Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Watlington.
Hi Rachel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in a small town in central Oklahoma with my mom, dad, and sister. During my early teenage years, I wrestled with anger, depression, and rebellion as I began processing past abuse. At 16, I started dating my now-husband, and things got better. By 17, we welcomed our beautiful daughter, Evelyn—a true blessing, though raising a child so young in a small Bible Belt town came with its share of challenges and opinions from everyone.
My husband and I married, he joined the military, and I finished college while we raised our daughter. But beneath the surface, things weren’t good, we weren’t yet truly walking with God, and depression began to creep back in. I felt stuck in a dark place, unsure of a way out. It wasn’t until Jesus saved me that I was out of that pit
It was during this time that I met Rachelle, the founder of Bloom. Hearing her testimony of how God turned her ashes into beauty stirred something in me. Eventually, my husband and I surrendered our lives fully to God, and the transformation has been life-giving, not only for us, but for our daughter as well. Evelyn was saved earlier this year and baptized just last month, we’re so proud of her.
Rachelle continued encouraging me to step into the calling God had for me. For a long time, I resisted out of fear. But last year, I finally said yes and traveled with my daughter to Thailand, where Rachelle baptized me. That experience changed me forever. Shortly after, she told me she had been praying for Bloom to expand into Oklahoma—and that I was the one called to lead it. I was shocked, but after much prayer, I chose to trust God and be obedient.
Just a few months ago, we officially launched Bloom in Oklahoma. We now have hygiene and menstrual kits available in three schools and are working on partnerships for even greater community impact. I’m excited to see how God continues to grow Bloom across Oklahoma.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road at all. For so long it was myself I struggled with and the fear of stepping out, committing fully to the Lord and being obedient. Peoples words also stopped me or at least hindered me for awhile causing struggles. The words you’re not good enough, you’ll fail, you aren’t the right person still replay in my head. When this happens I stop to remember who God actually says I am.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the regional director for Oklahoma at Bloom International. I help with a lot of their social media, making connections here in OK, packing hygiene and menstrual kits, a little bit of everything down here. What I am most passionate about though is our Way Program. We help support several children’s homes in Thailand and our Way Program pairs a child with a Way-Maker who sponsors them to help the child receive an education. In America we really take for granted the opportunities and freedoms we have, especially with our children. Over there, if a child can receive an education through sixth grade it decreases the chance of trafficking for that child by 60%. We don’t have to worry about that here, so that’s why it’s so dear to my heart. We call our sponsors Way-Makers because they are literally making a way for these children to have a chance at a better life.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We have opportunities both at our home office in Raymore and in Oklahoma to partner. From donations to collaborations with dentists offices we can always use that support. It’s always fun to grab some friends and pack up some hygiene kits because you know you’re helping make a positive impact in your community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bloomintl.org
- Facebook: Bloom International
