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Thrive 2026 | Oct 9-10 | Mayo Civic Center – Rochester, MN

ADULT PRESALE DEADLINE OCT 19; ADULT EARLY-BIRD DEADLINE AUG 31; FREE Tickets for 2026 High School Grads; $20 Tickets for First-Time Guests (Tickets are non-refundable but are transferable.)

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2026 Featured Guests

Lisa Bevere

Lisa Bevere has spent over four decades empowering women to find their identity and purpose. She is a New York Times bestselling author and an internationally known minister.

Her books, which include The Fight for Female, Without Rival, Girls with Swords, Lioness Arising, and Strong are in the hands of millions worldwide. Lisa and her husband, John, co-founded Messenger International, an organization committed to developing uncompromising followers of Christ who transform their world. Messenger International has given away over 60 million resources in over 135 languages.

Social Links:

Connect with Lisa Bevere:

Christina Girma-Hanfere

Christina serves as a pastor at Overflow City Church in Washington, DC, where she co-leads alongside her husband, Paul. Together, they planted the church in 2018 with a vision to see lives transformed by the presence of God—and have since witnessed powerful moves of the Spirit within their growing community.

Christina is passionate about teaching, discipleship, and equipping women to embrace their God-given identity and purpose. That passion led her to launch Grow&Go in 2021—an online ministry created to empower women to step boldly into their God-given calling. In addition to her pastoral work, Christina has been a certified faith-based premarital counselor since 2018, helping couples lay strong, Christ-centered foundations for marriage. Through her pastoral and premarital counseling work, she aims to foster transformation, wholeness, and a deeper personal relationship with God in the lives of those she serves.

Follow Christina: @christinagirma.

Learn More: growandgo.teachable.com.

Martha Tennison

Martha Tennison has traveled across America for over 36 years preaching revivals, women’s retreats, and camp meetings. She and her late husband, Rev W. Don Tennison, served together for 49 years of ministry. They have one son, Dr. D. Allen Tennison, who serves as theological counsel to The General Council of the Assemblies of God.
 
The Tennisons pastored Radcliff First Assembly of God in Radcliff, KY, from 1978-1990. On May 14, 1988, First Assembly experienced a fiery trial when their church bus was hit head on by a drunken driver, resulting in the death of 24 young people and 3 staff members. Through this tragedy, the Tennisons experienced God’s sustaining power and healing grace in the lives of their parishioners. Martha has a deep love and compassion for the hurting. Martha will keep you laughing and crying as she shares her life, walking with a loving and faithful God.

Susie Larson (Speaker & Co-Emcee)

Susie Larson is a talk radio host, national speaker, and bestselling author. In both 2016 and 2017 Susie was nominated and voted into the top ten groups for the National John Maxwell Leadership Award. In addition to her work and ministry, Susie loves to laugh and relax with her family. She and her husband, Kevin, have been married since 1985. Together they have three wonderful (and hilarious) sons, three beautiful daughters-in-law, and a growing bunch of delightful grandchildren. Susie’s passion is to see women everywhere awakened to the value of their soul, the depth of God’s love, and the height of their calling in Christ Jesus.

 

Learn more: susielarson.com.

Follow: susielarsonauthor.

Amber Gerstmann (Co-Emcee)

Pastor Amber Gerstmann is married to Trevor and is a momma of five from Fergus Falls, MN. She’s a worship leader, Bible/theology teacher, runner, and coffee enthusiast. She is animated, talkative, and loves to GEEK OUT on all things music and theology. Amber is passionate about expressing the great love and truth of Jesus found in His word. You can find her regularly doing so on her website, awideopenspace.com. Amber is a licensed minister with the Assemblies of God. She holds two B.A.’s in Music and Biblical Studies and an M.A. in Theological Studies. She also serves as a creative advisor and emcee for the Bridging the Gap Thrive Conference.

 

Learn more: awideopenspace.com.

Follow: @ambergerstmann.

Angie Goetz (Host)

Pastor Angie Goetz is the wife to her best friend Cory, mom to three amazing kids and two daughters-in-laws, a speaker, and the director of Bridging the Gap (BTG) women’s ministry whose purpose is to encourage, equip and empower every woman in her faith journey with Jesus Christ.

 

Angie is passionate about creating a multigenerational community where all women can thrive in the potential that God has for them. She desires women to live fearlessly and boldly in their faith, knowing that we serve the God of the impossible. World missions captured Angie’s heart long ago, and if there is one thing that keeps her up at night, it’s thinking about the women here and all across the world that still don’t know Jesus.

 

Angie loves being surrounded by hundreds or thousands of women together worshipping God, or sitting at a coffee shop with a few talking about what God is personally doing in their lives. And although she’s a Minnesota girl desperate to decorate for Christmas at the first sign of snow, some of her favorite moments are sitting on a boat in the water, soaking in the sun, with a ice cold diet coke in her hand.

 

Follow Angie on Instagram.

Emmanuel LIVE

Emmanuel LIVE is a worship team rooted in a singular mission: to glorify God and cultivate an atmosphere where all people can encounter Jesus. Flowing from Emmanuel Christian Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Emmanuel LIVE exists to empower individuals and communities to live lives marked by prayer, worship, and devotion to Christ.

 

Since its inception, Emmanuel LIVE has released multiple songs that have reached the Top 5 on iTunes Christian and Gospel charts, sharing powerful anthems of faith, hope, and praise with listeners around the world. Each song is born from moments of authentic worship and crafted to invite the presence of God beyond the walls of the church.

 

With a heart to bring praise and honor to Jesus, Emmanuel LIVE continues to equip worshipers, inspire the Church, and point the world to the transforming love of Christ.

 

Learn more: emmanuellive.com.

Follow: @emmanuelliveofficial.

What to Expect

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Submit a question HERE.

Friday, Oct 9

  • 12:00 Thrive Check-In Opens / Exhibitors Open (Both floors)
  • 12:45 “LIVE at Thrive with Susie Larson” – A BTG Podcast Recording Experience (Suites 102 + 105; optional $10 add-on)
  • 2:00 Bonus Session ONE: Christina Girma-Hanfere
  • 3:00 Break / Exhibitors Open (Both Floors)
  • 3:30 Bonus Session TWO: Panel + Susie Larson
  • 4:45
    • Dinner on Your Own (Both Floors + Outside Food Trucks)
    • Dinner Buffet with Reserved Seating (optional add-on)
    • Exhibitors Open (Both Floors)
    • Thrive Volunteer Rally (Rochester Art Center; for Registered Volunteers*)
  • 7:00 Main Session ONE: Lisa Bevere (Arena)
  • 9:00 Thrive After-Party / Exhibitors Open (Both Floors)
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Saturday, Oct 10

  • 7:30 MCC Doors Open / Coffee + Breakfast for Sale / Exhibitors Open (Both Floors)
  • 8:15 Check In Opens (Arena Lobby)
  • 8:30 Arena Doors Open
  • 9:00 Main Session TWO: Martha Tennison (Arena)
  • 10:30 Break / Exhibitors Open (Both Floors)
  • 10:45 Main Session THREE: Christina Girma-Hanfere (Arena)
  • 12:00
    • Exhibitors Open (Both Floors)
    • Lunch on Your Own (Both Floors + Outside Food Trucks)
    • Lunch Buffet with Reserved Seating (Upstairs Ballroom; no speaker/program; optional add-on)
    • Lunch with Speakers (Lisa Bevere, Christina Girma-Hanfere, Martha Tennison, and Susie Larson; Rochester Art Center; optional add-on; limited space!)
  • 1:15 Susie Larson Book Signing
  • 1:30 Arena Doors Open
  • 2:00 Main Session FOUR: Lisa Bevere (Arena)

*Volunteer at Thrive 2026

Register for an attendee ticket, and indicate your interest in volunteering. A BTG team member will follow up with you.

  • Volunteers are invited to our October 9, 4:45 pm Thrive Volunteer Rally in the Rochester Art Center (connected to the Mayo Civic Center Arena lobby), where you will receive either FREE Dinner (a regular meal, no dietary modifications) OR a $15 certificate to an on-site food vendor, per your RSVP when you register.
  • Volunteers also receive a FREE t-shirt!
  • Organize a greeter group of 10 or more: email info@mnbtg.org.

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Copyright 2024 BTG | Minnesota Assembly of God, All rights reserved

Conference Location
Mayo Civic Center
30 Civic Center Dr SE Rochester, MN 55902

Phone – (612) 332-2400
kostrem@mnaog.org

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think….”
–Ephesians 3:20 (NASB)