Make Life Better
John 10:10
John 10:10
Our goal is to make life better for other people.
The ultimate expression of that is to help people find a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
It is continued in helping people grow up as disciples and they also learn to make life better for others.
The ultimate expression of that is to help people find a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
It is continued in helping people grow up as disciples and they also learn to make life better for others.
ORPHANS
Providing for Orphanages
We help to sponsor orphanages in India, Kenya, Haiti and Cambodia. We have visited all these sights and know that the monies are being used properly to feed, clothe, house and educate children.
Adoption
We encourage people to consider adoption as led by the Lord. Pastor Bob and Debbie have adopted two children of their own.
Foster Care
We encourage people to consider foster care as led by the Lord. This has the potential to change a child’s life in amazing ways.
LOCAL MINISTRIES
People in Need Shoe Drive
The River sends a check annually in contribution to the shoe drive.
Bibles for Teens and College Students
The River gives Apologetics Bibles produced by Holman to teens who attend the River Youth Group and to students at Ohio Wesleyan University.
Common Ground Free Store
The River helps in supporting the Common Ground Free Store.
Jail Shoebox Ministry
One of the members of the River was saved through the catalyst of receiving a shoebox of items while he was in jail at Christmas. Each year we gather the shoebox items, wrap them in boxes and deliver them to the jail inmates. We have planted many good seeds and received amazing feedback about how much these boxes meant to the inmates from letters they have sent us.
Community Helps
The River helps individuals and other community aid groups from time to time as directed by the Lord.
First Responders Appreciation
We have special services dedicated to recognizing the selfless and bravery of those people that keep our communities safe, including military, police men, fire fighters, medics and other first responders.
SUPPORTING MINISTRIES DEVELOPED BY RIVER PEOPLE
Equine Alley
Equine Alley is a Therapeutic Riding program that uses horseback riding to touch the lives of children with physical, mental and emotional challenges. They help children with autism and other challenges experience love, discipline and the joy of riding a horse. The children find healing and growth during their sessions. Several people from the River are involved in this ministry.
Orphan Outreach
Raises money to feed, clothe and educate orphans. Current countries include: Kenya, India, Cambodia (Vietnamese Orphans) and Haiti.
MISSIONS
India
We have taken four trips to India to train local pastors and to care for orphans. Various members of the River have made these trips.
Kenya
We have had two medical missions to Kenya with Dr. Steve Schneider, a River member, and other River people providing medical expertise and pharmaceuticals to the local villagers.
Vietnam/Cambodia
We have a relationship with Paul Ai who is a Vietnamese church father. He oversees many churches in Vietnam and Vietnamese churches in other Southeast Asian countries. Pastor Bob has traveled to Cambodia to help Pastor Paul in training Vietnamese pastors.
Panama
The youth group has taken mission trips to the Darrien Jungle in Panama.
Haiti
We helped two ministries in Haiti including sending a team and money to help to rebuild a church destroyed by the 2010 earthquake.
DISASTER RELIEF
Tsunami
We combined a mission trip to India with relief after the Tsunami of 2004.
Hurricane Harvey
Funds were sent in the immediate aftermath to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey. In November 2017 a team of skilled labor is going to San Antonio, Texas to assist in the rebuilding effort.
Hurricane Sandy
We helped to send a truckload of supplies to New Jersey and New York to help people affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Haiti
We sent a team into Haiti after the earthquake of 2010.
Sunday Morning Children’s Ministry
We have a great ministry to children, helping them to learn scripture and the Biblical Christian Worldview in a fun and dynamic environment.
FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Each Halloween/Beggars Night, we offer an alternative event for the families of the River to have a fun evening. This event takes place at the Jungle Gym. Each child leaves with a large bag of candy.
CAR RALLY
We have an outreach to the community and car enthusiasts. We have seen people give their lives to Jesus through this ministry.
DREAM CENTER
An inner-city ministry in Columbus, Ohio at which the Men's Group serves. The mission includes providing food, clothing and other necessities to people in need.
VICTORY MINISTRY
We help this Columbus ministry from time to time as the Lord leads.
BETTER WAY MINISTRY
We help this Columbus ministry from time to time as the Lord leads.
GARDEN CHURCH
We helped this inner city church put on a new roof.
HOW TO MAKE SENSE OF THINGS
Pastor Bob has a ministry of teaching the Biblical Christian Worldview to everyone. Since his battle with cancer, he believes that he must get the BCW to the iY Generation (millennials). This ministry is called How to Make Sense of Things.
Providing for Orphanages
We help to sponsor orphanages in India, Kenya, Haiti and Cambodia. We have visited all these sights and know that the monies are being used properly to feed, clothe, house and educate children.
Adoption
We encourage people to consider adoption as led by the Lord. Pastor Bob and Debbie have adopted two children of their own.
Foster Care
We encourage people to consider foster care as led by the Lord. This has the potential to change a child’s life in amazing ways.
LOCAL MINISTRIES
People in Need Shoe Drive
The River sends a check annually in contribution to the shoe drive.
Bibles for Teens and College Students
The River gives Apologetics Bibles produced by Holman to teens who attend the River Youth Group and to students at Ohio Wesleyan University.
Common Ground Free Store
The River helps in supporting the Common Ground Free Store.
Jail Shoebox Ministry
One of the members of the River was saved through the catalyst of receiving a shoebox of items while he was in jail at Christmas. Each year we gather the shoebox items, wrap them in boxes and deliver them to the jail inmates. We have planted many good seeds and received amazing feedback about how much these boxes meant to the inmates from letters they have sent us.
Community Helps
The River helps individuals and other community aid groups from time to time as directed by the Lord.
First Responders Appreciation
We have special services dedicated to recognizing the selfless and bravery of those people that keep our communities safe, including military, police men, fire fighters, medics and other first responders.
SUPPORTING MINISTRIES DEVELOPED BY RIVER PEOPLE
Equine Alley
Equine Alley is a Therapeutic Riding program that uses horseback riding to touch the lives of children with physical, mental and emotional challenges. They help children with autism and other challenges experience love, discipline and the joy of riding a horse. The children find healing and growth during their sessions. Several people from the River are involved in this ministry.
Orphan Outreach
Raises money to feed, clothe and educate orphans. Current countries include: Kenya, India, Cambodia (Vietnamese Orphans) and Haiti.
MISSIONS
India
We have taken four trips to India to train local pastors and to care for orphans. Various members of the River have made these trips.
Kenya
We have had two medical missions to Kenya with Dr. Steve Schneider, a River member, and other River people providing medical expertise and pharmaceuticals to the local villagers.
Vietnam/Cambodia
We have a relationship with Paul Ai who is a Vietnamese church father. He oversees many churches in Vietnam and Vietnamese churches in other Southeast Asian countries. Pastor Bob has traveled to Cambodia to help Pastor Paul in training Vietnamese pastors.
Panama
The youth group has taken mission trips to the Darrien Jungle in Panama.
Haiti
We helped two ministries in Haiti including sending a team and money to help to rebuild a church destroyed by the 2010 earthquake.
DISASTER RELIEF
Tsunami
We combined a mission trip to India with relief after the Tsunami of 2004.
Hurricane Harvey
Funds were sent in the immediate aftermath to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey. In November 2017 a team of skilled labor is going to San Antonio, Texas to assist in the rebuilding effort.
Hurricane Sandy
We helped to send a truckload of supplies to New Jersey and New York to help people affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Haiti
We sent a team into Haiti after the earthquake of 2010.
Sunday Morning Children’s Ministry
We have a great ministry to children, helping them to learn scripture and the Biblical Christian Worldview in a fun and dynamic environment.
FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Each Halloween/Beggars Night, we offer an alternative event for the families of the River to have a fun evening. This event takes place at the Jungle Gym. Each child leaves with a large bag of candy.
CAR RALLY
We have an outreach to the community and car enthusiasts. We have seen people give their lives to Jesus through this ministry.
DREAM CENTER
An inner-city ministry in Columbus, Ohio at which the Men's Group serves. The mission includes providing food, clothing and other necessities to people in need.
VICTORY MINISTRY
We help this Columbus ministry from time to time as the Lord leads.
BETTER WAY MINISTRY
We help this Columbus ministry from time to time as the Lord leads.
GARDEN CHURCH
We helped this inner city church put on a new roof.
HOW TO MAKE SENSE OF THINGS
Pastor Bob has a ministry of teaching the Biblical Christian Worldview to everyone. Since his battle with cancer, he believes that he must get the BCW to the iY Generation (millennials). This ministry is called How to Make Sense of Things.
The River Community Church started in 1993 by Pastor Bob and Debbie and his family.
We began meeting in a home in Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio. We invited some families to join us and we began to grow.
After about one year, we found a public place to meet at Home Road Acres Party House. We added some people that would be very important to the future of the River.
Pastor Bob’s father died while we were meeting at Home Road in 1995. He had a very difficult time with his death.
Once Pastor Bob came to grips with his father’s death, the River began to grow again. Because of our continued growth we began looking for yet another place to meet. In the spring of 1997, we moved to a manufacturing building at 425 South Sandusky Street in Delaware, Ohio.
While we were in the city we started a Youth Center that was open to the community.
Here is the unique story of how we ended up in a barn.
A member of the River invited a guest to the River Golf Outing and Pastor Bob made a follow up visit on Bill Radebaugh. Bill was remodeling his basement and Pastor Bob ended up working on the basement and painting his home (Pastor Bob had a painting business to pay the bills while the River grew big enough to provide a salary).
Bill’s sister, Ann Tefft, moved to Bexley with her family and her home needed painting and Pastor Bob went to talk to her about the painting job. The conversation turned to Christianity and Ann had recently experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
The next day, before Pastor Bob could even get started painting, Ann told him that she felt that God wanted her to donate five acres of land and the barn for the church to use. She joined the church and did the fund raising so the bank would give us a loan.
In 1999, Gary Tope, who had joined the River back at Home Road and sold his home and lived off the proceeds. He turned an old barn in to a beautiful barn and a place to gather and build the Kingdom.
We moved in 2000 and became know as The River Church in a Barn.
The great thing about this story is that we know the River is not here by accident.
Pastor Bob was diagnosed with Melanoma in 2007 and has had a five-year battle with cancer and the people of the River have been a great support through this time. Pastor Bob has been declared in remission and we believe that God is to be praised for this miracle and we are grateful for all the wonderful care provided by the James Cancer Clinic.
We continue to seek God for how we can Make Life Better for people.
We began meeting in a home in Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio. We invited some families to join us and we began to grow.
After about one year, we found a public place to meet at Home Road Acres Party House. We added some people that would be very important to the future of the River.
Pastor Bob’s father died while we were meeting at Home Road in 1995. He had a very difficult time with his death.
Once Pastor Bob came to grips with his father’s death, the River began to grow again. Because of our continued growth we began looking for yet another place to meet. In the spring of 1997, we moved to a manufacturing building at 425 South Sandusky Street in Delaware, Ohio.
While we were in the city we started a Youth Center that was open to the community.
Here is the unique story of how we ended up in a barn.
A member of the River invited a guest to the River Golf Outing and Pastor Bob made a follow up visit on Bill Radebaugh. Bill was remodeling his basement and Pastor Bob ended up working on the basement and painting his home (Pastor Bob had a painting business to pay the bills while the River grew big enough to provide a salary).
Bill’s sister, Ann Tefft, moved to Bexley with her family and her home needed painting and Pastor Bob went to talk to her about the painting job. The conversation turned to Christianity and Ann had recently experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
The next day, before Pastor Bob could even get started painting, Ann told him that she felt that God wanted her to donate five acres of land and the barn for the church to use. She joined the church and did the fund raising so the bank would give us a loan.
In 1999, Gary Tope, who had joined the River back at Home Road and sold his home and lived off the proceeds. He turned an old barn in to a beautiful barn and a place to gather and build the Kingdom.
We moved in 2000 and became know as The River Church in a Barn.
The great thing about this story is that we know the River is not here by accident.
Pastor Bob was diagnosed with Melanoma in 2007 and has had a five-year battle with cancer and the people of the River have been a great support through this time. Pastor Bob has been declared in remission and we believe that God is to be praised for this miracle and we are grateful for all the wonderful care provided by the James Cancer Clinic.
We continue to seek God for how we can Make Life Better for people.
Each member of the River shall subscribe to the following Statement of Faith:
1. Holy Bible: The Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is one hundred percent the Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. The Bible, in its original writing, is inspired, inerrant and infallible (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21).
2. Trinity: In one God there are three distinct persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. They are all co-equal and co-eternal (I John 5:7; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 1:35).
3. God, the Father: God the Father is the First Person of the Trinity. He is the Creator, Preserver and Sustainer of the whole creation (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 3:5, 36:6; Isaiah 46:4).
4. Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is God the Son, the Second Person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was one hundred percent God and one hundred percent man. He is the only man to have ever lived a sinless life (John 1:1,14; John 20:28; I Timothy 2:5, 3:3:16; Isaiah 9:6).
5. The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity. Among his various ministries He regenerates, sanctifies, guides, and empowers through his gifts to all believers (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Galatians 5:16-23; Titus 3:5).
6. Virgin Birth: God the Father, through the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary's womb, conceived Jesus Christ. Therefore, He is the Son of God (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27-35).
7. Repentance: The commitment we make to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ (Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19).
8. Sanctification: The ongoing process of yielding to God in order to complete the development of Christ's character in us (I Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 2:11).
9. Jesus' Blood: The blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross of Calvary was sinless and is totally sufficient to cleanse us of all sins. Jesus allowed himself to be punished for the sins we have committed, enabling all those who believe in him to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death (I John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9; Colossians 1:20; 23, 5:9; John 1:29).
10. Jesus Christ indwells all Believers: Christians are people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside them. They are putting their trust in what Jesus accomplished for them when He died, was buried, and rose again from the dead (John 1:12; 14:17,23, 15:4; Romans 8:11; Revelation 3:20).
11. Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after his Ascension, to empower the Church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth. Its purpose is to bring edification to believers and to enhance their prayer lives. It is also a sign to the unbeliever (Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:5, 8, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17,
19:1-6).
12. The Church: The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus' Great Commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers (Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23).
13. Healing of the Sick: Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus and included in the commission of Jesus to his disciples. It is given as a sign that is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus' atonement on the cross (Psalm 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:5;
Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16).
14. Health and Prosperity: As part of Jesus' work of salvation, it is the Father's will for believers to become whole, healthy and successful in all areas of life including:
a) Spiritual (John 3:3, 11; II Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10)
b) Mental and emotional (II Timothy 1:7; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3)
c) Physical (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24)
d) Financial (Joshua 1:8; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; II Corinthians 9:6-10; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalm 34:10, 84:1l; Philippians 4:19)
15. Resurrection: Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body on the third day. One day all believers in Christ will also be physically resurrected in their glorified bodies to their eternal reward in Heaven with God (Luke 24:36, 39; John 2:19-21; 20:26-28; Acts 24:15; I Corinthians 15: 42, 44; Philippians 3:21).
16. Heaven: Heaven is the eternal dwelling place of God and of all believers who have trusted in Jesus Christ for their salvation in accordance with the gospel message (Matthew 5:12; 6:20, 19:21, 25:34; John 17:24; Hebrews 11:16; I Peter 1:4).
17. Second Coming of Christ: Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish his kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures (Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7).
18. Hell: After living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell, where they will be eternally tormented along with the devil and his fallen angels (Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8).
19. Two Sacraments:
a) Water Baptism: Following a person's profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12, 36-38).
b) The Lord's Supper: For believers it is a unique time of communion in the presence of God, when the elements of bread and wine (representing the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25).
1. Holy Bible: The Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is one hundred percent the Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. The Bible, in its original writing, is inspired, inerrant and infallible (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21).
2. Trinity: In one God there are three distinct persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. They are all co-equal and co-eternal (I John 5:7; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 1:35).
3. God, the Father: God the Father is the First Person of the Trinity. He is the Creator, Preserver and Sustainer of the whole creation (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 3:5, 36:6; Isaiah 46:4).
4. Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is God the Son, the Second Person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was one hundred percent God and one hundred percent man. He is the only man to have ever lived a sinless life (John 1:1,14; John 20:28; I Timothy 2:5, 3:3:16; Isaiah 9:6).
5. The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity. Among his various ministries He regenerates, sanctifies, guides, and empowers through his gifts to all believers (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Galatians 5:16-23; Titus 3:5).
6. Virgin Birth: God the Father, through the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary's womb, conceived Jesus Christ. Therefore, He is the Son of God (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27-35).
7. Repentance: The commitment we make to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ (Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19).
8. Sanctification: The ongoing process of yielding to God in order to complete the development of Christ's character in us (I Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 2:11).
9. Jesus' Blood: The blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross of Calvary was sinless and is totally sufficient to cleanse us of all sins. Jesus allowed himself to be punished for the sins we have committed, enabling all those who believe in him to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death (I John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9; Colossians 1:20; 23, 5:9; John 1:29).
10. Jesus Christ indwells all Believers: Christians are people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside them. They are putting their trust in what Jesus accomplished for them when He died, was buried, and rose again from the dead (John 1:12; 14:17,23, 15:4; Romans 8:11; Revelation 3:20).
11. Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after his Ascension, to empower the Church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth. Its purpose is to bring edification to believers and to enhance their prayer lives. It is also a sign to the unbeliever (Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:5, 8, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17,
19:1-6).
12. The Church: The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus' Great Commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers (Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23).
13. Healing of the Sick: Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus and included in the commission of Jesus to his disciples. It is given as a sign that is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus' atonement on the cross (Psalm 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:5;
Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16).
14. Health and Prosperity: As part of Jesus' work of salvation, it is the Father's will for believers to become whole, healthy and successful in all areas of life including:
a) Spiritual (John 3:3, 11; II Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10)
b) Mental and emotional (II Timothy 1:7; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3)
c) Physical (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24)
d) Financial (Joshua 1:8; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; II Corinthians 9:6-10; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalm 34:10, 84:1l; Philippians 4:19)
15. Resurrection: Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body on the third day. One day all believers in Christ will also be physically resurrected in their glorified bodies to their eternal reward in Heaven with God (Luke 24:36, 39; John 2:19-21; 20:26-28; Acts 24:15; I Corinthians 15: 42, 44; Philippians 3:21).
16. Heaven: Heaven is the eternal dwelling place of God and of all believers who have trusted in Jesus Christ for their salvation in accordance with the gospel message (Matthew 5:12; 6:20, 19:21, 25:34; John 17:24; Hebrews 11:16; I Peter 1:4).
17. Second Coming of Christ: Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish his kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures (Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7).
18. Hell: After living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell, where they will be eternally tormented along with the devil and his fallen angels (Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8).
19. Two Sacraments:
a) Water Baptism: Following a person's profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12, 36-38).
b) The Lord's Supper: For believers it is a unique time of communion in the presence of God, when the elements of bread and wine (representing the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25).
