Meet our Thrive ministry team and board of directors.
Cathy Gates
Director, Founder
In 2000, after a 20-year career in public health, Cathy felt called into full time ministry as executive director of an evangelical church. Her experience in leadership during a very tumultuous time in that church’s history gave her a real sense of the challenges faced by church and ministry leaders. She witnessed and experienced the toll leadership can take emotionally, relationally, spiritually and physically. She now encourages Christian leaders to thrive in all areas of ministry and life through mentoring and education. Some of her specific areas of interest are burnout prevention and healing from life and ministry experiences through formational prayer. Cathy holds a BScN from the University of Ottawa and an Executive MA in Strategic Leadership from Southwestern Assemblies of God University, Texas where she focused her research on support systems that reduce pastoral attrition. She has completed the Formational Prayer Certificate Program through Ashland Seminary, Ohio. During 2009 Cathy worked with PastorCare Clergy Support Network as the National Leadership Development Director. She currently serves on the board of Aftermath Foundation – an organization dedicated to providing education about psychopathy and supporting individuals who are victims or relatives of those affected by psychopathy. Cathy is married to Brian Cook. They have three adult children, Rob, Ken and Trisha and a beautiful granddaughter Charlie.
Dave Dion
Team Member, Pastor
Dave brings over 25 years as an ordained minister serving as a pastor and assisting within different mission organizations. He has been married for over 40 years to his wife Evelyn. They have 3 children and 2 grand children. In his spare time he enjoys reading and travelling.
Allen Kleine Deters
Team Member, Pastor
Allen Kleine Deters has been a pastor for many years and has pastored in youth ministry, worship, church planting, and in a lead role. He and his wife Karen have 6 grown children between them with families and grand babies. Allen enjoys adventure motorcycling, travel, playing and writing music, reading and darts — yes, darts.
Sarah Meza
Team Member
Sarah hopes to create spaces where missionaries, ministry people, and Honduran women can experience intimacy with God, experience healing in Jesus’ presence, and live a life empowered by the Holy Spirit. She has a degree in Peace & Conflict Studies, a diploma in Social Service Work, and has completed Formational Prayer I & II through Healing Care Canada. She is currently enrolled with Wilfred Laurier University to complete the Trauma Certificate program.
Sarah and Jairo have been married since 2014 and have been blessed with two wonderful daughters. As a family, they enjoy Sabbath, Honduran coffee, listening to podcasts, hiking, reading, and creating.
Meet Your Board of Directors
Cathy Gates
President
As founder of Thrive, Cathy is committed to providing a safe and confidential refuge for pastors, Christian ministry leaders and their families where they can be honest and open about the issues and realities they struggle with in life and ministry. She brings experience as former executive director of a large evangelical church, a retired public health nurse and more than a decade of ministry to pastors and their families.
Lili Giesbrecht
Treasurer
Lili Giesbrecht is passionate about seeing people grow and thrive in the divine plan and purpose God has for them. She is excited to join the Thrive team and contribute by encouraging, supporting, and helping leaders be who God has called them to be, building the kingdom of God. With over 25 years of bookkeeping experience in both the charity and business sectors, she strives to be a good steward of what God has entrusted to her. On a personal note, Lili enjoys traveling and spending time with her family, church family, and friends.
John Teeuwsen
Board Chair
John has been married for 38 years and has four married children and nine grandchildren. He holds a Bachelor degree in Social Work and used these skills as a site supervisor in construction for over 35 years.
John serves as a church elder and has done so for more than three decades. He has deep desire to encourage and support those who are pastors and church leaders.
He enjoys the outdoors, wood working and spending time with his family.
Dave Dion
Director
Dave brings over 25 years as an ordained minister serving as a pastor and assisting within different mission organizations. He has been married for over 40 years to his wife Evelyn. They have 3 children and 2 grand children. In his spare time he enjoys reading and travelling.
Jude Carriere
Secretary
Jude joined the Thrive team following her personal experience of participating in several Thrive programs, including the Ministry Wives group. She found support in her marriage and ministry and lifelong friendships bloomed.
Jude’s gifts are all about getting things done. She keeps the business end of Thrive going as the Secretary on the Board and volunteer administrative assistant while she runs her own Virtual Assistant business from her home.
Jude is the wife of a “second career” pastor who has recently retired after 10 years leading a small church in St Catharines. Together they have two grown sons and the number of pets steadily increases!
Would you like to join with us as we strengthen the spiritual vitality of pastors, ministry leaders and their spouses? See below for available positions. Contact us if you are interested in volunteering or would like further information, we’d love to hear from you.
MEET YOUR
Thrive Team
It’s nice to meet you.
Meet our Thrive ministry team and board of directors.
Cathy Gates
Director, Founder
In 2000, after a 20-year career in public health, Cathy felt called into full time ministry as executive director of an evangelical church. Her experience in leadership during a very tumultuous time in that church’s history gave her a real sense of the challenges faced by church and ministry leaders. She witnessed and experienced the toll leadership can take emotionally, relationally, spiritually and physically. She now encourages Christian leaders to thrive in all areas of ministry and life through mentoring and education. Some of her specific areas of interest are burnout prevention and healing from life and ministry experiences through formational prayer. Cathy holds a BScN from the University of Ottawa and an Executive MA in Strategic Leadership from Southwestern Assemblies of God University, Texas where she focused her research on support systems that reduce pastoral attrition. She has completed the Formational Prayer Certificate Program through Ashland Seminary, Ohio. During 2009 Cathy worked with PastorCare Clergy Support Network as the National Leadership Development Director. She currently serves on the board of Aftermath Foundation – an organization dedicated to providing education about psychopathy and supporting individuals who are victims or relatives of those affected by psychopathy. Cathy is married to Brian Cook. They have three adult children, Rob, Ken and Trisha and a beautiful granddaughter Charlie.
Dave Dion
Team Member, Pastor
Dave brings over 25 years as an ordained minister serving as a pastor and assisting within different mission organizations. He has been married for over 40 years to his wife Evelyn. They have 3 children and 2 grand children. In his spare time he enjoys reading and travelling.
Allen Kleine Deters
Team Member, Pastor
Allen Kleine Deters has been a pastor for many years and has pastored in youth ministry, worship, church planting, and in a lead role. He and his wife Karen have 6 grown children between them with families and grand babies. Allen enjoys adventure motorcycling, travel, playing and writing music, reading and darts — yes, darts.
Sarah Meza
Team Member
Sarah hopes to create spaces where missionaries, ministry people, and Honduran women can experience intimacy with God, experience healing in Jesus’ presence, and live a life empowered by the Holy Spirit. She has a degree in Peace & Conflict Studies, a diploma in Social Service Work, and has completed Formational Prayer I & II through Healing Care Canada. She is currently enrolled with Wilfred Laurier University to complete the Trauma Certificate program.
Sarah and Jairo have been married since 2014 and have been blessed with two wonderful daughters. As a family, they enjoy Sabbath, Honduran coffee, listening to podcasts, hiking, reading, and creating.
Meet Your Board of Directors
Cathy Gates
President
As founder of Thrive, Cathy is committed to providing a safe and confidential refuge for pastors, Christian ministry leaders and their families where they can be honest and open about the issues and realities they struggle with in life and ministry. She brings experience as former executive director of a large evangelical church, a retired public health nurse and more than a decade of ministry to pastors and their families.
Lili Giesbrecht
Treasurer
Lili Giesbrecht is passionate about seeing people grow and thrive in the
divine plan and purpose God has for them. She is excited to join the
Thrive team and contribute by encouraging, supporting, and helping leaders be who God has called them to be, building the kingdom of God. With over 25 years of bookkeeping experience in both the charity and business sectors, she strives to be a good steward of what God has entrusted to her.
On a personal note, Lili enjoys traveling and spending time with her
family, church family, and friends.
John Teeuwsen
Board Chair
Dave Dion
Director
Dave brings over 25 years as an ordained minister serving as a pastor and assisting within different mission organizations. He has been married for over 40 years to his wife Evelyn. They have 3 children and 2 grand children. In his spare time he enjoys reading and travelling.
Jude Carriere
Secretary
Jude joined the Thrive team following her personal experience of participating in several Thrive programs, including the Ministry Wives group. She found support in her marriage and ministry and lifelong friendships bloomed.
Jude’s gifts are all about getting things done. She keeps the business end of Thrive going as the Secretary on the Board and volunteer administrative assistant while she runs her own Virtual Assistant business from her home.
Jude is the wife of a “second career” pastor who has recently retired after 10 years leading a small church in St Catharines. Together they have two grown sons and the number of pets steadily increases!
Come join us.
Would you like to join with us as we strengthen the spiritual vitality of pastors, ministry leaders and their spouses? See below for available positions. Contact us if you are interested in volunteering or would like further information, we’d love to hear from you.