theRivers - Staines, Middx, UK

theRivers is a response to a number of different needs; ranging from one person longing to explore meaningful, missional and relational community (or church); to there being far too many people dropping out of churches and nowhere near enough wanting to belong to any.

Convinced that in general, people do not have an issue with Jesus or even the Gospel - but there is a credibility gap with the church as a whole - we took the opportunity to start with a clean sheet of paper.

WHAT IS CHURCH?

That was the first question and the answer was surprisingly simple - as we understand it, Jesus had two main mandates for the church:

1. To be a house of prayer for all nations.
2. To make disciples and fulfil the Great Commission.

SO WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO THAT?

Having read (and more importantly been influenced by) a number of books, including William A. Beckham's book The Second Reformation: Reshaping the Church for the 21st Century, we became convinced that we needed to redress the balance of the gathered and dispersed church. With that in mind - it seemed clear that we needed to understand the church as being primarily about making disciples and doing that within small groups.

It was then obvious that the most natural and accessible place for that is in homes, or coffee shops or other natural places of community.

Our dream is to have a network of these 'house churches' networked together through relationship, culturally including others.

CELEBRATION

At the moment we gather also on a Sunday morning as well as in homes midweek - we are very specific in our understanding that church is in homes, and celebration (being gathered) is on Sunday. However, we are thinking of changing to having specific celebrations during the month; i.e. 1st Saturday - Worship and Word, 2nd Sunday Kids party in the Leisure centre, 3rd Sunday - all the church(es) going out for the morning on or walk/picnic etc

The Rivers VALUES

Our values are really very simple, we are about being:

Committed to Jesus

Committed to each other

Committed to those around us

SO HOW IS IT GOING?

Over the 18 months or so we've been together we have seen a couple start to follow Jesus, get married and then move to Spain!! A guy who was homeless connected in with us (and an organisation called east2west). Between us we've been able to clothe, house and feed him - get him job interviews, see him give his life to Jesus and become part of church.

We've also become 'home' to a number of spiritual 'nomads' who, for whatever reason, just weren't connecting with traditional church.

A number of young adults became part of theRivers and so we've planted a new church for them in which they will be able to include their friends. This church (the well) is much more 'emergent' in the classic sense.

AFFILIATION

theRivers is affiliated to KC21 - a church network overseen by Derek Brown. We are also seeking to connect with other networks that are more house/emerging church focused.

LEADERSHIP

At the moment theRivers employs Steve Holloway, a couple of days a week to lead the churches and oversee development. Although we don't believe in democracy, we do believe in journeying together - so we get a general feel for where the church is at and what we need to do and make decisions accordingly.

We believe that church is built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets - and so seeks to hear what God is saying and respond.

FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY

We also actively believe in the model of the five-fold ministry. The way we see this working out in practise is to have those gifts recognised in either people or churches and then share that gifting and ministry in the other churches.

In short… We are really just a bunch of people trying to work out what it means to follow Jesus in a way that is relevant, biblical and consistent with our culture and those around us.

For more information go to www.therivers.org.uk