Posted by Hollie Price

April 24, 2025 

Mary Winne has been attending and serving at Cornerstone Community Church since it was established nearly 36 years ago. From the beginning, she has been a foundational part of building ministries to meet the needs of a growing church family.

Because the church was planted with many young families, there was an immediate need for a children’s ministry. God has gifted Mary with strong administrative abilities and a heart to teach, and she stepped into the children’s ministry—overseeing the nursery, preschool and elementary classes, events, and curriculum. She eventually went on staff and served in that role for about 14 years.

Though it was a season of fruitful ministry, Mary began to sense a longing to teach in other areas—particularly with young women and moms. After much prayer, she felt God calling her to step out of children’s ministry and pursue other ministry interests.

She continued to serve in other ways, including as a “Titus 2 mom” (a ministry for mature women to instruct younger women how to live in a godly manner) in the ministry for preschool moms. It became clear that her heart was drawn to teaching women biblical truth. Pastor Paul encouraged her to step into leadership again—and after time spent in prayer and consideration, she agreed.

One of her first goals was to bring the morning and evening women’s ministries together, uniting them under a shared purpose and vision. With the support of a faithful leadership team, the groups merged, creating one cohesive ministry that would come to be known as Flourish.

The name Flourish was chosen from Psalm 92:12-15, which says:

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.’”

This passage reflects the mission of the ministry: to help women flourish by walking closely with God, living in biblical truth, and building meaningful, edifying relationships with one another. Mary and the team have always desired for every woman who attends to feel welcomed, encouraged, and loved—and to leave equipped with God’s truth and challenged by what they’ve learned.

Since Mary stepped into leadership, the ministry has grown both in number and depth. Women who participate in Flourish have benefited from solid teaching, a joyful community, and deep spiritual encouragement. Mary herself has experienced God’s work in her heart as a leader, teacher, and counselor. Even in moments of discouragement, she has found strength by returning to the Lord—remembering that ministry is first and foremost an act of worship.

She also attributes the growth of the ministry to the incredible team of women she serves with—each one bringing unique gifts that strengthen the whole.

Flourish continues to welcome women in every stage of life—young, single, married, mothers, and older women—who gather monthly to learn, connect, and grow. Whether it’s a mom learning about child training or a woman walking through a season of grief or transition, Mary prays that each one leaves reminded that she is not alone—and that she is equipped with the hope only God can give.

“I’m truly blessed to serve in this way,” she said. “It’s humbling and exciting to see what God is doing in our church through this ministry.”