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Disability Awareness Sunday

Resources for Disability Awareness Sunday

Disability Awareness Sunday is celebrated on October 13 in all RCA churches and on October 20 in all CRC churches. This year’s theme is the fully accessible church. Thrive has some ideas to help a church as they plan for this special sunday..
Refugee Resettlement Service

New Refugee Resettlement Opportunity for US Churches

Thrive has partnered with Exodus World Service, an accredited Private Sponsor Organization that mobilizes the Christian community to welcome and befriend refugees.
Chris Schoon

Schoon Departs as Thrive Codirector

After 21 years of service with the CRCNA, Chris Schoon is stepping away from his role as codirector of Thrive.
An aerial view of First CRC in Rock Valley, Iowa after a flood in June

Sunday School After a Flood

After a flood destroyed $2,000 worth of Sunday school materials at a church in Iowa, a grant made it possible for the congregation to receive replacements at no charge.
scrabble tiles reading Back-to-School

Back to School Roundtable Recording

Thrive facilitated a conversation about "back to school" worship practices for fall with several worship directors.

Rising Up at Pease CRC

At Pease (Minn.) CRC, Kennedy Van Zee smiled, rocked back and forth in her wheelchair, and moved her arms in time with the music as she sang with some 20 other girls.

30 Years of Abuse Prevention

In 1994 the CRCNA started an Office of Abuse Prevention. Thirty years later, the denomination continues to equip congregations in abuse awareness, prevention, and response.
woman reading braille document

Braille Resources Find Home

Braille resources, including a Bible, some creeds and confessions, and a machine to create braille resources have been shared with CRC members for use in ministry.
group photo of pastors

Pastors Gather at Revelation 7 Retreat

In April, over 40 pastors gathered in Anaheim, Calif., for the Revelation 7 Pastors Retreat.
participant in workshop

Thrive Hosts Creative Worship Listening Session

What if we engaged in worship without relying on words?

Breaking Barriers to Accessibility in Ministry

It takes intentionality and a willingness to examine the barriers to access that exist in our systems, our architecture, our communication, and our attitudes.
Members of three Kalamazoo, Mich., congregations were part of a joint choir for Ascension Day.

Bringing Leaders and Congregations Together

On Ascension Day three congregations in Kalamazoo, Mich., joined together for worship. It was an example of what can happen when church leaders connect.

Thrive Launches Updated Retirement Resource

A newly updated resource from Thrive is designed to support pastors who are asking questions and navigating challenges about retirement.
Kang Heo helped lead the chapel service at CTS on Apr. 17, 2024.

Scholarship Recipients Host Chapel Service

Two recipients of a Multiracial Scholarship from Thrive helped lead a weekly chapel service at Calvin Theological Seminary.
Participants of Gather: Minneapolis

CRC Members Gather for Renewal

Sixty-one people from five classes met in Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minn., to study Scripture, share their stories, and discover where God is at work both in their congregations and in the denomination as a whole.

Examining Your Own Dance Floor

In the years of serving in my role as a Youth and Emerging Adult ministry consultant, I have had many conversations with youth leaders, youth pastors, councils and congregations about the complexities of finding, hiring/calling, and/or recruiting people

Leading Worship in a Trauma-informed Way

The question led all of us into a moment of silence and deep reflection.

Resources for Trinity Sunday 2024

Trinity Sunday falls on the Sunday after Pentecost. In 2024, that day will be May 26.
Greg Yoder

Disability Advocate Calls for Inclusion

Greg Yoder’s goal is for every congregation in his classis to have a disability advocate by the end of 2024.

Prayer for Asylum Seekers at the US Border

"I was a stranger and you welcomed me..." (Matthew 25)

Renewal to Be Focus of Classis Gatherings

Over the next 18 months, 10 events will be held in various locations with an emphasis on storytelling and church renewal.

The Future Looks Bright

World-changers from every generation live and work among us. Here are a few young people we’ve seen do interesting and inspiring things for God’s kingdom.
The sanctuary at Calvin CRC

A Tale of Two Congregations

Since 2021, St. Luke AME Zion Church has been sharing Calvin CRC’s sanctuary in Grand Rapids, Mich. The two congregations have even started joint services.

Extend Your Influence and Impact for Generations to Come: Giving to Thrive in Your Will

Have you considered giving to Thrive in your will? By doing so, you will model to your loved ones a steadfast commitment to financial stewardship, charitable giving and building God’s Kingdom.

Pastors Practice Spiritual Resting

When busyness is worn as a badge of honor, the choice to seek rest can feel counterintuitive or even wasteful. Deep rest requires intentionality, self-compassion, and practice—lots of practice.
The 27th Martin Luther King, Jr., Day community worship event took place Sunday, Jan. 21, at New Hope Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Thrive Cosponsors MLK Celebration

A rescheduled Martin Luther King, Jr., Day community worship event turned out to be a special occasion filled with faith, justice, and unity.

Universal Design: A Church Building for Everybody

Monroe Community Church (CRC) in downtown Grand Rapids, MI, had the unique opportunity of renovating a 17,400 sf, uninsulated, raw, 1963 industrial building into their new church home.

Continued Prayers for Peace in the Middle East

The past few months in the Middle East have been marked by intense violence, death and destruction. The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has resulted in close to over 23,000 people killed and over 59,000 wounded.

Providing Support on the Path to Stability

“Probably the most difficult thing in my role is to decenter myself and to find the center in the other person and in God's work in them.”

Who We Are and What We Do

Over our nearly 170-year history as a denomination, we’ve started several ministries to help us follow God’s call and serve as God’s ambassadors in the world.
From left to right: Denisha Robinson (World Renew), Idella Winfield (Thrive), Monicah Maiyo (Finance), Kacey Spencer (World Renew), Teresa Kelly (Human Resources), and Helen Powell (World Renew) graduated from a BIPOC Leadership Development program. Rachelle McKissick-Harris (Human Resources), not pictured, also graduated.

Cohort Completes BIPOC Leadership Program

On November 29, seven women celebrated their successful completion of the inaugural BIPOC Leadership Development Program with the CRCNA.

STEPping Into Trauma-Informed Ministry

Jordan loved her church community and looked forward to coming to church each Sunday. One Sunday, she arrived a little early and joined a group that had gathered in the foyer to chat before the service.

Worship Resources for Abuse Awareness Sunday 2024

very year, the Christian Reformed Church sets aside one Sunday in the year to acknowledge and recognize the painful reality of abuse. This year, Abuse Awareness Sunday is April 14, 2024.

Expressing Faith in Jesus

I wanted to tell you about my son, Elijah. He's 18 now and he has autism as well as Dandy-Walker syndrome. He recently made profession of faith at our church!

Thriving Together Initiative Continues to Second Phase

Thanks to Lilly Endowment Inc., the CRCNA will continue its program for pastors in transitional moments for another five years.

FAQs: Non-Cash Assets & Life Income Gifts to Thrive

Donating to Thrive - Questions and Answers
Zach Olson

‘A Grace-Filled Process’ through an Outside Voice

Immanuel CRC in Hudsonville, Mich., gained valuable help and insight by consulting with Thrive’s pastor and church support services.
Generation Spark participants share about their experiences during a panel discussion.

Conference Launches New Season of Generation Spark

Mentors and mentees from various churches came together for three days of storytelling, training, and discussion on how best to create friendships between generations.

Thrive Disability Training Promotes Belonging

A Thrive training on Oct. 11 focused on nurturing belonging for all people in and around faith communities.

Caring for Volunteers

Many congregations are struggling to find and retain volunteers. Thrive offers a workshop to assist churches in their volunteer programs.

Smart Ways to Give to Thrive: Jim and Pat's Story

Central to Jim and Pat's marriage is a shared commitment to serve and honor the Lord in every facet of their lives – including with their finances.

Thriving Together Initiative Reaches Conclusion

The CRCNA recently concluded a five-year program funded by a $998,990 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help pastors thrive in ministry.
Carolyn Hoekstra

Connecting and Resourcing for Safer Churches

Carolyn, Natasha, and Abby are starting off their roles as classis safe church coordinators by connecting to churches and improving access to resources.

Disability Awareness Sunday 2023

Disability Awareness Sunday is quickly approaching! It's celebrated on October 8 in all RCA churches and on October 15 in all CRC churches. As such, it's time to start planning.

Learning to Pivot: A Story of Church Renewal

When Barrhaven Fellowship CRC had its first conversations about building a new facility, it had no idea how events would unfold.

Learning Together for a More Accessible Future

Four Christian Reformed congregations and one Reformed Church in America church committed to working together over a 13-month period to make their churches more welcoming and accessible for people with disabilities.

Pathways for Renewal: Thrive Cosponsors Gathering

In early August, leaders from 47 congregations across North America gathered for two days in Holland, Mich., to connect, listen, and discern in preparation for a new year of ministry.

Thrive Receives $1.2 Million Boost

The CRCNA has received a $1.248 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help parents share their faith and values with their children.
Participants from the 2019 Pastors' conference

Thrive to Host Pastors’ Conference

Thrive will offer two days of refreshment and support for CRC parish pastors, regional pastors, and chaplains at a conference in Albuquerque, N.Mex.
Thrive began as a CRCNA agency on July 1, 2023.

New Agency to Serve Congregations

On July 1, a new Christian Reformed agency officially began. Thrive is a consolidation of nine former, small ministries of the CRCNA.
In July 2023, Thrive became the newest agency of the CRCNA.

New Agency to Help Congregations Thrive

Council of Delegates recommends a mandate to synod for a new ministry called Thrive.

Changes to Several CRCNA Ministries

Nine ministries of the CRCNA are undergoing a reorganization focused on better serving local congregations, increasing efficiency, and reducing overall costs.