About Us
Our Story:"Where does a regular pastor or an established church get help?"
2014
In late 2014 three friends asked the question "Where does a regular pastor or an established church get help?” Ted Strawbridge, Paul Hahn, and Matt Bohling, all pastors themselves, began Flourish with a mission to free leaders and churches to be effective wherever God has placed them.
2015
In 2015, through one on one coaching, consulting with church leaders, conference and workshops Flourish coaches began working with ministry leaders. If leaders are flourishing, the ministries and churches they lead can flourish. Learn more about our coaching philosophy.
2016
In 2016, Flourish was working with renewal/revitalization churches, church planting, and fundraising. Coaches offered workshops on managerial courage, healthy presbyteries, the gospel answer for pastoral shame, and the need for pastoral coaching.
Also, in 2016, founding Board member Paul Hahn was named Coordinator of the Presbyterian Church in America’s Mission to North America. Today, Paul has returned to the pastorate in San Antonio.
2018
In 2018 founding Board member Matt Bohling transitioned to full time Executive Director of Flourish. Chris Vogel, formerly director of NXTGEN Pastors and the On Wisconsin Network and present PCA MNA Church Planting and Vitality Coordinator joined the Flourish Board.
2019
In 2019, Flourish developed a Church Health Assessment (CHA) and a Renewal Pastor Assessment (RPA). In 2020, Flourish formalized its Envisioning and Pastor Search processes. Through the use of one or more of Flourish three core processes, churches began to regain health through Flourish's work with them.
2022
In 2022, Flourish began to place Transitional Pastors in local congregations. These Transitional Pastors powerfully combine their pastoral experience and Flourish's market-leading tools to bless churches seeking to lay a good foundation for their next long-term pastor.
2025
Seeking to follow the opportunities the Lord has placed in front of Flourish, the Flourish Board chose to embark on a 3-year fundraising campaign to grow our capacity in two ways. First, we wanted to be able to scholarship churches where we sense the Spirit is at work already but lack sufficient funds to pay Flourish our full fee. Second, the Lord has placed more opportunities to minister in front of us than we are able to serve. Thus, our capacity must increase. Raised funds will help us grow both our human and system capacities.