TX - Gregg

**HOW WE GOT HERE**
Thrive Longview’s arrival is a storied journey. The idea of a teen development ministry was birthed out of the generosity and philanthropy of the R.S. Martin family and Paula Martin Jones Charities. Paula Martin Jones was dedicated to not only her family but also to families in her community and the welfare of all children. After her untimely death in March 1990, her love of life and dedication to the community as well as her humanitarian efforts are remembered under the foundation bearing her name.

In September 2015, Paula Martin Jones Charities began the planning process for the creation of an out-of-school time educational campus for young people and their families called Thrive360. Recognizing the strategic potential of a common vision and collaborative partnerships with neighboring non-profits, churches, and organizations, Thrive360 sought to maximize the campus and its facilities to attract teens and provide opportunities to mentor teens. Thrive360 would operate a variety of programming initiatives over the next four years which included after-school programming, intramural sports leagues, functional fitness community classes, summer camps, teen conferences, etc.

**WHERE WE ARE NOW**
On February 1, 2020, One Hope Presbyterian Church (https://www.onehopelongview.com/) acquired the campus where Thrive360 previously operated and entered into partnership with the relaunched and rebranded Thrive Longview. Under new ownership and leadership, Thrive Longview’s has reoriented programming and the mission. 

Thrive Longview’s conviction and passion are in the development of teen character. Our mission is simply to transform the lives of teens. As stewards and mentors, Christ is the foundation by which we establish our identity and culture as a ministry. The transformation of teens' lives takes place as we walk alongside them, aid in developing their character, and prepare them for the adversities life has to offer. Thrive Longview’s hope is that our students and their families will prosper, grow, and develop vigorously through intentional programming because we believe in the African proverb, “it takes a village”. 

We walk alongside our students through group mentoring. We always consider in the number of students being served, the methods by which students are engaged, and the involvement of the local community in our programming. Thrive seeks the expertise of community members and builds positive, mutually beneficial relationships. We believe middle school aged students have as much to teach adults about real life as adults do. We strive to be an extension of and therefore supplemental to the school, the church, and the home. 

We recognize that a big part of success is learning how to fail forward. With this in mind we want to prepare our teens for the adversities life has to offer by creating safe environments for teens to fail and learn from those failures. We introduce a variety of tools like, sport specific skill training, high intensity functional fitness, drug prevention and awareness, and abstinence courses, just to name a few. 

By walking alongside our students and preparing them for adversity, we are modeling and developing the character of our students. Our students becoming whole, healthy, and valuable members of the community and transforming their lives so that they can be the best version of themselves is our mission. 

Thrive Longview is an independent, non-profit 501(c)3 organization whose programming is led from a faith-based, Christian context.

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