Who is it for? ▪ Speakers ▪ Programme ▪ Seminars ▪ Offering ▪ Booking and volunteering ▪ FAQs
THRIVE is our key annual gathering, equipping us to build thriving churches that advance the kingdom.
Thrive is for anyone involved in leadership in and out of the church.
This is our fourth Thrive and we’ll continue in the same vein as previous years – worship, teaching, friendships, meals and coffee, all in an atmosphere of joy, passion for Jesus and fun! Thrive is all about making space:
space for God to speak into our lives and encounter him
space to be challenged, inspired and encouraged
space for relationships and connections with friends, new and old
Who is Thrive for?
Thrive is for anyone in our Salt & Light family of churches who is involved in leadership of any sort – in the church, in the workplace or in the home.
Whether you’re young or old, starting in leadership or got a few years experience behind you, we’d love to see you there.
If you simply want to grow more in God, have a passion for him and his plans being advanced in the world, you are invited!
Speakers and hosts
Jo Hargreaves
Jo is a a psychotherapist, writer and speaker, with an approach to therapy that integrates theology and therapy together. She loves working with people, viewing everyone holistically – spirit, soul and body. She is a Location Pastor at Alive Church, a multisite church in and around Lincoln, and is online as The Faith Filled Therapist.
Jon Norman
Jon and Chantel are Senior Pastors of Jon's childhood church, formerly Norwich Family Life Centre, now SOUL Church. The church has experienced huge growth, an expanding building and impact in the town. Jon is the Chaplain of Norwich City Football Club and has written two books, Unmasked and Above All Else.
Event hosts:
Rich and Anna Ellwood
Team leaders for the Salt & Light Advance family of churches, Rich and Anna spent many years in Brussels establishing a thriving and multicultural local church. They lead our family of churches, as well as Witney Community Church.
Programme
Friday 19th February
10.00am Doors open, refreshments*
10.30am Morning session Jo Hargreaves
12.30pm Lunch*
2.00pm Salt & Light Advance vision and updates
3.00pm Choice of seminars and other sessions
4.00pm Refreshments*
4.30pm Choice of seminars and other sessions
5.30pm Break
5:45pm Dinner* - opportunity to connect with old friends and new, over a spacious, excellent meal
7.00pm Delegate arrivals for evening session
7.30pm Evening session Jon Norman
9.30pm End
Saturday 20th February
9.30am Doors open
9.45am Morning session Jon Norman (with mid-morning refreshments*)
12.30pm Lunch*
1.45pm Choice of seminars
3.00pm Closing session
4.30pm End
*All refreshments are included in the conference ticket.
Seminars
Seminars have yet to be confirmed, information for each session will be made available here nearer the event.
Friday 3.00pm
Friday 4.30pm
Saturday 1.45pm
Offering
In 2023 God initiated a new season in our family of churches - a season of working together more closely and more intentionally with a variety of joint initiatives and projects as we seek to journey together with shared vision and purpose. God is calling us into a fresh season of fruitfulness and thriving!
Please could you pray and reflect on how you could generously contribute to this?
We will take an offering during Thrive to help us train leaders, disciple young people, support churches, impact other nations and see our towns and villages touched with the love of God. Please consider giving generously and joyfully to this offering.
Booking
Tickets are on sale now. We’ve kept the price as low as possible to help as many as possible of us be part of Thrive! Tickets include all meals and refreshments.
Early booking deadline: Book before 14th December 2026 for the best price.
Volunteers: Thrive 2027 will rely on a good team of volunteers. Would you like to get involved behind the scenes, with a team, and benefit from a discount? Volunteers will serve drinks and food, clear venues and manage the car park. Full training given.
We ask you to volunteer for part of the time, as well as giving you space to attend some sessions. First, tell us you’re interested, and then we’ll reach out to you to discuss what you’d like to do, and how much.
Youth: We want to invest into Y12/Y13 youth by inviting them book, free of charge, to participate in Thrive. More on this below in FAQs, as well as info on other children.
FAQs
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We have suggested travel information here.
With 94 spaces on-site we anticipate adequate onsite parking for delegates, however, this is dependent on effective car-sharing. Please help your fellow delegates by car-sharing if at all possible.
Please be aware on road parking is not suitable Monday-Friday as it can only be used for 2 hours. Outside of Mon-Fri 8.00am-6.30pm on-street parking can be used.
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Thrive is one of our four main annual events. We welcome children and youth to the two Celebrations and to Wildfires, but unfortunately it is not feasible for us to offer childcare at Thrive, and we ask that children (other than nursing babies or Y12/13 youth) are not brought to the event.
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We invite those in sixth form (years 12/13) and equivalent to join us for Thrive.
Youth need permission from parents, and a named, responsible/trusted adult at the event - this may be a parent or family friend. Complete the Permission form.
An additional sign up is required to allow us to ask for additional information and consent.
Please note that youth are paid for by Advance, we do ask that you give us a weeks notice if you cannot attend so we don’t pay for unrequired food.
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All rooms being used for the event are acccessible by wheelchair, please let us know if you are likely to need to use the lift.
The prayer room (upstairs, also accessible by lift) will be available as a quieter space and there are a range of seating options throughout the building.
If you have differing capacity or needs which you would like support with please email events@advancechurches.uk
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We are a group of smaller churches in which Sunday gatherings often rely on key leaders, so we plan our annual 2-day conference to avoid Sundays.
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For general terms and conditions, including discounts and accessibility, please visit https://advancechurches.uk/event-tc
For event-specific T&C please see the ChurchSuite sign up page.