About me: Brandon Flowers

A little About myself…

I was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona by my two loving parents with one older brother. Since I was six, my family had travelled to Mexico on short term missions to build homes for those in need. By now I have been on twelve of those trips. I always believed my calling was to Latin America - I even spent three weeks in Ecuador volunteering with a partner church. I always wanted to go on a mission to Africa but it seemed like a distance possibility, and now as I type this it amazes me that this dream has become the norm.

I came from a pretty secure background and have been blessed to not have had family hardships in my life. I left Tucson in 2017 to move to Tempe, Arizona for schooling at Arizona State University - where I still attend. Here, I am working towards three degrees - Business Entrepreneurship, Business Management, and Global Politics. After undergrad, I wish to pursue a Masters in Public Health followed by medical school. I am extremely fascinated by global and public health initiatives around the world and ways to improve them. I’ve always had a heart for service but I’ve since narrowed the calling down.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45

Before co-founding FTG I was volunteer teaching students at Faith Roots International Academy, a part of a larger ministry. Though I never thought I would be in agriculture, I love startups and growing small businesses. Quite literally, it is a hobby of mine. I try to join teams of like minded people to grow ideas and create value. In the states I ran multiple projects that ranged from engraving detailed designs into glass and wood to clothing and graphic design services. I truly enjoy trying to make ideas become successful.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

1 Peter 4:10

FTG is a child of Matthew’s and I. I was led to believe that my drive to build value to an idea, in turn a ministry, would have to wait until after medical school - five plus years from now. FTG is our full focus to grow and penetrate areas that wouldn’t be welcoming to ministers otherwise.

Me and Matthew’s leadership comes from being open, accepting and welcoming, and above all putting God first. We both have learned through frustration the hinderance a lack thereof can put onto any project or ministry.

We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.

2 Corinthians 6:3-4

I am excited. I am hopeful. I invite you to pray with me over our work and that of those we work with.

About me: Matthew Atokple

Matthew Atokple is one of the co-founders of FTG. Through serving at City of Refuge Ministries (CORM) for more than four years as the facilities manager and helping the ministry become self-sustaining through various agricultural programs, Matthew has a strong desire and passion to transform the world around him through the love of Jesus and agriculture. His dream is to alleviate hunger and poverty in the world and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
As a young boy in a small village with farmers as parents, Matthew was raised with agriculture all around him.

Growing up, Matthew was determined to go to study business in order to escape a farmer’s life, but God had other plans for him. It was actually while he was living Dansoman furthering his education in business that he discovered his love for plants and the beauty in their growth. It was also during this time that Matthew underwent deep hardships and confronted true hunger. Out of suffering this adversity, Matthew’s passion to help others grew into a desire to prevent anyone from ever experiencing hunger. 

Shortly after leaving Dansoman, Matthew headed to CORM, an NGO dedicated to ending child trafficking in Ghana, where he started working as teacher. Here is where Matthew’s passion turned into action. In 2018, as Matthew’s role evolved from teaching students primary education to teaching the kids, staff, and community how to grow crops to be used for the organization, his calling to serve God also continued to evolve. Using both creative and foundational farming, Matthew has successfully developed and demonstrated sustainable farming practices. Knowing the great impact these farming practices could make on communities, Matthew launched FTG in 2019 to further share and spread these techniques alongside Christ’s love to all those in need.