Steve Thurston
Encyclopedia
Steve Thurston is a Chilean-American
journalist
, entrepreneur
, and co-founder, CEO and president
of Integrity Ministries (Integridad Network, Inc.), a non-profit
media organization.
Thurston also founded the spiritual lifestyle website InterVizion.net on October 1997 which was subsequently rebranded and relaunched as Integridad.com, a Spanish Christian Lifestyle Community website on November 5, 2001. He also founded EnlaceMusical.com, an electronic magazine
dedicated to the diffusion, promotion and distribution of Christian music on December 11, 2002. He also writes a column for Integridad.com on leadership, ministry and inspirational thoughts as practical help for those struggling to live faithfully in a rapidly shifting culture.
James and Lina Thurston. He was born in Santiago, Chile
in 1974. His father James Edward Thurston, was a representative of Campus Crusade for Christ
International, appointed to work in the Chilean university campuses. James later married Lina Yerin Gallegos Suñer and a decade later, after their work with Campus Crusade for Christ
came to an end, they remained in Chile as independent missionaries
.
Thurstons' education began in grade school at The International School Nido de Aguilas
, in Chile
. He continued his basic elementary and high school studies at Santiago Christian Academy from 1980 to 1993 in Santiago, Chile. He then studied Radio, Television and Film and attended Messiah College
as well as Asbury University, formerly Asbury College in the United States. Through a specialized partnership between Messiah College and Temple University
, Thurston also attended Temple University
and received enhanced course offerings in Film and Media Arts. He later received his Bachelor of Arts
from Messiah College
in 1998.
During his studies at Messiah College
, He participated in a program through Asbury University and the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) where he received training, and later worked in paid broadcasting positions at the Centennial Olympic Games
in Atlanta, Georgia
, United States
in 1996 with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
and National Broadcasting Company.
, Premios ARPA and Expolit.
, a nonprofit corporation that provides products and services in the admissions process for law schools. He also was adjunct faculty at Valley Forge Christian College
from August 2006 through May 2010 and taught Digital Media Photography, Design and Visual Language, and Advertising and Brand Leadership courses. He also served as Webmaster
at Valley Forge Christian College
until March 2011.
Thurston is an alliance partner with Global Christian Internet Alliance which includes partners from Christianity Today
(United States), Top Chretien (France) and Kommunion (Norway). He is also one of the Christian leaders who have endorsed and supported the Internet Evangelism Day, to help develop strategies needed to use digital media for evangelism.
Thurston currently serves as associate director of marketing at Valley Forge Christian College
, an accredited Christian
college
of Arts, Sciences and Professions, and continues his work with Integrity Ministries. He is also a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists
.
, through its supplement, Zona de Contacto, awarded Thurston second place at their first annual video and film contest in 1992. In 2000, Thurston was awarded the Hispanic National Religious Broadcasters
Presidential Award for his work serving Hispanics. Thurston is also the recipient of three Premios ARPA awards for his work on EnlaceMusical.com. The awards were given by the National Academy of Christian Music and Arts Association in 2005, 2007 and 2008.
Chilean American
Chilean Americans are United States citizens or residents of Chilean origin. They number about 124,116 in 2009.In 2000, close to 14,000 lived in the states of Florida and California, while around 16,330 lived in the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other New England states...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, and co-founder, CEO and president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Integrity Ministries (Integridad Network, Inc.), a non-profit
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
media organization.
Thurston also founded the spiritual lifestyle website InterVizion.net on October 1997 which was subsequently rebranded and relaunched as Integridad.com, a Spanish Christian Lifestyle Community website on November 5, 2001. He also founded EnlaceMusical.com, an electronic magazine
Online magazine
An online magazine shares some features with a blog and also with online newspapers, but can usually be distinguished by its approach to editorial control...
dedicated to the diffusion, promotion and distribution of Christian music on December 11, 2002. He also writes a column for Integridad.com on leadership, ministry and inspirational thoughts as practical help for those struggling to live faithfully in a rapidly shifting culture.
Family and education
Steve Thurston is the second born of three children to missionariesMissionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
James and Lina Thurston. He was born in Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
in 1974. His father James Edward Thurston, was a representative of Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian organization that promotes evangelism and discipleship in more than 190 countries...
International, appointed to work in the Chilean university campuses. James later married Lina Yerin Gallegos Suñer and a decade later, after their work with Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian organization that promotes evangelism and discipleship in more than 190 countries...
came to an end, they remained in Chile as independent missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
.
Thurstons' education began in grade school at The International School Nido de Aguilas
International School Nido de Aguilas
The International School Nido de Aguilas is a coeducational American international school located in Lo Barnechea, Santiago, Chile. The school is open to all educational levels- Early Education, Elementary, Middle School, and High School.- Geography :...
, in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. He continued his basic elementary and high school studies at Santiago Christian Academy from 1980 to 1993 in Santiago, Chile. He then studied Radio, Television and Film and attended Messiah College
Messiah College
Messiah College is a private Christian college of the liberal arts and applied arts and sciences located in Grantham, Pennsylvania, near the capital city of Harrisburg...
as well as Asbury University, formerly Asbury College in the United States. Through a specialized partnership between Messiah College and Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, Thurston also attended Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
and received enhanced course offerings in Film and Media Arts. He later received his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Messiah College
Messiah College
Messiah College is a private Christian college of the liberal arts and applied arts and sciences located in Grantham, Pennsylvania, near the capital city of Harrisburg...
in 1998.
During his studies at Messiah College
Messiah College
Messiah College is a private Christian college of the liberal arts and applied arts and sciences located in Grantham, Pennsylvania, near the capital city of Harrisburg...
, He participated in a program through Asbury University and the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) where he received training, and later worked in paid broadcasting positions at the Centennial Olympic Games
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1996 with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
and National Broadcasting Company.
Personal
In high school, Thurston became interested in various artistic endeavors, and began to write and became an amateur photographer. For several years, he continued to develop his photography skills while working various volunteer and paid jobs. Most notably, his work is primarily focused on live music events for Enlace Musical magazine at such events as Creation FestivalCreation Festival
Creation Festival consists of two annual, four-day Christian music festivals held in the United States. According to www.Creationfest.com, the festivals have become the "Nation's Largest Christian Music Festivals." This is in reflection to Creation Northeast being known to attract 100,000...
, Premios ARPA and Expolit.
Career
In 1998, he started his career as Web administrator for the Law School Admission CouncilLaw School Admission Council
The Law School Admission Council is a nonprofit organization whose members include more than 200 law schools throughout the United States and Canada...
, a nonprofit corporation that provides products and services in the admissions process for law schools. He also was adjunct faculty at Valley Forge Christian College
Valley Forge Christian College
Valley Forge Christian College is a four-year, residential college centrally located in southeastern Pennsylvania, minutes from Valley Forge National Historical Park. Nestled in the small town of Phoenixville, major metropolitan areas are within easy driving distance...
from August 2006 through May 2010 and taught Digital Media Photography, Design and Visual Language, and Advertising and Brand Leadership courses. He also served as Webmaster
Webmaster
A webmaster , also called a web architect, web developer, site author, or website administrator is a person responsible for maintaining one or many websites...
at Valley Forge Christian College
Valley Forge Christian College
Valley Forge Christian College is a four-year, residential college centrally located in southeastern Pennsylvania, minutes from Valley Forge National Historical Park. Nestled in the small town of Phoenixville, major metropolitan areas are within easy driving distance...
until March 2011.
Thurston is an alliance partner with Global Christian Internet Alliance which includes partners from Christianity Today
Christianity Today
Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. It is the flagship publication of its parent company Christianity Today International, claiming circulation figures of 140,000 and readership of 290,000...
(United States), Top Chretien (France) and Kommunion (Norway). He is also one of the Christian leaders who have endorsed and supported the Internet Evangelism Day, to help develop strategies needed to use digital media for evangelism.
Thurston currently serves as associate director of marketing at Valley Forge Christian College
Valley Forge Christian College
Valley Forge Christian College is a four-year, residential college centrally located in southeastern Pennsylvania, minutes from Valley Forge National Historical Park. Nestled in the small town of Phoenixville, major metropolitan areas are within easy driving distance...
, an accredited Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
of Arts, Sciences and Professions, and continues his work with Integrity Ministries. He is also a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists
National Association of Hispanic Journalists
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists is a Washington, D.C.-based organization dedicated to the advancement of Hispanic journalists in the United States and Puerto Rico...
.
Awards and recognition
Chilean newspaper, El MercurioEl Mercurio
El Mercurio is a conservative Chilean newspaper with editions in Valparaíso and Santiago. Its Santiago edition is considered the country's paper-of-record and its Valparaíso edition is the oldest daily in the Spanish language currently in circulation. El Mercurio is owned by El Mercurio S.A.P...
, through its supplement, Zona de Contacto, awarded Thurston second place at their first annual video and film contest in 1992. In 2000, Thurston was awarded the Hispanic National Religious Broadcasters
National Religious Broadcasters
National Religious Broadcasters is an American organization that represents Christian religious broadcasters on American television and radio, including several high-profile televangelists and Christian radio show hosts. It claims a membership of more than 1700 organizations...
Presidential Award for his work serving Hispanics. Thurston is also the recipient of three Premios ARPA awards for his work on EnlaceMusical.com. The awards were given by the National Academy of Christian Music and Arts Association in 2005, 2007 and 2008.