Thrive promotes diversity, equity, and belonging for people from international cultures in our region through increased language proficiency and cultural competence, immigration legal assistance, and mutually beneficial community connections.

Students of all religions, colors, national/ethnic origins, sexual orientations, and immigration statuses are welcome at Thrive International Programs. We are excited to have new students and participants from any background.  The teachers and volunteers aim to treat everyone  with dignity and care as we believe the Bible instructs.  We are glad to share about our faith if students ask or wish to read about it.  However, we encourage an atmosphere of mutual respect and honor students’ right to freely practice their own religions.  When possible, we make accommodations for special food requirements, prayer times, customs, and holidays of different religions.  Our desire is to deliver excellence to serve our neighbors through our advertised services of education, legal services, and community building opportunities.

Official Policy: Thrive International Programs shall admit students/participants of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students within the programs. It shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship, and loan programs, and athletic and other program-administered activities.

The program started in 2011 as the International Program at a local church.  It began to help with an unmet need for community-based ESL classes.  It also began from a love of being with people from other cultures.  The following are key Bible verses which have also influenced the start and continuation of the program:

Genesis 1:27a ~ “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them.”

Leviticus 19:33-34 ~ “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

Matthew 22:39 ~ “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

We are passionate about coming alongside those in our community from other cultures and providing opportunities to help them and their families thrive.  We also actively believe their full participation in the community helps the community to thrive.

Thrive is now its own non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status and has expanded to include immigration legal services and foreign language learning opportunities.