Our Missionaries

We have partnered with Children’s HopeChest, an organization focused on connecting organizations and churches with communities in need, and our partnership is centered in El Jicaro, Guatemala.

Through the local church, a CarePoint has been established which provides food, health care assistance, clean water, education, and spiritual growth opportunities. Through the friendship model of child sponsorship, and connecting directly with families, the goal is to help the community move from poverty to self-sustainability. This gives us the unique opportunity to help children and their families have a transformational experience and meet Jesus!

If you’re ready, you can be a part of this church-wide opportunity to support families in El Jicaro, Guatemala—there are many children who still need a sponsor! Click the link below to learn more!

El Jicaro CarePoint - Thrive Christian Church

Thrive/CHC Partnership Announcement

Thrive/CHC Partnership Video

FAQ

Joel and Kelly are based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and concentrate on reaching northern Thailand between Myanmar and Laos. They engage in evangelism, preaching, teaching and training, mentoring, and development work. In addition, Joel and Kelly expanded their work for Christ through “Koala Love Outreach”—a ministry that distributes full-face motorcycle helmets and New Testaments to children and families—and Rhythms in Motion (RIM), an initiative focused on helping citizens achieve economic self-sufficiency while encountering the love of Jesus.

Over the years, their work has taken them from Thailand to Purdue University to reach Asian students (10% of Purdue’s student body) and then back to Thailand, where over 98% of the people are still unreached by The Gospel.

CONTACT: Extend International, c/o Rachel Brown, PO Box 5046, Kendalville, IN 46755

For more info

A Thrive “Timothy”: Jordan grew up in this congregation

But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. (Philippians 2:19)

The Larsons minister full-time to students at the University of Illinois in Champaign where Jordan serves as the Navigators Campus Director. The Larsons consider it a privilege to give their lives to advance God’s kingdom and glory to college students through Bible studies, weekly large group meetings, evangelism, and one-on-one discipleship. Their prayer is that students will develop a deep and personal relationship with Christ, then impact the world and spread that love after leaving campus. The Larsons will be leaving Illinois later this year and leading campus ministry at Purdue University!

Jordan and Brittany were involved with the Navigators during their freshman year at Ball State University. After graduating both came on staff with the Navigators. They were married in December 2006 and have two young sons. They visit family locally and attend Thrive often!

Contact: PO Box 6079, Albert Lea, MN, 56007

Navigators

HCM was established by Emmanuel LeGuerre in 1984 in his home village of Pillatre on the north shore of Haiti. Today HCM is impacting the northwest region of Haiti by establishing thriving churches in different towns and villages—eight so far! Six of these church plants are in areas with no previous church presence and little Christian influence. In addition, HCM operates three Christian schools and a full-time regional medical clinic, earning the government’s highest certification for non-hospital clinical care.

HCM also facilitates ongoing short-term medical mission trips from the US to the region’s most impoverished and remote areas. A sister ministry, “Welcome Home Haiti,” was established in 2010 to provide ongoing housing, a need in the poorest of countries.

Thrive has supported HCM for many years through representation on its board and several group trips to the area.

CONTACT: Haitian Christian Ministries, PO Box 5644, Bloomington, IL 61702

For more info

A Thrive “Timothy”: Becca grew up in this congregation.

“But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.” (Philippians 2:19)

Becca serves children with disabilities and their families in Chiang Mai, Thailand, working with Hope Home, a foster home specifically for children with disabilities, providing daily care, love, and guidance in a family setting. Becca integrates Community Health Evangelism (CHE) principles and Biblical storytelling into her children’s education, as well as into staff training and community outreach.

Becca graduated from Ball State University with a degree in psychology and achieved a certificate in

Disability Ministry from Johnson University. She is a certified International Trainer for the Understanding and Responding to Children in Crisis program through the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology (NCART). She loves nature and coffee and is a foster mom to Phil, who has cerebral palsy. The two enjoy Veggie Tales, swing sets, trampolines, and soccer.

CONTACT: CMF International, PO Box 501020, Indianapolis, IN 46250

For more info

David and Emily Cetola are church planning with their three children with TEAM in Forli, Italy.

The Cetolas moved to Italy in 2012 and began language and culture training. In 2016, they moved to Forli, where their primary ministry is discipleship and evangelism. They also lead and shepherd their small church community as they strive to share the gospel with the city. This includes various activities, including Bible studies, counseling, leadership development, summer camps, English conversation groups, holiday parties, and outreach with the University of Forli.

David grew up in Connecticut, while Emily grew up in Zionsville, Indiana. They met in college in Indiana where they discovered a shared desire for global missions. Early in their marriage, they attended seminary at Columbia International University, where God opened their eyes to the spiritual desert in much of Europe, including Italy, where less than 1% of Italians have a personal relationship with Jesus.

For more info

Morgannh lives in the Middle East where she works on a team focused on meeting the needs of refugees and migrants by providing for physical needs and bringing the life-changing hope of Jesus. She works with families and women through weekly Bible studies, one-on-one discipleship, and programs such as Moms and Tots and prenatal classes. Her team is actively advancing the name of Christ by advocating for the most vulnerable of the refugee population, and those victimized (primarily children) through sex trafficking and forced labor. Their team’s vision is to see countless refugees find food, freedom, and forgiveness so they can attain a sound future and be catalysts for Christ in their communities.

A Thrive “Timothy”: Logan grew up in this congregation.

But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. (Philippians 2:19)

Logan and his wife Audrey serve in a country in Eurasia as well as help train and send missionaries ontheir way to the 10/40 window. They work as missionaries through MAPS Global, a missional family that exists to pray, preach, and sing in the most unreached regions of the earth until every nation sees and sings of the worth of Jesus Christ. MAPS Global missionaries boldly share the gospel, disciple, teach Christian converts rich doctrine through their school, train and equip them to do ministry in their own country, run a prayer room, and serve the indigenous church.

Logan and Audrey share the gospel in one of the most unreached countries in the world, as 99.2% of Eurasia’s population has never heard the gospel (0.03% are Evangelical Christians, and 96.5% are Islamic).

MAPS missionaries serve solely in the 10/40 window of the world, a geographical term referring to the rectangular area of North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The 10/40 window includes over 60 countries and over 4.83 billion people and includes the majority of the world’s Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. There is approximately one missionary for every 237,000 in the 10/40 window and roughly one missionary for every 400,000 Muslims. Only 3.3% of the global mission force is serving in the 10/40 window.

Note: “Eurasia” is used as a security-safe language.