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THRIVE Conferences

P.O. Box 2376

East Peoria, IL 61611-0376

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Call (309) 699-0171

Website:  www.thrivetoday.org

 What We Offer
      
Teaching
      Training
      Consulting

Bio
    Current Activity
    Training & Education
    Accomplishments
    Speaking Engagements
  

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Chris and Jennifer Coursey

Chris and Jen Coursey lead and design the THRIVE conference and training program that uses Life Model principles to promote healing, maturity and joy in individuals, families, communities and churches. Chris is an ordained minister, a pastoral counselor, author and international speaker while Jen is a teacher, conference facilitator and synchronized dance instructor.

Teaching

Maturity Retreats – experience a profound weekend of teaching and hands-on exercises to help you and your people understand the need for maturity formation. Chris and Jen provide specific training so that your church understands deficits and the need for purposeful maturity development. Training occurs through practical lessons and exercises so that each stage of maturity is understandable and clear.

Each weekend maturity retreat is designed to help a church community identify their maturity and recognize the need for right brain training. A maturity retreat allows community members to discover their maturity and the earned maturity of the rest of their community. Participants have an opportunity to find individuals who can assist them and who they can help in order to actively mature and grow. This retreat helps community members identify (synchronize) the next step in their development. Each person learns to address fear and unprocessed painful events in order to complete unfinished life tasks. 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.
Find Out More

    THRIVE To-Go - Bring THRIVE to your city! Chris and Jen are taking THRIVE on the road so that this training can continually impact families, communities and churches worldwide. Learn the 19 skills that you need to have healthy relationships and emotional resilience. Consider hosting a THRIVE Conference today! FindOut More
Do You Want Chris Coursey to speak at your church, community or ministry?

Training

Contact Chris if you would like Life Model teaching and practical application to your family, community, church and ministry. Learn what recent discoveries in brain science reveal and what Biblical wisdom teaches about how to reach your potential.

Contact Chris if you are interested in having the THRIVE training in your neighborhood or would like to attend a THRIVE Conference.


This training includes introduction to right hemispheric training (character development) for you and your people so you can:

  • Learn the 19 skills.
  • Practice return to joy skills.
  • Develop a solid group identity.
  • Foster growth and transformation in you and your people.
  • Identify and address the five types of pain the brain knows.
  • Change fear to love so everyone operates at their God-given potential.
  • Nurture relationship skills so you and your people remember who they are when upset and still act like Jesus.

Consulting

Chris consults churches, ministries, families, couples, leaders and communities on Life Model and THRIVE concepts. When we understand what we need to grow and mature, we can then correctly diagnose where problems arise and avoid them next time. Find strategic solutions to your problems.

Chris advises and directs individuals, couples and communities to achieve change and transformation so they are full of life and living from their hearts. Chris helps groups identify weaknesses and utilize their strengths so they reach their potential. Chris offers prayer ministry to help individuals, couples and groups address type A (Painful Absences) and B (Bad things that happen) traumas.


Training and Education

From Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Illinois, Chris transferred to Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois to major in Sociology with a minor in Psychology. Chris graduated in May of 1998 with a B.A. degree then started work as a counselor with a Christian recovery ministry, C.A.R.E., Inc. Chris completed his Master’s Degree in Theological Studies from a Messianic Jewish Yeshiva called MBI, or Messianic Bible Institute, out of Virginia. Chris spent over seven years living in a redemptive community setting helping severe trauma survivors recover and reach their potential. Chris’s training includes ministering to adults and children with PTSD, D.I.D., SRA, maturity related issues and a variety of personality disorders and problems that result from A and B Trauma. Chris is an ordained minister and member of the international Evangelical Church Alliance.

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 in East Peoria, IL. with his wife Jennifer of three years. Chris offers personal ministry and specializes in maturity and trauma recovery issues. Chris consults churches and groups on how to effectively reach their potential, avoid pitfalls, stay resourceful and rebuild after a crisis.


Chris sits on the board of directors for Trauma and Abuse Care Group International Society, an organization interested in helping survivors of severe abuse on an international level.

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, studying, fostering relationships and walking his Chocolate Lab, Samson. Chris enjoys speaking and training churches, groups and couples to be effective in their ministry, marriage and relationships. 
 

Chris and Jen have the opportunity to travel and speak on Life Model and THRIVE topics in America and abroad. They have expanded the THRIVE Conference so people all over the world can participate in the THRIVE training from the East to West Coast and into Canada. Chris and Jen desire to equip individuals, couples and groups to learn more about themselves and live from their hearts. Chris and Jen offer experiential-based training that focuses on helping people learn the 19 brain skills. This type of training, based on recent discoveries in neuroscience and Scripture, lets people develop the necessary skills to positively impact their families and communities and be more like Jesus in action and not just words. From Illinois, Chris and Jen run THRIVE under Shepherd's House, Inc., a Pastoral Care and Training Center located in Pasadena, California.

Chris and Jen are active members of New Life Christian Church in Morton, Illinois.

 Education

  • M.B.I. Messianic Bible Institute – Yeshiva. Hampton, VA   2001 – 2007 Master's Degree in Theology
  • Eastern Illinois University – 1995-1998 Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Science
  • Illinois Central Junior College – 1993 – 1995 Associates Degree

Accomplishments 

Chris Coursey offers articles on topics pertaining to maturity, brain synchronization, 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 was published in Promise, an international magazine in January of 2004. The article was on Bonds and Attachments

Chris develops, organizes and speaks at THRIVE Conferences and is invited 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.

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 new Thriving 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 is called, Sensible Strategies for Belonging. Both Chris and Jen intend to expand the THRIVE training with additional training videos and resources.

Jen and Chris are currently completing one additional skill guide workbook to complete the set of books that accompany the first three Tracks of THRIVE. These "brain training" and "character building" workbooks are the beginning steps toward creating a THRIVE training package for the church, as well as equipping those who come to THRIVE so they take the newly acquired skills home and train others.

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.

  • YWAM Family Ministries School. Vancouver, BC Canada. March 10th - 14th, 2008. Topic: Maturity.
  • Kingdom Life Ministries, Hesston, Kansas. February 22nd & 23rd, 2008 Topic: Maturity Retreat.
  • Medford, New Jersey. February 15th & 16th, 2008 - Reaching Your Potential with Joy.
  • THRIVE - Conference, Oxnard, CA. January 28th-February 2nd, 2008. Conference Director and Track III leader and speaker. THRIVE Conference
  • THRIVE Conference, Bloomington, IL. November 5th thru 10th ,2007. Conference Director and Track I leader and speaker. THRIVE Conference
  • ICBC School - Indianapolis, IN. November 12th, 2007. Topic Covered: Maturity Overview
  • FLIGHT Ministries, Edmonton, Canada. Topic: Reaching Your Potential with Joy. November 16th and 17th, 2007.
  • THRIVE Conference, Big Rapids, MI. July 30th thru August 4th 2007. Conference Director and Track III leader and speaker. THRIVE Conference
  • Second Baptist Church, Peoria, IL. May 11, 2007. Topic covered: Joy Bonds, Mothers and God
  • Christ Is King Community Church, Leadership Maturity Retreat, Norfolk, NE. April 27-29, 2007
  • THRIVE - Conference Pasadena, CA. March 5-10th, 2007
  • University of the Nations YWAM  – Teaching in Kona, Hawaii with U of N Addictive Behavior Counseling Schools December 4th - 8th, 2006
  • Christ Is King Community Church, Leadership Maturity Retreat, Norfolk, NE. October 6th – 8th, 2006
  • THRIVE Conference, Big Rapids, MI. July 31 – August 5, 2006.Conference Director, Track I , II, III and IV speaker.
  • Reba Place Fellowship, Evanston, IL. Topics covered: Maturity Retreat. March 24th – 25th 2006.
  • ICBC – International Center for Biblical Counseling – International Conference, Sioux City, IA. March 2 - 4, 2006. Topics covered: Maturity and the Abuse of Power.
  • Beit Tahilla Congregation, Tampa Bay, FL.Topics covered: Maturity in the Body of Christ. February 2006
  • THRIVEConference, Big Rapids, MI. August 1 – 6, 2005. Conference Organizer, Track I and Track II facilitator and speaker
  • FLIGHT Ministries, Edmonton, Canada. Topics covered: Maturity Retreat.May 26 – 28th 2005
  • Beit Tahilla Congregation, Tampa Bay, FL. Topics covered:Redemptive Community, Joy and Return to Joy. February 2005
  • THRIVEConference, Big Rapids, MI. August 16 – 21, 2004. Conference Organizer and Track I facilitator.
  • Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI. Topics covered: Maturity Retreat - July 9-11, 2004
  • Evangelical Community Church, Lafayette, IN. Topics covered: DID, Maturity and Attachments, June 2004
  • Wellsprings Counseling Center, Grand Haven, MI. May 2004
  • ICBC – Teacher’s Assistant to Dr. Wilder – Sioux City, IA. 2004
  • THRIVE Conference at Ramada Inn, Ludington, MI. – conference overseer and coordinator 2003
  • TACGIS – Trauma and Abuse Care Group International Society – International conference in Alberta, Canada- June 2003
  • THRIVE – Conference Center – Baldwin, MI. 2002
  • ISBC – Teacher’s Assistant to Dr. Jim Wilder – Indianapolis, IN. 2002
  • Christian Family Worship Fellowship – Homestead, FL. 2002
  • Return to Joy – C.A.R.E., Inc. Conference Center – Baldwin, MI. 2002
  • Warfare for the New Millennium - C.A.R.E., Inc. Conference Center - Baldwin, MI. 2001