Flourish in Action: Stories of Hope and Renewal

Flourish held a Summer Celebration for residents in the Heart of the Westside Neighborhood and about 100 attended. As people left the event, one little girl told me she had the best day ever and asked if we could do it again tomorrow. It meant so much to her that Flourish provided her family with fun and memorable activities they could enjoy together in their neighborhood!

I pastor a church in the Heart of the Westside that has enthusiastically embraced Flourish to seek the welfare of the people in our neighborhood. What I experienced while teaching two Flourish classes was pure joy. The participants were hungry for God’s word, and the meetings became the highlight of my week. What a joy to be in the company of precious women who have come out of difficult circumstances and are experiencing spiritual progress. In my thirty years of ministry, I never had the opportunity to be part of a ministry like Flourish and its outreach to women struggling to find what I would describe as “newness of life.” The growth they have exhibited is a testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit and the impactful work of Coach House.

This September, Flourish hosted a Good Neighbor Day celebration at the apartment buildings for the residents. One resident stood and expressed how grateful he was to have everyone there as his neighbor and how much he enjoyed living in the building. It is such a blessing to watch the community develop in that environment and see how residents support one another through the good times and the bad times in their lives.

My first of seven JfL mentees (2021), “Max”, is a success story by all measures. He is a young African American on the autism spectrum who grew up under unfortunate circumstances and abuse. With no blood family in Springfield and interpersonal skills that were severely lacking due to his autism and perhaps from early trauma, I invested a lot of time earning his trust. “Max” was self-conscious about his appearance and was in no position to interview successfully for a job. As we encouraged him to read aloud and then to speak in class, he gained confidence and blossomed. In mock interviews, he impressed one of the employers who ultimately hired him. The good news is that he has been continuously employed for 3 years and has learned to adapt to his employment environments and expectations. I was recently invited to his birthday party and saw him with his church family and broad support group, who have also poured love into this young man. Being one of more than 30 people celebrating “Max’s” life flooded me with feelings of honor, pride, and humility to be part of his family and community.

A man with tear-filled eyes asked for prayer in the food pantry that he may reconcile with his daughter. He was grieved that they had not spoken in over four years and desired restoration. We prayed for him, and the very next day, his sixteen-year-old daughter called, and they were able to talk. The food pantry is more than just food; people come in seeking spiritual food too!

At a celebratory cookout honoring four women for completing the ladies’ program, one of them showed the others a picture collage of herself at various activities during the program. Months ago, she had been grouchy and closed off; now she was beaming in the spotlight while sharing some proud and fun memories she made with friends. The scene depicted the truth that we heal when we are loved well.