Missions ¢ By Caroline Ng-Cheng, Jessie Yong, Cara Chiang and Tan Li Diang are members of Barker Road Methodist Church (BRMC) / Photos courtesy of BRMC
Flourish in Cambodia
Flourish’s first group of ladies from Prek Toal Methodist Church Women’s Ministry learning to crochet, 20 Feb 2011
2012: Cambodia-wide crochet outreach led to more than 200 learning to crochet
The seed of Flourish Flourish is a ministry God has provided for women in need to build livelihoods that impact and transform their lives and that of their families. It is also a ministry where God enables the volunteers to witness the seed of His faithful providence, to grow the seed of our faith and giftings and to enable us to share the seed of His Word, His light and hope. Flourish was started in 2011 by Barker Road Methodist Church (BRMC) as a Missions Livelihood Project. Then called “Project Love Cambodia,” Flourish’s first group of ladies were from Prek Toal Methodist Church, Steung Meanchey, Phnom Penh. In 2012, the BRMC Women’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS) placed a large order for crochet crosses for Mother’s Day/WSCS Sunday. This started us on a nation-wide crochet outreach campaign where we taught crochet in all Methodist institutions across Cambodia. All glory to God, we managed to fulfil more than 1,600 pieces of crochet crosses and provided jobs for more than 20 women. In 2014, God extended our mission field to Chress Church, Community Outreach Services–Immanuel (COSI), Post-COSI Integration Programme (PCOSIIP) and the area of Odem. When COVID-19 struck in 2020 and Singapore went into its Circuit Breaker, Flourish evolved to include local artisans referred by BRMC’s Outreach & Social Concerns (OSC). Thanks be to God for opening more doors as we went through the Circuit Breaker.
20
|
METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021
Today, Flourish is a volunteer-run ministry supporting more than 20 ladies in Cambodia and seven ladies in Singapore.
How you can help •
Buy our products
Check out our webstore at www.craftedtoflourish.com. Every product you purchase will enable more to be made, which will provide more jobs for our artisans. Custom or bulk orders are always welcome. 100 per cent run by volunteers, and all proceeds go towards healthcare, education and community development for our artisans. •
Volunteer
Are you someone who believes in our mission? We need all the help we can get. We are calling for befrienders, product designers, sewers, crochets, social media storytellers, photographers, videographers, models, content creators and business development professionals. As long as you have a willing heart to serve, come alongside us and join the Flourish family. •
Gift Resources
If you own a factory with raw materials such as fabric, yarn and leather to donate or have a company seeking corporate social responsibility projects, or are someone who shares our vision and would like to support our mission, we would love to hear from you!
