I tend to be cautious about sharing personal information online--hence the unusual Yelp profile…read morename. That being said, I am a real person, and I've attended The River for about three years. Before becoming a regular attendee, I visited once. I was amazed by the testimonies I heard--deliverances from drugs, alcohol, abusive relationships, low self-esteem, etc. Even though those testimonies showed me that God was truly working in this church, I didn't return until much later because I thought I wouldn't fit in. Looking back, it seems silly, but the struggles people shared felt so heavy to me, and they weren't the kind of challenges I was facing in my own life... God used an unexpected set of circumstances to draw me back for another visit--and I've been attending ever since.
During my first year and a half, or so, at The River, I stayed in the shadows. I had come out of a long season of seeking a church home, so I was still in that noncommittal mode. Then God prompted me to volunteer. I began volunteering in the church office building during the week, and it's been such a HUGE blessing to me. First, it's allowed me to get to know people here--the church staff and fellow volunteers. I must say that everyone I've worked with has been so genuine. I was surprised to see how often the pastors--Pastors Jim & Pam, and Pastors Doug & Terry--get their hands dirty. From feeding the homeless, cleaning, removing graffiti, moving heavy Food Share boxes and sorting through bags of soiled clothing and other personal items, they consistently demonstrate genuine humility. They are always busy working to provide some service to the community or to the church, yet they still find the time to show their appreciation for us (volunteers) and to help us. Just yesterday, Terry stopped her work to show me how to use some sound equipment that was new to me. She walked me through everything and made sure that I had what I needed. This is the culture here. It starts with leadership and flows down to the staff and the volunteers.
Through the experiences I've had with the people here and the various River ministries--The Food Pantry, Bags of Love, Hot Lunches (for the needy and/or homeless), Tender Life Maternity Home, The City Center--I've seen firsthand how The River extends the love of God to the community. I've matured a great deal as a daughter in the Lord just by spending time alongside my brothers and sisters here.
My advice to anyone who is in that uncomfortable place of searching for a church home is to find a church where the Truth is preached (God's Word--not a sugar-coated message adapted to fit the culture) and where His Spirit is moving. Testimonies of true transformation and deliverance are an example of this. Once you've found a church that clearly meets that criteria, don't just sit back and watch--volunteer. From my experience, I can tell you that when you volunteer you will be able to determine if the church you are attending is the real deal. You will begin to feel like part of the church family. You will see firsthand how your tithes and offerings are being used. You will know if the leadership is truly Spirit-led and Spirit-filled.
Lastly, if you are in the right place, you too will have an amazing testimony of your own--like I do now. :) May God bless The River Community Church, and may God bless you and bring an end to your searching, as He did for me.
*We have a Spanish service at 1:00 pm. Worship and the Word are given in a different language, but it's the same church, with the same heart as I described above.
