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Email Jen THRIVE Conferences P.O. Box 2376 East Peoria, IL 61611-0376 Website: www.thrivetoday.org |
Chris' Testimony: I’ll never forget my alcohol counselor swearing at me out loud as she watched me walk into her office after I received my second DUI within a year. She hoped to never see me again after my first round of counseling. Now I faced jail time and hefty fines. I had stopped trying and was dying.
My mother had faithfully driven us kids to church every Sunday. At five years old I told her, “Mommy, when I get older I want to be a pastor.” My dreams took other forms too; I wanted to be a movie star, baseball, basketball or a racquetball player.
Even though I had talent, intelligence and many things came easily for me; I would blow one chance after another. I quit time after time. In grade school I found school, learning and testing easy. My teachers and principal recommended me to take an entrance examination at an elite school. I took the test but I purposefully flunked so I could stay in my grade school with my friends.
My fears slowing took over my life but I thought I was having fun. Ask me if I was afraid and I would have laughed, unless you asked about public speaking. I was terrified! Read Full Story...
Jen's Testimony: You may think that I can teach THRIVE brain skills because I have had them all my life but the truth is just the opposite. Until I began learning joy and relationship skills in 2002 my life revolved around finding a safe place to live or, maybe, to hide. My family had fallen apart and I was looking for a place where I would not feel out of control. I desperately wanted to trust someone, even God, but I could not shake the feeling that even God would not turn out to be who I expected. Fear and confusion started fairly early in my life and by age eleven I had been hospitalized for suicidal depression. It wasn’t like most people could look at me and know there was a problem. Sometimes I could do very well in school, at others I fell apart.
I wasn't able to be consistent. I would learn things and not be able to apply them, like learning I needed to rest when overwhelmed but not be able to apply it when needed. I could not follow a daily routine. Fears often kept me up late so there was no knowing when I would get up or if I would have energy to do anything the next day. Emotions and fears overwhelmed me to the point I quit my school internship with no notice and moved out of state. It was this point where my life crossed paths with Chris. Read Full Story...
Teaching
Maturity Retreats – experience a profound weekend of teaching and hands-on exercises to help you reach your God-given potential. Maturity does not grow on trees nor can it be gained by studying theology or hearing a good sermon. Maturity is human responsibility that requires individuals and communities to work together. Bring a maturity weekend to your church. Bring lasting change to your community.
Because maturity is measured in stages, a THRIVE maturity retreat allows community members to discover their earned maturity and identify the next step in their development. The maturity retreat is not designed to replace the community with a seminar nor is it designed to advance people into their next stage of maturity in the seminar itself. Read More
Marriage Retreats – experience the most recent addition to the THRIVE training package! Enjoy a weekend with your spouse to strengthen your marriage, build joy and change fear to love. Practice exercises designed to improve how you communicate and help you and your spouse recover when things go wrong. Discover the neurochemistry of bonding and so much more to equip your marriage. Read More
THRIVE Conferences - experience THRIVE in your own backyard. Learn the 19 skills with your bonded partner. Build joy, learn recovery skills and solutions to real problems. Consider hosting a THRIVE Conference today! Read More
Training
Contact Chris if you want Life Model applications to your family, community, church and ministry. Learn how recent discoveries in brain science, the Presence of Jesus and Biblical wisdom can help you reach your potential.
Read how THRIVE training changes lives. Read what people say about the Life Model.
Contact Chris if you are interested in hosting a retreat or would like to attend a THRIVE Conference.
THRIVE training focuses on character development so you:
Consulting
Chris consults churches, ministries, families, couples, leaders and communities on Life Model and THRIVE solutions that include multigenerational community, Immanuel healing and brain-based skill training. As we understand what humans need to grow and mature, we can correctly diagnose where problems arise and avoid pitfalls next time. Let's face it, we have no shortage of moral failures, addictions and immaturity that run rampant in our families and communities. We cannot affford to invest in programs and resources that are weak or ineffective. Read how lives are being changed through THRIVE.
Chris advises and directs individuals, couples and communities to achieve change and transformation so they are full of life in action not just words. Christians function best when they live according to their values and beliefs. Chris equips groups to identify weaknesses and utilize their strengths so they reach their potential. Chris offers prayer ministry and training to address type A (Painful Absences) and B traumas (Bad things that happen).
From Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Illinois, Chris transferred to
Chris sums up his ministry and mission as, “to help people be full of life and experience Jesus Christ as a reality”. Dr. Jim Wilder mentors and has trained Chris as Chris lectures nationally and internationally on material he authors concerning the effects of trauma and trauma recovery. Chris is known for his relational and community approach to trauma recovery and growth. Chris now operates THRIVE from East Peoria, IL. with his wife Jennifer. Chris offers personal ministry and specializes in maturity and trauma recovery issues. Chris consults churches and groups on how to effectively reach their potential, perceive the active presence of God, avoid pitfalls, stay resourceful and rebuild after a crisis.
Current Activity
Along with his wife Jennifer, Chris develops the THRIVE training program and teaches individuals and groups Life Model principles. (Belonging, Receiving and Giving, Recovery, Maturity and Living from Your Heart) Priorities include prayer ministry, discipleship, THRIVE teaching and conference development. Chris spends much of his time writing and developing materials, studying, fostering relationships and walking his Chocolate Lab, Samson. Chris enjoys speaking to and training God's people so they remain effective in ministry, marriage and relationships. Teaching the Hebraic roots of the Christian faith is another activity Chris greatly enjoys.
Chris and Jen are active members of New Life Christian Church in Morton, Illinois.
Education
Accomplishments
Chris is a published author with three books in print. Share Immanuel, The Healing Lifestyle written with Dr. Jim Wilder is translated in multiple languages. Chris and his wife Jen recently completed a third skill guide workbook that is now being tested while two skill guides are already published, named Year One: Mastering Joy and Rest and Year Two: Mastering Returning to Joy. Each skill guide is a 52-week brain retraining, character-building workbook designed to train skills and experience Immanuel growth. These skill guides are the beginning steps toward creating a THRIVE training package for the church. Each book equips THRIVE attendees to continue their skill training practice. Chris and Jen are currently working on an additional training booklet for busy married couples to accompany THRIVE Marriage Retreats.
Chris is co-authoring a book with Dr. Jim Wilder on the subject of Thriving. Chris is currently authoring two books on Thriving and the Church. Read a chapter from Dr. Jim Wilder and Chris Coursey's book.
Chris and Jen released two training videos, one called, Steps to Joy on synchronized dancing. The other, a pre-THRIVE 12 week study video called, Sensible Strategies for Belonging. Both Chris and Jen intend to expand the THRIVE training with additional training videos and resources.
Chris offers articles on topics pertaining to maturity, healing, the role and significance of redemptive Christian community, addiction and trauma recovery, primary attachments and bonding as well as other topics related to Scripture and the Christian experience. One article in particular on Bonds and Attachments, was published in Promise, an international magazine in January of 2004.
Chris develops, organizes and speaks at THRIVE Conferences and travels to speak at various Christian conferences and training seminars each year. The THRIVE conference has grown exponentially in the US and is now offered in Canada. Read THRIVE life-changing stories.
Chris Coursey's Speaking Engagements
Chris speaks nationally and internationally on Life Model and THRIVE principles, redemptive community, recovery from trauma and Biblical principles to joyfully reach your potential. View locations where Chris visited.