We were lucky to catch up with Christian Johnson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Christian, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Thrive Ministry Consulting was born out of nearly 15 years of hands-on experience in worship ministry—a journey that has shaped not only my passion, but also my perspective. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of serving in churches of all sizes and styles. And in that time, one thing became increasingly clear: many churches are quietly struggling—sometimes without even realizing it. Not in the obvious, headline-grabbing ways, but in the smaller, more foundational cracks that form behind the scenes. Disconnected staff, burnout among volunteers, unclear vision, poor communication—these are the kinds of challenges that slowly erode a church’s impact if left unaddressed.

I’ve seen both the beauty and the brokenness in church leadership. I’ve seen ministries that are thriving publicly but silently unraveling internally. I’ve also seen churches that, despite their limitations, have a deep passion just waiting to be unlocked. Thrive exists to help uncover that potential—to bring clarity, structure, and renewed purpose to churches so they can flourish from the inside out.

Our mission is deeply personal. This isn’t just consulting—it’s ministry to ministries. We’re here to help churches notice the overlooked details, confront the hard truths, and reignite the passion that fuels their calling. Because when a church begins to thrive in the unseen spaces, the visible impact is nothing short of transformative.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Christian Johnson, founder of Thrive Ministry Consulting. Before launching Thrive, I spent nearly 15 years in worship ministry. During that time, I served in a variety of churches—big and small, contemporary and traditional—and I began to notice a pattern: many churches were unintentionally operating with blind spots. Sometimes, the Sunday morning service looked polished and full of life, but behind the scenes, things were quietly unraveling—burnt-out volunteers, unclear vision, poor communication among staff, or neglected physical spaces that no longer served the needs of the church.

That tension—between the visible and the hidden—sparked the idea for Thrive. Our work is about coming alongside churches to address the subtle but significant issues that often go unnoticed until they start impacting growth, culture, and effectiveness. We specialize in strengthening internal systems like staff and volunteer communication, refining vision clarity, improving facility functionality and aesthetics, and making sure churches are equipped with the right tools—whether it’s updating audio/visual setups, modernizing worship spaces, or helping ministries function more cohesively.

What sets us apart is that we’re not a cookie-cutter consultancy. We don’t show up with a one-size-fits-all plan. We listen deeply. We partner with pastors, staff, and elders to find out where things feel stuck and tailor our support accordingly. I bring not only professional insight but also the empathy of someone who’s been in the trenches of ministry.

I’m most proud of the fact that this work helps breathe life back into places where there’s often fatigue, frustration, or just a lack of clarity. Thrive is about more than improvement—it’s about rediscovering the passion and purpose God planted in a church from the beginning.

At the heart of our brand is this belief: when churches get healthy behind the scenes, everything in front of the scenes begins to thrive. That’s what I want our clients and partners to know—we’re here to walk with them, care for their teams, and help their ministries not just function, but flourish.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One of the most challenging—and ultimately refining—experiences in my ministry journey came from working with volunteers who struggled to align with the vision and expectations of the worship ministry. It wasn’t just about missed call times or disregarded direction; it was about how those small acts of misalignment started to create cracks in the culture we were trying to build. The weight of that went far beyond logistics—it impacted morale, consistency, and the clarity of the ministry’s purpose.

In those moments, it would’ve been easy to give in to frustration or lower the bar just to keep the peace. But instead, I leaned in. I took time to refine the vision, to clarify the ‘why’ behind the ‘what,’ and to communicate it in a way that invited ownership rather than mere compliance. Having pastoral support in that season was crucial, but so was learning how to reframe expectations in a way that volunteers could connect with on a personal and spiritual level.

That experience taught me not just how to lead through resistance, but how to build something stronger on the other side of it. It gave me insight into what truly works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to team culture, vision casting, and follow-through. It’s that kind of real-world experience that fuels what we do now at Thrive. We don’t lead from theory—we lead from trenches we’ve been through ourselves.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

For Thrive, the most effective strategy for growing our clientele has been relationship-driven networking—leaning into genuine, trust-based connections within church leadership circles. Ministry is personal, and so is consulting in this space. Most of our growth has come from word-of-mouth, referrals, and conversations that happen in the margins of conferences, worship nights, or even casual coffee meetups with pastors and staff.

We’ve also made intentional use of social media—not just to promote services, but to educate, encourage, and speak directly to the pain points ministry leaders are facing. Creating content that reflects the real struggles behind the scenes in church life has helped us build credibility and connection with the very people we’re trying to serve.

Another key strategy has been offering value first—through free resources, honest conversations, or simply showing up to listen before offering a solution. When leaders feel seen and understood, they’re far more open to trust you with the health of their ministry. We’re not here to sell a product; we’re here to help churches thrive. That clarity has shaped everything from our messaging to our methods—and it’s drawn the right people to us in return.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thrivemc.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivemc.co?igsh=N3ozbDlpOTQ4MWc0&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16TpCrr3ZM/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Twitter: https://x.com/thrivemc_co?s=21

Image Credits

Stephanie Johnson-photo credit
Christian Johnson-logo credit