about us
At Thrive Church, we are called to a life that goes beyond mere existence—a life of purpose, passion, and power in Christ. To live a “More Than Living” life means embracing the fullness of God’s calling, walking in the abundant life Jesus offers, and being actively engaged in His mission both locally and globally. It is about moving from survival to significance, from routine to revival, and from complacency to calling.
As part of this mission, the Dunamis Community Missionary Experience serves as a ministry development initiative of Thrive Church. This program is designed to train and equip Gen Z and Gen Alpha college-age students for a life of discipleship, ministry leadership, and cross-cultural evangelism. Rooted in the power of the Holy Spirit, Dunamis focuses on raising up healthy leaders, active church-planting team members, and disciples who make disciples—those who are committed to sharing the love of Christ in every sphere of life, including the church, the marketplace, and beyond.
Through intentional training, mentorship, and hands-on ministry experience, Dunamis prepares young leaders to be catalysts for revival, transformation, and Kingdom impact in their communities and the world. We believe that every believer is called to ignite the presence, passion, purpose, process, practice, possible, and potential of Christ in their lives, reflecting the heart of our IGNITE 2025 vision based on 2 Timothy 1:6:
“I remind you, fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
At Thrive Church and through Dunamis, we are committed to empowering all generations to step boldly into their calling, live with kingdom purpose, and be the light in a world that needs Jesus.
our story
The Dunamis Community Missionary Experience was birthed out of a deep passion for empowering believers to live out the Great Commission—not just in words, but in action. As the Lead Pastor of Thrive Church, I recognized a growing hunger in our church for more than just Sunday services—a desire to engage in hands-on ministry, both locally and globally. The vision for Dunamis emerged from this calling, rooted in the belief that the same power of the Holy Spirit (Dunamis) that empowered the early church in Acts 1:8 is still at work today. From its inception, Dunamis has been about equipping and mobilizing believers to step beyond the walls of the church and into transformational mission work, whether through local outreach, international partnerships, or community discipleship initiatives.
As we move forward, Dunamis is not just a mission program—it is a movement. Our commitment remains to strengthening our impact in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania through our partnerships with Pastors Moses, and Emmanuel, while continuing to build local mission opportunities here in Visalia and the CA/NV Church of God Region. The heart of Dunamis is to train, equip, and send believers into the harvest field, fostering a culture of service, discipleship, and evangelism. We envision expanding training programs, short-term mission trips, and sustainable outreach projects that will not only transform the lives of those we serve but also the hearts of those who go. The mission is clear—we are called to ignite the power of the Holy Spirit in every believer and impact the world for Christ.
our vision
thrivechurch vision
To be a thriving church where people encounter God’s transforming grace, grow in authentic community, and boldly live out their faith—igniting the possible and fulfilling the potential of Jesus in every generation.
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thrivechurch mission
To ignite hearts with the presence of Jesus, inspire lives with His passion, and impact our community with His purpose—equipping every believer to live a Spirit-empowered, missional life.
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survive vs. thrive
Thrive is a verb, meaning, if someone thrives, they do well and are successful, healthy, or strong. It is more than surviving.
“Survive” is defined as “to continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship.” On the other hand, “thrive” means “prosper, be fortunate or successful, to grow or develop vigorously; to flourish.”
God’s way for us to thrive is found when Jesus said...
“A thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”... John 10:10
We are not just surviving...we're “More Than Living”.
Thrive Church aims to live out six core values:
(1) Connect with God – love God & be loved by God
(2) Connect with People - be a disciple & disciple others
(3) Demonstrate Love - everyone accepts anyone
(4) Communicate Hope - represent Jesus in every conversation
(5) Willingly Give – give all to reach all
(6) Engage in Teamwork – work together to do more
Thrive Church believes the following core practices will provide opportunities for one to communicate their personal story of salvation through these actions:
Prayer
Devotional
Worship
Develop Our Story
Meet People
Gather People
Make Disciples
Release Disciples
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more than living
At Thrive Church in Visalia, we are called to a life that goes beyond mere existence—a life of purpose, passion, and power in Christ. To live a “More Than Living” life means embracing the fullness of God’s calling, walking in the abundant life Jesus offers, and being actively engaged in His mission both locally and globally. It is about moving from survival to significance, from routine to revival, and from complacency to calling.
A Life Anchored in Christ
Jesus said in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” A More Than Living life is one that embraces the abundant life found in Christ. It is a life rooted in faith, where we experience the power of salvation, healing, and restoration through an intimate relationship with Jesus. Instead of merely going through the motions, we live intentionally—seeking the presence of God daily and walking in obedience to His Word.
A Life of Purpose and Mission
At Thrive Church, we don’t just attend church—we are the church. A More Than Living life means actively participating in God’s mission by using our gifts to serve, disciple, and reach others. We are committed to local outreach, such as the Dunamis Community Missionary Experience, and global missions, supporting the work of Pastors Solomon, Evarine, Moses, and Emmanuel in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. When we align our lives with God’s mission, we discover a greater purpose beyond ourselves.
A Life of Faith in Action
James 2:17 reminds us that “faith without works is dead.” A More Than Living life means that our faith is not passive—it is alive and active. It means stepping out in faith, believing for the impossible, and trusting God even when circumstances seem uncertain. It is about allowing the Holy Spirit to empower us to pray bold prayers, live courageously, and move in the gifts and callings that God has placed upon our lives.
A Life of Community and Transformation
We are not meant to walk this journey alone. A More Than Living life is one that is deeply connected to a thriving church community. At Thrive Church, we grow together through worship, discipleship, prayer, and fellowship. When we share life with other believers, we encourage, challenge, and uplift one another. As iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17), our lives are transformed when we walk in unity with the body of Christ.
Thriving, Not Just Surviving
To live a “More Than Living” life means embracing the fullness of God’s presence, power, and purpose in every area of our lives. It means living in faith, walking in obedience, engaging in mission and service, and being part of a thriving community. At Thrive in Visalia, we don’t settle for ordinary—we pursue the extraordinary life God has called us to live. It’s time to move beyond just living—it’s time to thrive.
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