Missions

2012: Cambodia-wide crochet outreach led to more than 200 learning to crochet Flourish’s first group of ladies from Prek Toal Methodist Church Women’s Ministry learning to crochet, 20 Feb 2011

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. Today, Flourish is a volunteer-run ministry supporting more than 20 ladies in Cambodia and seven ladies in Singapore.

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.

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.

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!

With a grateful heart of praise and joy, we give thanks to the Lord for birthing the Flourish ministry. Do pray alongside with us for the Lord to enable:

• the beneficiaries and families to be healed physically and emotionally and to transformed lives redeemed by His grace and hope • the beneficiaries’ families to witness the new dawn in their lives and together as a family seek to know and accept the Lord as their Saviour • the volunteers to serve as one united body emboldened by God’s love, be faithful in following the Lord’s leading and wisdom, and be strengthened to journey with the beneficiaries and to share the Good News

• provision of new volunteers including artisans, donors of materials or partners to journey with the beneficiaries • that all involved in the Flourish community will rejoice always in whatever we do, pray continually for all involved and give thanks in all circumstances so that God’s light shines forth in all the lives we touched and His Name be lifted high and glorified.

(Isa 52:7)

Cambodia Group

BORN INTO LIGHT

Who do we turn to when life becomes unbearable?

When happiness is nothing but a hope whispered in the dead of yet another sleepless night. When our families remain only to remind us of the hurts we carry the losses we bury and the brokenness we try so hard to mend.

When we live only so our children won’t need to face the darkness alone.

With heads to the floor we weep until our bodies feel like nothing but the smoke of unanswered prayers.

And then, one day on a day unlike the rest a window opens.

And hope begins to make its way back into our fractured hearts.

Our fellow women arrive with hearts open and hands raised for service.

And we begin a beautiful exchange of time, talent and stories.

Our hands formerly cusped in perpetual prayer now in service to craft something beautiful.

Hope is the fabric of healing that we weave—

With every stitch we become stronger.

Together, we dream of and build a community committed to all creeds, convictions colours, cultures and conditions.

We work towards a vision of God’s eudaimonia—

United by our love for each other and our Creator.

Building a world where ‘light in darkness’ is not just another idea;

It’s who we are it’s what we’re made of it’s what we were born to do.

This poem describes the Flourish manifesto of how Flourish reaches out to women going through challenging situations in our broken world. Many are single mothers struggling to raise their children on their own, after going through difficult relationships. Others may be going through difficulties due to critical illnesses. Whatever their situation, Flourish is committed to journeying with them, providing a sustainable livelihood for them and a life of dignity for them, their families and community, that they may see the hope and light of our Creator.