traded foods and crafts but also directly with communities in India, Indonesia, Guatemala, Nepal and Romania.
Handmade products in, for example, cotton, soapstone, recycled paper and jewellery may be purchased as well as a wide selection of greetings cards.
Its original function as a Fairtrade coffee bar changed recently with the opening of the more spacious Wesleys, a cafe/social centre in part of the methodist church complex.
Opening hours are Tuesdays, 10am to noon; Thursdays, 10am to 2pm and Saturday 10am to noon.
* More details about the Mustard Seed can be found at www.gmeth.clara.net