Our vision
Here are four easy to remember statements about who we are and what we are aiming for:
Enjoy God’s presence
Connect as family
Grow as disciples
Love others
Enjoy God’s presence
We love God’s presence with us—knowing him, not just knowing about him. And when we say God, we really mean the Trinity, so knowing God as our father – who loves us, knowing Jesus our savior and friend and being led by the Holy Spirit as we live our lives. Jesus said at the end of Matthew’s gospel “he would always be with us” so it fits that we should experience and enjoy his presence and power with us. When we meet together we love to celebrate who God is, expressing our hearts to him and to hear him speak to us in a variety of ways. We have a deep rooted conviction that God loves us, is good, desires good things for us and for those around us.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Connect as family
As we have already said, God is family… Father, Son and Holy Spirit and they exist in a perfect relationship with one another, loving and preferring one another. As such this Family of God created us to be a part of their family; as dearly loved sons and daughters. We have been invited in. This was their heart before we were even created and despite humanity’s rejection of God found in Genesis 3, the Father’s love for us has never decreased.
So The River is a local expression of God’s family. If we are sons and daughters, according to the language of the bible, we have become spiritual brothers and sisters led by the Holy Spirit. This mean we look for ways to cheer each other on, develop friendships and have fun together.
In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
Grow as Disciples
‘Disciples’ is the word the bible uses to describe followers of Jesus. The word literally means ‘learner’. The third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit has been given to lead us in a life of discovery and application: Learning how to live aware of His presence and power; secure in our position of as sons and daughters; and taking the posture of servants, empowered and sent. Practically we host monthly traning and equipping evenings: ‘Disciples Assemble’ geared around these themes.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”
Love others
This is what The River is all about: discovering the adventure of sharing the love of the Father with anyone, anywhere anytime.
The message of the gospel is the promise of new life found only in Jesus for us and those around us: He said of himself (John 10:10) that “I have come that they (meaning us) may have life, and have it in abundance.” That word ‘abundance’ speaks of having more than enough… until it overflows to others. It’s spiritual but also wonderfully practical. At The River we live in ‘hope’: A healthy expectation of good; of life transformation and relational restoration, of circumstantial breakthrough, miracles, healing and provision.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
