outdoor adventurers | spiritual guides

Like most mission ORGANIZATIONS thrive has no central funds to pay staff. therefore, our staff members are responsible to raise support to cover their salaries. thank you so much for helping to create life-giving experiences so that we all may know christ and live like him. as a staff we want to be people who love, serve and lead others well.

 
 

 

Bar harbor, Maine

 
 
 

Dan & Heather Litchfield

President and field instructor

Dan & Heather and their four kids live beside Acadia N.P. in Maine. They have been serving in full time christian ministry since 1997. In early 2018 God made it clear that He was calling them to start thrive with their friends. they are passionate about thrive’s vision: a world where the gospel is being experienced.

 
 
 
 

Joe and Angie Cousins

Field Instructors

Joe and Angie bring years of ministry and outdoor experience to Thrive. They led an outdoor ministry at the University of Maine prior to joining thrive.

 
 
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craig and shawna ketter

Field Staff

 

Craig, Shawna and their four kids are originally from the Kansas City area and have been called to serve full-time with the team in Maine. They have many years experience adventuring in the great outdoors and serving their community by taking individuals, groups and families on adventures helping them to strengthen relationships while sharing the grace and truth of Jesus. God has used time adventuring in the wild as a family to renew their relationship with Him and each other. They are passionate about encouraging others to experience life-giving adventures and retreats while pointing them to their greatest adventure with God.

 
 
 
 

keith jewett

field staff

Keith is excited to serve in Maine; the state he was born and raised in. He has spent the past six years serving with a college campus ministry in the Bangor area, and is looking forward to this next chapter of serving God through leading others in meaningful outdoor experiences.

 
 

 

Asheville, North Carolina

 
 
 

Abby Iverson

Director of Operations

Abby, her husband Mark, and their daughter rosemary live in beautiful Asheville, NC. Abby previously served in college ministry alongside the Litchfields and Peter Ivey with Lifelines. Feeling called into ministry and coming from a background in high school education,she felt a passion for serving students in Christ’s name. However, in early 2018 when Thrive became a ministry that reaches not only students, but whole communities for Gospel change, Abby felt the call to join. While Mark is not officially on staff with Thrive Adventures, he is a passionate volunteer and support to the team.

 
 
 
 

Peter Ivey

north carolina Director

Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Peter and his family have lived in the Asheville area since 2012. He and his wife, Becca, have three young children: Londyn, Owen and Miles. Peter has a Bachelors degree in Religion from Furman University and a Masters degree in Leadership and Outdoor Ministry from Denver Seminary. For two years, he served as a Team Leader with Lifelines, working with Abby and the Litchfields, before feeling called to join Thrive as the Asheville Director.

 
 
 
 

hunter poole

Field staff

Hunter, his wife Kaylie, their daughter Emory and son Roan join our North Carolina team from Mississippi where Hunter has served for 5 years as the Student Pastor for a local church. Hunter and Kaylie met while serving at an outdoor Christian summer camp in the Asheville area, and joining Thrive North Carolina feels like a homecoming for them. He has a passion for the outdoors and seeing people come alive through connection with their Creator and their community.

 
 

 

taos, New Mexico

 
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Adam and tracy simpson

New Mexico directors

ADAM AND TRACY ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING BOTH BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS EXPERIENCE THE GOSPEL THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL WILDERNESS TRIPS AND GRACE AND TRUTH COMMUNITY. ADAM AND TRACY WORK WITH THRIVE SERVING LOCAL CHURCHES WHILE ALSO INVESTING IN THE LIVES OF COLLEGE STUDENTS THROUGH MOMENTOUS, A GAP YEAR PROGRAM THEY ARE currently HELPING TO LAUNCH.

 

operations

 
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Jenn blanche

administrative manager

 

Jenn keeps us organized and our books balanced. jenn is a mother of three boys and a pastor’s wife. we are so thankful for all that she does to help thrive grow and move forward. she enjoys stand up paddle boarding and jumping in to help with any adventure or retreat.

 
 
 

Kelly kidd

 

Director of Ministry Partner Development

KELLY AND HER HUSBAND JOHN HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF SERVING IN OUTDOOR MINISTRY ALONGSIDE THE LITCHFIELDS AND COUSINS. JOHN CURRENTLY SERVES AS A BOARD MEMBER FOR THRIVE AND KELLY WORKS WITH THE OPERATIONS TEAM AND SEEKS TO PARTNER WITH THE CHURCH TO MINISTER TO WOMEN OF ALL AGES. SHE IS EAGER TO HELP WOMEN GROW IN THEIR FAITH AS THEY DIVE DEEPER INTO GRACE AND TRUTH AND LEAN INTO VULNERABLE AREAS OF THEIR LIVES. BEING A PASTOR'S WIFE AND HAVING WORKED IN COLLEGE MINISTRY SHE IS ZEALOUS TO SEE WOMEN'S LIVES CHANGED BY THE GOSPEL.