The River A New Church, Retreat, Conference and Ministry Training Center

The RiverA New Church, Retreat, Conference and Ministry

Training Centerrussmason.org/theriver | facebook.com/theriver.va | @the_river_va | 804.691.9450 | [email protected]

The Long Term Vision for The River

A Dynamic and Influential Church that reaches and both positively and eternally impacts the people, families, businesses, schools, and even the political/economical/social arenas of the greater Midlothian area.

A Retreat Center where youth and young adults can come to find a life changing and personal relationship with Jesus Christ; have fun; discover their spiritual identity, gifts, and calling; as well as grow in their Biblical worldview and understanding of God’s ways and Kingdom. We also hope this retreat center will be a place where Pastors, Missionaries, and other ministry leaders can come for refreshing, recharging, and healing.



The Long Term Vision for The River

A Ministry Training Center where youth and young adults can come for preparation for ministry and missions and where fellow ministers can come for personal and leadership development as well as additional ministry training and instruction.

A Conference Center where large scale worship, prayer, and ministry training events can take place. We hope these conferences will be a destination point where local, regional, national, and even international churches and Christians can come for encouragement, inspiration, and ongoing life and ministry coaching.



The River’s Values

LoveInclusion

WarmInvitingFriendly

ApproachablePeaceful

KindGentle

MercifulForgiving




GenerousSelflessHumble

RespectfulFlexiblePatient

PleasantCaring

CompassionateConcernedConsiderate




UpliftingEncouragingProfessionalExcellence

DependableTrustworthy

LoyalInitiative

Hard Working




DisciplinedSelf-Controlled

BlamelessPure

InnocentAbove Reproach

RespectableResponsible

Honest




HopefulResilient

CourageousEnthusiastic

CheerfulFunReal

RelevantPlayfulJoyful



Who The River Is & What The River Does

The River will be a well-known and well-respected church that is known throughout the community for its love, concern, and positive involvement in the community’s schools, businesses, and organizations.

The River will provide a fun, friendly, exciting, invigorating, and refreshing environment with smiling, friendly, loving, genuine, and compassionate people.

The River will create and foster an environment where people feel invited, welcomed, and included.

The River will introduce individuals into a redemptive relationship with Jesus Christ which in turn will lead to an lifelong and progressive journey of salvation and sanctification.




The River will promote and foster a healthy view of God, the Church, and the Bible.

The River will create a hunger and passion for God, His presence, and His Word.

The River will teach, train, and coach people how to think, speak, and act more positively.

The River will teach, train, and coach people how to live a victorious Christian life – victory over and freedom from sin, guilt, shame, depression, hopelessness, and fear.

The River will teach, train, and coach people how to become mentally, emotionally, and spiritually mature and stable.




The River will teach, train, and coach people how to live consistent lives of unconditional love, abundant joy, and all-encompassing peace.

The River will teach, train, and coach people how to discover and live according to their spiritual identity in Christ.

The River will train, equip, and release people to fulfill their calling and destiny in Christ.

The River will create and foster an environment where people will leave with hope for themselves, their family, their church, their community, and their world.

The River will create and foster an environment where people will leave inspired and motivated to be better, to move forward in their life, and to reach their greatest potential in Christ.



Sunday Morning Service Purpose and Format

The Purpose of our Sunday mornings services is to lead people closer to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

To foster a hunger and thirst for God, His Presence, and His Word.

To strengthen, encourage, and comfort people through both the good and bad times of their lives.



Sunday Morning Service Purpose and Format

To inspire and motivate people to move forward in their lives toward discovering their spiritual identity in Christ, their calling and gifts, and fulfilling the destiny God created them to accomplish.

The format of our Sunday mornings services will be 2-3 praise and worship songs, welcoming members and first time visitors to The River, 20-30 minutes of Biblical preaching, giving people an opportunity to begin a personal relationship with Jesus, receiving first time visitor cards and the weekly offering, and sending people out of our church service with a prayer of blessing and protection.



The River Leadership Teams

Intercession and Prayer TeamSet Up and Clean Up TeamSound and Lighting TeamHospitality TeamGreeter and Follow Up TeamUsher TeamFloater TeamChildren’s Ministry TeamWorship TeamSmall Group Leaders Team



Financial Budget

Pastor Russ’ and Shari’s Salary

The more time and attention that Pastor Russ and Shari can dedicate to The River during this foundation building season of the church plant, the bigger and the stronger the foundation will be, and the healthier our church family will be once we launch in February. We’ve already been approved by the church’s trustee board to receive a full time salary, we simply need money in the account to draw from. Please pray for God to supply this need so Russ and Shari can continue to dedicate their full time and attention to the people of The River, those who will join our team, as well as the business, administrative, and legal aspects of The River.



Financial Budget

The River Website

The River is currently using Pastor Russ’ personal ministry website for its web presence. We would like to create and design a website that is inclusively set aside for The River (info about it, pictures, videos, podcasts, etc.).

Promotional and Marketing Materials

We may have a fantastic church with fantastic people, but people will only come if they know we exist and where to find us. We would like to have plenty of business cards, fliers, t-shirts, magnets, etc. in our inventory so we can continually get the word out to the people of the greater Midlothian area that there is a new, life-giving church in their community that loves them and would be honored to have them be a part of our church family.



Financial Budget

Equipment for Sunday Morning Services

In order to have successful Sunday morning services in February, we need to purchase or acquire a lot of quality equipment. We need sound and lighting equipment for the auditorium, trailers to store the equipment during the week, signs and banners for our parking lot and nearby intersections, refreshments to serve before service starts each week, bibles and CDs for those who get saved during our Sunday morning services, as well as items to provide a safe and fun environment for our youth, children, toddlers, and babies (play mats, gates to keep toddlers and babies safe and together in one area, diaper changing tables, area rugs, and sound and lighting equipment for the kids’ ministry).



Financial Budget

Building Rental Fees

We’ve been approved to use Tomahawk Creek Middle School’s auditorium on Sunday mornings for our worship services. There are weekly room rental and custodial fees associated with us using the spaces necessary to provide a safe and comfortable environment for our adults, youth, and children.

The estimated cost per Sunday for use of this facility is listed below: Auditorium 7 hrs x $62.50 per hr = $437.50 Custodians (1 needed) 8 hrs x $24.00 per hr = $192.00 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF ACTIVITY PER SUNDAY: $629.50 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST PER MONTH: $2,518.00



Next Steps for Our Leaders

Ask God in what role and capacity you will operate in at The River.

Pray for Pastor Russ and his family for purity, wisdom, revelation in leading The River.

Pray for God to lead us to the right people and for the right people to be lead to us.

Begin cheerfully and generously tithing or doing a half-tithe to The River.

Consider giving a generous one time donation above your normal 10% tithe.



Next Steps for Our Leaders

Invite your friends to our interest parties and to become a part of The River church family.

“Like” The River’s Facebook page and invite your friends to “Like” the page as well.

Follow The River’s Twitter & Instagram pages & encourage your friends to follow them as well.

Hashtag related photos and posts on social media with #theriverva



Jump In!

Documents

The River A New Church, Retreat, Conference and Ministry Training Center