About Us
Our Story
Thrive Community Church was birthed from a bold new adventure and a new vision. This new calling came right as the world experienced a new viral pandemic. After three years, a prayerful and spirit-led journey led to the birth of Thrive Community Church.
We have four basic priorities:
1) A passion to have a right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ,
2) A passion to help one another grow in knowing and serving the Lord,
3) A passion to be an example of Christ’s love in the community to which He has called us, and
4) A passion to support and be active in serving the work of Christ around the world.
Our heritage dates back to May 13, 1879 when a nation-wide evangelistic effort known as the Third Great Awakening was occurring. We began known as a second Baptist congregation in Lancaster, which eventually became known as the Olivet Baptist Church, formerly organizing in 1885. In 1926, the congregation adopted the name First Baptist Church of Lancaster, after their sister church by that name closed. Our newest name, Thrive Community Church was born from over three years of re-visioning and praying about God’s call for our community of faith.
Our Beliefs
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We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and is completely trustworthy and the final authority for faith and practice.
We believe in the One Living God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God the Father manifests His holiness through His justice against humanity’s sin and His love is expressed through His constant interest in the wellbeing of His creation.
- We believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord. He was born of the Virgin Mary, true God and true man. He lived a sinless life and is the only sufficient mediator between God and us.
- We believe that the Lord Jesus died for our sins, was buried, resurrected from the grave, ascended into heaven and will return to Earth to judge the living and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit. He works in the lives of believers to reveal to them God’s truth and will. He counsels believers and works to sanctify them in their faith journey.
We believe that we were created in the image of God, that we fell into sin, incurring the penalty of spiritual and physical death which has passed to all humankind.
We believe that those who “declare with their mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in their heart that God raised him from the dead, will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Their sins are forgiven, they are born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, are justified before the Father, and are adopted as children of God.
We believe that a believer’s baptism by immersion is the primary example lifted up in Scripture. For the believer, this is a public confession of faith.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all mankind, the eternal life of the saved with God and the eternal separation of the unsaved from God.
We believe that the Church is the body of Christ and the family of God, united in love to glorify God and serve one another, the community, and the world by living and sharing the Gospel.
We believe that communion is a meaningful celebration remembering Jesus’ body given for us, blood shed for us, and death on the cross, providing atonement for all believers, until He returns.
How we help
Check out the Global & Local Missions we are blessed to support!
The Reeds
The Smiths
Susan Harding
How We Meet the Need in Our Community
We also support the efforts of Water Street Rescue Mission, Conestoga Valley Christian Community Services & Feed My Starving Children as we strive to make an impact both locally and globally!
Our Team
Pastor Kevin
Kira
Communications Coordinator
Frank
Moderator
Jan
Discipleship/Children’s Ministry
Daryl
Worship Leader