THRIVING -Thrive History

THRIVE History and Scrapbook

Our first THRIVE Conference took place at the C.A.R.E., Inc. facility in Baldwin, Michigan during October, 2002. The goal of this conference was to implement Life Model principles along with purposeful training and teaching so that people can practically apply the Life Model to their lives. The following year we spent six days in Ludington, Michigan at the Ramada Inn amidst a cold wintry week in November of 2003. Our third, fourth, fifth and seventh annual THRIVE Conferences took place in Big Rapids, Michigan at the Holiday Inn Conference Center. Our sixth conference took place in Pasadena, California in March of 2007. THRIVE has since expanded with several conferences each year in the US and now Canada. With each conference we learn what works and where improvement needs to happen. The combination of experience and feedback from attendees helped us change, add and fine-tune the exercises. These conferences birthed what is now THRIVE Tracks I, II and III with the strategic 19 skill training experienced at each THRIVE Conference. These are the skills all of us rely on for healthy relationships with God and others. We are delighted to see more and more people invest in this hands-on training.

A few memorable moments:

2002

Our first THRIVE conference was purposefully designed to last all day, from early in the morning to late at night. Our goal was to pack as much right brain training into our day as reasonably possible. Our intentions were good but our attendees grew weary! Midweek we decided to improvise as some of our faithful participants began to drop like flies, telling us our days were too long. THRIVE staff then creatively changed the format to a more manageable schedule and we all left the conference rested, packed full of joy and excited about our week. The conference was a success. In fact, the first THRIVE conference goes down into history as one incredible journey because it was our first purposeful attempt to work on training individuals with group, individual and nonverbal exercises. Staff was eager to see how this process would run and the week went so well, we hosted four more conferences - and still going.

2003



Our second THRIVE conference was exciting because we moved the format to a conference center/hotel with the goal to have everyone on the same turf so those who wanted to spend time outside of the conference time with other attendees would find the layout compatible and inviting to nurture relationships, share experiences and build THRIVE were thankful for the arrangement and told us so! Attendees appreciated the room arrangement as well as the opportunity to absorb their experience with one another.

2004





Each year builds on the previous. Our third annual THRIVE moved to the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Big Rapids where space grew, accommodations increased and location convenience improved. This THRIVE conference experienced a dramatic shift in format and structure. Track II was introduced into the THRIVE design allowing two tracks to run simultaneously. Both tracks cover essential elements necessary for thriving – one on Growth and the second on Recovery. We added a brand new track for past attendees to experience increasing return to joy practice, only this time with increasingly complex emotions. Exercises grew more challenging and Track II participants actively train first time attendees! Participants had the opportunity to glean groundbreaking practice with joy exercises, return to joy training, acting like yourself exercises and many more! The second track depended on plenty of practice with learning to quiet, build joy, and handle complex emotions as well as find joy from the ‘big six’ emotions. To name a few aspects of our week, it consisted of familiar faces, smiles, hugs, group identity practice, modeling, synchronized dancing, acting like yourself study, synchronizing with self and others, learning new material but more importantly applying it! One evening we had a fireside chat with CARE community members that gave conference goers the chance to ask questions about the CARE ministry, community and listen to their testimonies. On another evening during Praise and Worship we had a few talented attendees lead us in a dynamic session of singing, praising and playing instruments. These were both truly memorable moments. Each year is full of new changes, fresh ideas and familiar faces!

2005





Our fourth annual THRIVE conference proved to be an uninterrupted success all the way around. With three tracks running simultaneously, the conference provided a forum for meeting new people, establishing contacts, building joy and working on a group identity, to name a few. Dr. Jim Wilder and special guest speaker Dr. Tom Hawkins from Restoration in Christ Ministries brought much insight, experience and expertise to the third track participants as they discussed the multi-level problems of Dissociation and Borderline Personality Disorder. Dr. Hawkins taught how his material and methods apply to DID in the 4+ diagnostic system.

2006

Each year of THRIVE is flavorful and consequential for THRIVE staff as well as attendees. THRIVE 2006 was no exception. THRIVE 2006 expanded everyone’s capacity – from the staff all the way down to the hotel that hosted us! We were stretched but not too much, just enough to help us grow toward our potential. Close to 200 participants packed the onsite hotel/conference center in Big Rapids, Michigan. Attendees from all over the country as well as from Australia, Germany, Mexico, Canada, Holland, Israel, and others participated in making this conference a success.

One of the highlights of this recent THRIVE Conference is the application of our new, focused and updated 19 skills. Tracks I thru III were renovated to efficiently and effectively train the mostly nonverbal 19 skills we all need for healthy relationships and emotional resilience. Each track was carefully scrutinized months before the conference to ensure we reach our goal to effectively train and teach the skills we all rely on.

Each of the three tracks provided ongoing training and practice with the fourth track looking at Organizations from a 4+ diagnosis system point of view. Track IV revolved around how to detect, address and prevent failures in Missions, Education, Community, Churches and Businesses. Track IV proved insightful and invigorating as Dr. Jim Wilder led the track along with special guest speakers who not only taught but each day led discussion groups with interested folks who shared an interest in their field of expertise. Dick Hostetler, Jim Martini, Jo Getzinger, Jim DeGoyler, Sheila Sutton and Ken Smith discussed how applying the Life Model and THRIVE principles to their field of expertise impacts their work and ministry.

2007 - Spring West Coast Conference

Visit the update and picture page for the March 2007 THRIVE. This was our first West Coast THRIVE.

2007 - Summer Big Rapids, Michigan Conference

Visit the update and picture page for the August 2007 Conference.

2008 - Fall Bloomington, Illinois Conference

Visit the update and picture page for the November 2007 Conference. This was our first Illinois THRIVE

2008 - Spring Oxnard, California Conference

Visit the update and picture page for the January 2008 Conference.