About Riverlife

Our hope… is to see a community of people who discover a God who cares for them, Body, Mind, and Soul.

 

Luke 10: 27 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” and “love your neighbour as yourself.”

 

Matthew 5: 13 – 16 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Our aim… is to provide avenues to feed the Body, Mind, and Soul of a person in the name of Jesus Christ.

 

Jesus illustrates this to us throughout his life. Jesus recognised that each part of our lives has an impact on other areas of our life.

 

Colossians 3: 16, 17 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

We are God’s beloved.

 

He is a God who is passionate about his relationship with you. Exodus 34: 14b [NLT]

 

“Long before he [God] laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love…” Ephesians 1: 4 (MSG)

 

Comprehending and accepting the depth of God’s love for his creation is often a struggle in anyone’s life. That while God is just, the depth of his love for his creation – humanity – moves him to repair and restore what was once lost.

 

This Core Value is the foundation of Riverlife. To not only be constantly reminded of God’s Grace but to live in it & demonstrate it to a world often unaware of God’s love for them.

That the Church is a place of belonging.

 

[God’s] unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1: 5 (NLT)

 

“In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”  Romans 12: 5 (NIV)

 

There is a place at Riverlife for people from all walks of life, backgrounds, and cultures. We welcome all people seemingly different from ourselves, and yet perhaps not that different after all. We recognise that humanity has a deep need for connection and relationship. In western culture people are sometimes unsure of their level of acceptance, often due to socio-economics, physical appearance, or other pressures of acceptance. Our value and God’s value in humanity is not based on anything physical but simply a soul seeking after the things of God. All are welcome!

That being the example of Christ is something we are and yet continue to strive to be.

 

“From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him – and all along he knew who would – should become like his Son.”  Romans 8: 29 (TLB)

“…forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.” Ephesians 4: 32 (CEV)

 

When we succeed or fail in life we often find the motivation to try even more, to improve. When we come to understand that it is through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ that restores a believer’s loving relationship to God, there is a strong desire for this life-changing presence, and to help others on the same road.

Part of our existence is found in being a blessing to others. Consequently, in using our strengths and giftedness we hold highly the value of contributing into the lives of others.

 

“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2: 10 (NIV).

 

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.”  1Peter 4:10a (NIV)

 

To love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is something seen when we contribute to the lives of others. We have been blessed to receive, and so we are blessed to give.

We believe in greater things yet to come and strive to emulate the glow of Christ locally, to our region, to those of all race, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

 

“I have a plan for the whole earth, for my mighty power reaches throughout the world. The Lord Almighty has spoken – who can change his plans.”  Isaiah 14: 26 – 27a (NLT)

 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1: 8 (NIV)

 

We believe that this life is not the end. That part of our journey in life is to glow with the light and love of Christ in such a way that people will see the way we live and act, and give glory to God. Ultimately wanting them to play a part themselves.