When I launched Thrive back in 2011, it was just me. A handful of trustees met with me three times a year, but essentially I was on my own, hoping and praying that in time God would gather a team who shared the same heart to strengthen churches in their youth and children’s ministries.
Slowly, wonderfully, that dream began to grow legs.
In 2016, Fiona Stutton joined as our Children’s Ministry Adviser, bringing with her a wealth of expertise in work with primary-aged children. Then in 2018, a couple of volunteers began helping each week. From there our team started to expand—little by little—until we reached the six staff members who serve within Thrive today.
And as people joined, I noticed something:
every person brings their own story, their own way of working, their own preferences, and their own communication style. All beautiful. All God-given. All different.
I wanted each person to thrive in their uniqueness—I still do! But I also began to see the need for something shared. Something that would shape who we are together. Something that would help ensure that no matter who you met from Thrive, you would experience the same heart and spirit behind the work.
That something was core values.
Why Core Values Matter
Core values are not there to restrict us or squeeze us into the same mould. They are there to guide us—to help us live consistently, lead faithfully, and work together with clarity and unity.
Back in 2018, our team and trustees spent significant time praying together, asking God who He wanted Thrive to be. Not just what we do, but how we behave. How we’re known. What kind of culture we embody.
And since then, these shared values have been incredibly grounding. Every new staff member and trustee joins knowing exactly what we are striving to live out. They know the aroma we want people to experience whenever they meet someone from Thrive.
Of course, we’re not perfect. No church or organisation is. Many groups have produced beautiful value statements that end up gathering dust in a drawer or stuck on a wall without ever shaping how people actually behave.
I was determined that wouldn’t be the story at Thrive.
Yes—we do have them on the office wall, and on postcards. But more importantly, we build regular reflection around them. After board meetings, our trustees pause to consider how the values were demonstrated. After big Thrive events, we reflect as a team on what we saw and where we can grow. We want our values to be more than words; we want them to be our way of life.
Values Should Reflect Culture—Not Aspirations
Aspirational values sound inspiring on paper, but they mean very little if they don’t reflect reality. Your team’s values should describe who you already are in some measure—and who you genuinely commit to becoming more fully.
If your church has established core values, take time with your youth leaders to explore how these show up in your ministry. And if you don’t have clear values yet, gathering your team to pray, talk, and discern them together is one of the most fruitful things you can do. It unifies a team, clarifies expectations, and helps newcomers quickly understand the heartbeat of your ministry.
How We Developed Thrive’s Values
When we created Thrive’s values, we began by acknowledging the foundational qualities that all Christians should display: prayerfulness, love, faithfulness, biblical commitment, and so on. These are important, but they are also universal for any believer.
We wanted values that captured the unique calling God has given Thrive. After much prayer and conversation, we landed on five:
1. Courageous Dependence on the Spirit
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” — Galatians 5:25
Dependence on the Holy Spirit is essential for every Christian, but we felt called to a courageous dependence—to take risks when God prompts, to follow His leading even when the path is uncertain, and to recognise that we can do nothing of lasting value apart from His power at work within us.
2. Making a Kingdom Difference
“Go and make disciples of all nations…” — Matthew 28:19–20
Originally we phrased this as “making a difference,” but soon realised that wasn’t enough. We don’t want to simply have an impact—we want to have an eternal one. Our purpose is to help children and young people encounter Jesus, and that requires a clear Kingdom focus in everything we do.
3. Dynamic and Life-Giving
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” — John 10:10
We want every interaction with Thrive—every conversation, event, resource, email, or social media post—to leave people feeling more energised, more hopeful, more strengthened in their calling. This value pushes us to consider not just whatwe do, but how we do it.
4. Purposefully Encouraging and Building Others Up
“Encourage one another and build each other up…” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Youth ministry can be lonely. When I founded Thrive, the average tenure of a church youth worker was only 18 months. I knew from day one that encouragement would need to be central to our work. Our aim is to champion, equip, and support leaders so they can continue faithfully in what God has called them to.
5. Extravagant Generosity
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.” — 2 Corinthians 9:15
Generosity isn’t only about money—though we do seek to pay staff well and bless people practically. It’s also about generosity with our time, our hospitality, our listening, and our care. We travel to where leaders are. We invest in their ministries. We give freely of what God has given to us. We have a generous God, and we want to reflect His heart.
We don’t always get these values right. If you know Thrive, you could probably think of a moment where we’ve fallen short. But I love that our team is committed to pursuing these together—and that people tell us they can see these values lived out. That is deeply encouraging.
What About Your Team’s Values?
So let me end with this:
What core values guide your youth ministry team?
How could you go about defining them—or refining them?
While it might be tempting to simply borrow Thrive’s values, can I gently encourage you: don’t. They fit us because they arose from our calling. Instead, seek God for what He wants your team to be known for. Gather your leaders, pray together, discuss honestly, and let the Spirit guide you.
And if you’re unsure where to start, you’ll find plenty of helpful guides online—that’s how we began!
Your values will become the culture your young people experience.
Make them count.