When I sat down with Pastor Andy Bernard of Thrive Church in Vacaville, CA, I knew we were in for a conversation about bold faith and practical strategy. Andy and his wife planted Thrive Church in their 40s and made a radical decision to sell their church building and start over. That leap of faith eventually led them to partner with ChurchCandy, and Thrive’s story has become one of dramatic growth and real-life transformation.
A Radical New Beginning
In the early days, Andy describes Thrive as a typical church plant with a small group of people meeting in a building they owned. After a season of struggle, he sensed God telling them to let go of the building. “We sold our building because we realized the church is the people, not the property,” he told me. They joined a church-planting network and launched Thrive Church with 30 people—and 270 showed up on their first Sunday.
That decision forced Andy’s team to focus on what mattered most: creating a simple, fun and real environment where people could encounter Jesus. Planting in Northern California also came with unique challenges. “In California people are skeptical of church and don’t show up just because you put a sign out,” Andy explained. They needed a way to reach people who weren’t already looking for a church.
Partnering with ChurchCandy
That’s where ChurchCandy came in. “We were doing all we could,” Andy said, “but we needed help to reach more people.” Through Facebook and Instagram ads, ChurchCandy helped Thrive Church tell its story and invite people into community. Andy decided to sell his building at one point, but he invested the proceeds into digital outreach and follow-up systems.
The philosophy was straightforward: use Meta ads to start conversations and then build relationships. The ads highlighted Thrive’s culture—simple, fun and real—and invited people to plan their visit. One young single mom saw Thrive’s ad again and again, clicked it and eventually attended a service. She went through the Next Steps class and is now part of the team helping others take their first step. Stories like hers remind us that behind every click is a person looking for hope.
Systems and Follow-Up Drive Growth
Paid ads can get people through the door, but systems are what keep them there. Thrive built a process to follow up with every guest, invite them to groups and empower them to serve. Andy shared that “people make a connection with a person long before they make a connection with the principle.” Their team meets new people, remembers names and celebrates each small step. They also launched Thrive Groups to build community and foster discipleship.
The results speak for themselves. Within one year of partnering with ChurchCandy, Thrive Church grew by 70 %. On some Sundays they’ve seen 160 guests turn into 300 attendees through consistent follow-up and a relentless focus on relationships. Andy laughs when he remembers those early days: “Don’t just grow—impact people,” he says. “You can pack a room, but the real win is when people find freedom and purpose.”
Mistakes to Avoid When Planting
Andy is candid about the things he would do differently. He warns pastors not to copy someone else’s model. “Know who you are and stop trying to be another church,” he told me. He also cautions against neglecting systems: “You can pray for growth all day, but if you don’t have a way to capture information and follow up, you’ll lose people.” Finally, he urges church planters to embrace digital outreach. “We live in a social world,” Andy said. “If you’re not telling your story online, someone else will.”
Advice for Pastors
For pastors wondering if Meta ads can work in their context, Andy’s story offers several takeaways:
- Stay true to your vision. Your church has a unique voice; don’t dilute it by copying trends.
- Invest in systems. Make sure you can follow up with guests, invite them to groups and help them take next steps.
- Be consistent. Digital ads work over time. Thrive committed to running simple ads every week and saw compounding results.
- Prioritize relationships over numbers. Growth isn’t about vanity metrics; it’s about real people finding freedom.
- Don’t be afraid to start over. Selling a building or changing a strategy can feel risky, but sometimes letting go is what opens the door to greater impact.
Looking Ahead
Thrive Church is still on the move. Their 70 % growth has created a new challenge: space. They’re praying about a larger facility and continuing to invest in outreach and discipleship. Andy believes the future of church growth in California hinges on being both relational and digital. “There are millions of people in our state who don’t know Jesus,” he said. “Our job is to go where they are—online and in person—and invite When I sat down with Pastor Andy Bernard of Thrive Church in Vacaville, CA, I knew we were in for a conversation about bold faith and practical strategy. Andy and his wife planted Thrive Church in their 40s and made a radical decision to sell their church building and start over. That leap of faith eventually led them to partner with ChurchCandy, and Thrive’s story has become one of dramatic growth and real-life transformation.
Final Word
Do Meta ads work for churches in California? Thrive Church is living proof that they do when combined with a clear vision, simple systems and a heart for people. If you’re a pastor or church planter looking to reach more people without gimmicks, Andy’s journey shows what’s possible. To learn more about how digital marketing can help your church grow, check out the full conversation in the video above and schedule a discovery call with the ChurchCandy team.
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