Celebrating New Beginnings: Barnabas Project Year 2 and the Thrive Hub Grand Opening

This weekend, August 1, 2026, we kicked off Year Two of the Barnabas Project at Thrive Collective, welcoming a new group of young leaders for a morning of connection, conversation, and vision.
Together, we explored the heart behind the name Barnabas, which means "son of encouragement." In Scripture, Barnabas was a mentor, advocate, and bridge builder who saw potential in people and encouraged them into God's calling. That's exactly the kind of leaders we hope to cultivate through this fellowship.
We also talked about what it truly means to serve. Serving isn't just about volunteering or completing a task—it's an act of worship. As Barnabas Fellows, we'll use our gifts, creativity, and time to mentor young people, serve our neighborhoods, and love our city in practical ways that point people to Christ.
One of the best parts of the day was simply getting to know one another and hearing pieces of each other's stories. It was a reminder that every person has a unique journey, and that encouragement has the power to change lives.
To top it all off, our Fellows joined the Thrive Collective family for the grand opening of the Thrive Hub just around the corner on Avenue D. With music playing, barbecue on the grill, vibrant murals, and neighbors gathered together, it was a beautiful celebration of community and a perfect picture of what we hope to build together—a city where creativity, belonging, and hope can flourish.
We're incredibly excited for this year's cohort and can't wait to see how God uses each Fellow to encourage others and serve our city like Barnabas.