Thrive Lonsdale
Our sponsoring organization
Time and again, Jesus told His disciples that they had a LOT to learn from the life and faith of children. It's fitting then, as we prepare postgraduates for a future in pastoral or non-profit ministry leadership, that we do so in gratitude for the ministry of our sponsoring organization, Thrive Lonsdale.
Thrive Lonsdale is a multi-site, Gospel-centered afterschool, summer, and mentoring ministry to at-risk kids and youth in Knoxville. Thrive's mission is to connect loving Christians with disadvantaged children, helping them to overcome their deep spiritual, emotional, academic, and physical needs.
Each year, hundreds of young men and women come to serve at Thrive as staff, interns, and volunteers. Not surprisingly, the LORD has used their experiences to call many into full-time Christian ministry. And that's when God put a vision in the heart of Clayton Wood, the Executive Director of Thrive. What if Thrive could sponsor an intensive, short-term residency program to prepare college graduates for a future in pastoral or non-profit ministry?
In 2017, Thrive applied for a grant from the Trinity Health Foundation to launch the Thrive Ministry Leadership Residency. By God's grace, it was approved! In 2018, the Board entrusted Neil Anderson with the task of developing and directing Thrive Residency, along with the help of an outstanding Advisory Board of local pastors, ministry leaders, and Kingdom entrepreneurs. Thanks be to God, our inaugural 2019-20 residency class has far exceeded all our hopes and prayers. We look ahead to the class of 2020-21 with great expectation of what God will do next!
