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New church focuses on ‘groups’
Thrive Church meets at Whitaker Black Box downtown
Thrive Church.jpg
Craig and Mandy Hardee said they felt a calling to open a church in Statesboro, so they opened Thrive Church last month in the Whitaker Black Box Theater on West Main Street. Shown are Craig and Mandy Hardee and their daughters, Kayleigh, 14, and Reese, 10.

Craig and Mandy Hardee are not new to ministry, but the church they’ve started, Thrive Church, is new to Statesboro. 

Thrive Church meets Sunday mornings at 10:30 inside the Whitaker Black Box Theater, 41 West Main Street, in downtown Statesboro.

“We have a great worship service on Sunday mornings,” Craig Hardee said, “but the greatest part of our church is Thrive groups.” 

Thrive groups are small groups that meet throughout the week at various homes or locations. Hardee said that some of the groups are Discipleship groups, with various forms of emphasis, like marriage classes, men’s and women’s groups, youth groups and more. 

“They’re Scripture and issue-driven.”

The other type of Thrive groups is Evangelistic in style. 

“The idea is that we have Thrive groups where people hang out,” Hardee said. "Like, a group of men might get together and play football on a Saturday or get together and watch a football game. 

“It’s a way to connect with those who don’t normally come to church.” 

Craig Hardee, originally from Statesboro, and Mandy Hardee, from Jesup, volunteered in various ministry aspects for almost 10 years in Statesboro, while he worked locally and she taught school. 

When Craig first began serving as a music and youth minister, the couple spent six years in Jesup and four years in Woodstock, Ga. 

“We felt called to come back here to plant a church near the college,” Craig Hardee said.

Mandy Hardee is a Georgia Southern graduate and currently teaches at Mattie Lively School.

“Our mission statement is: ‘People helping people thrive in Christ, one relationship at a time,’” Mandy Hardee said. “Our focus is people helping people.” 

Thrive Church recently hosted a marriage class for the community and has plans in the future to offer classes in parenting and managing finances.

“We start our worship time as families worshiping together, then younger kids are released from the service for their own Thrive Kids time,” said Mandy Hardee.

To connect with the Hardees or Thrive Church, visit Facebook and Instagram social media pages @thriveBORO or email thriveboro@gmail.com.