We’re so excited that you’ve decided to share the gifts God has given you! In order to serve on a team at The River Church, we ask that you read the following information and fill out our Join the Team Application. Please note, this application may take 20+ minutes to complete. Upon completion of your application you will be prompted to fill out a background check.
You are a vital part of the Body of Christ! We look forward to serving with you!
The River Church exists to glorify God by Reaching the world, Gathering with the Saints, and Growing in the Word.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
At The River Church, you will often hear the phrase, “we don’t go to church, we are the Church.” We believe that as God’s people, our primary purpose and goal is to go out and make disciples of Jesus Christ. We encourage you to get involved with some of these areas that are devoted to reaching the world in our local communities.
Weekend Gatherings at The River Church are all about Jesus, through singing, giving, serving, baptizing, taking the Lord’s Supper, and participating in messages that are all about Jesus and bringing glory to Him. We know that when followers of Christ gather together in unity, it’s not only a refresher it’s bringing life-change.
Growth Communities are designed to mirror the early church in Acts as having “all things in common.” They are smaller collections of believers who spend time together studying the word, knowing and caring for one another relationally, and learning to increase their commitment to Christ by holding one another accountable. Growth Communities have many different looks from being in a home to sitting in a classroom, but the focus is always on people gathering together to study the Word of God.
Serving comes from an overflow of our love for and passion to glorify Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12:27, Paul writes, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” No matter what area of ministry you’re serving in, never forget the One we’re serving. Be sure you are seeking to glorify Christ in your life every day!
Our goal is to create a safe, welcoming, and comfortable environment for all those who step foot into any of The River Church locations! Remember these basics as you pray and prepare for the team(s) in which you’d like to serve:
Whether you’re the first face they see in the parking lot, or you’re serving behind the scenes on the production team, remember that in all we do, it is vital that we continually show the love of Christ in our actions!
Some churches have Sunday school. Other churches call it BLT (Bible Learning Time). You may have heard of small groups, mid-week service, BSF (Bible Study Fellowship), Bible classes, or many other variations of teaching in the church. At The River, we have groups that meet Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights, Saturday mornings, and in homes throughout the week. We put all of these into one category we call Growth Communities. A Growth Community is a group of people who are interested in growing in their relationship with Christ, growing with one another relationally, and representing the body of Christ in smaller reflections of the larger church. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 says, “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” The majority of people in Growth Communities are Christians (though we do not require that), who attend gatherings and are looking to become more mature in their faith. This will be accomplished by studying God’s Word, connecting relationally, and serving together.
In a community, it is vital to not be so rigid that we limit the ability of people to connect with one another. At the same time, without structure people often feel awkward or like they are not making good use of their time by coming to the community. Therefore, a good Growth Community must be something in-between.
Typically, the entire Growth Community lasts about an hour and a half. Time is built in before teaching begins for people to catch up and get to know one another and time after to “hang out.” We advise starting the teaching 15 or 20 minutes after the scheduled start time to give people a chance to arrive. The teaching should typically last about 30 minutes. Following a time of teaching and discussion, take another 20 minutes to run through prayer requests and pray for one another. Be sure to take 5 minutes or so at either the beginning or the end to communicate the announcements from Roy or Jeannie for the following week. (We will discuss those shortly.) Take the final 15 minutes to talk about how things are going in one another’s lives or something light and funny. (This also works well at the beginning of the time, especially in the first few weeks.)
There are no requirements or correct way to handle refreshments. Some Growth Communities may choose to have food while others may decide to have only desserts. There may be communities that decide not to serve any refreshments. However, even something simple can often have the tendency to lighten up the group to create more discussion amongst each other. When this takes place, real communities are formed. Not all Growth Communities have childcare. Childcare needs are subject to the people coming to the community. If you have a lot of young families, then child care makes sense. This just depends on the life-stage of the people you expect to see in your community.
Growth Communities are about relationships. We do not have any intention to limit when they can occur. Some Growth Communities happen on Sunday mornings while others occur on Wednesday nights at someone’s home or in a building. Growth Communities can take place in various homes on weeknights or weekends, as well as a variety of other places. The River does require clear communication regarding when a Growth Community occurs. We want to assure that our Growth Communities are always open to new people. In fact, we would love for new people to be constantly joining the communities. To help this process we ask that you coordinate with either Pastor Roy Townsend or Jeannie Yates at the office (248) 328-0490 to note any changes in your Growth Community schedule.
You are often the first impression of The River Church that a person will encounter. Make sure to smile and be friendly! Our commitment is to ensure that every person that comes into one of our buildings feels welcome and cared about.
Please be on time and plan to attend our team meeting and prayer 30 minutes prior to the gathering.
If you are scheduled to serve and will have to miss the gathering, please contact the Guest Services Director at your location as soon as possible.
Prison trips vary in frequency, location, distance, and longevity. They can be day trips close to home or up to three days, requiring travel and hotel stays. We are highly dependent on the invitation of the Warden, Recreation Directors, and Chaplains of prisons around the country. Notification of available trips will be communicated to the Prison Team in advance when these invitations are received. Our prison programs vary in style and commitment needed from team members. The program styles, both of which contain a Gospel presentation are as follows:
Prison Yard Visits | Band & Comedy Magician
Recreation Visits | Softball, Basketball, or Volleyball
The production team is given the responsibility of supporting the music and message with audio, lighting, video, etc. to form an environment that encourages people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. As a production team member you help create that environment: one that ministers to both guests and those that call The River their home through a professional production, free of distractions. You must be 13 years old to serve on the production team.
What does a Growth Community Leader do?
Teach and facilitate Growth Community!
Invite, Invite, Invite! – The total Growth Communities at The River is approximately 100+. As a result, there is no way to announce or promote individual communities sufficiently. We will have a constant and consistent push toward Growth Community involvement, but as a leader you need to make sure people know your community exists, and that you want them to be a part of it. Who will you invite?
Pray – Commit to begin and end your group in prayer each session. Also, commit to praying for your group and flock daily.
Handle interpersonal conflict – We would love it if you never had any issues or problems with anyone in your group, however, that is unlikely. Pray and seek council if necessary to properly address conflict and help people work through that biblically. Matthew 18 gives a model of biblical conflict resolution.
Lead people to serve – Each week we will relay a series of announcements via email that focus on opportunities to serve or other upcoming events at The River. Make sure to share these with your community. Also, on occasion, Roy will contact leaders about serving needs that Growth Communities could work together to fill.
Be a mentor – Find someone suitable within your group to mentor and bring alongside you to disciple one-on-one and to fill in for you in your absence. We should always be preparing, and training another to lead in the near future.
Report attendance – It is vital that each week attendance is reported. This allows us to know who is in a Growth Community with consistency as opposed to who needs encouragement to join. If your group is not meeting on a scheduled date, please let Jeannie know as well.
A mentor supports the spiritual growth and life development of the mentee. They will give biblical guidance to help the mentee grow in their faith and achieve personal goals. The expectation is a monthly face-to-face meeting with weekly connections via email, text, or phone.
Couples in a healthy, seasoned marriage can help provide experience and perspective when it comes to the ups and downs of marriage. Marriage Mentors provide spiritual support, encouragement, and biblical guidance to other engaged or married couples. The expectation is a monthly face-to-face meeting with weekly connections via email, text, or phone.
A mom with older children that will guide and encourage younger moms with little ones. A River Mom Mentor will be present at River Moms, lead the table discussion, come prepared with the provided materials, and pray with the moms in their group.
Help provide childcare for young children while their moms attend River Moms. River Moms meets every other week during the morning.
Sign up to help provide meals to those in need.
The goal of every prison trip is to share the love of Christ through the Gospel with both inmates and staff. We are grateful for every prison the Lord allows us into.
Those who desire to serve must know and love Jesus, have a burden for lost people, be equipped with a thorough knowledge of what the Gospel actually is, and a willingness, desire, and ability to share it.
Those serving within the prison ministry must have a humble servant attitude, able to take direction well, follow all rules. and work well with other team members. It is also helpful if volunteers are capable of light to moderate physical activity.
Prison trips vary in frequency, location, distance, and longevity. They can be day trips close to home or up to three days, requiring travel and hotel stays. We are highly dependent on the invitation of the Warden, Recreation Directors, and Chaplains of prisons around the country. Notification of available trips will be communicated to the Prison Team in advance when these invitations are received. Our prison programs vary in style and commitment needed from team members.
The program styles, both of which contain a Gospel presentation are as follows:
Prison Yard Visits | Band & Comedy Magician
Recreation Visits | Softball, Basketball, or Volleyball
Several pieces of paperwork including a background check are required both by us and the prison system.
Evangelism training is also required to be completed prior to your first trip. This is an online training that can be completed at home.
While we make every effort to make these trips affordable for those serving, please know that there is some cost to serve within the prison ministry. Those costs include: hotel room, food, and/or gas. We try to help with these costs by pairing up those willing to share a hotel room as well as trying to arrange car pooling if possible.
An audio volunteer should be able to operate and understand the church audio system as a whole, be able to properly mix a full band including several vocalists, understand transitions, understand EQ and how to get the proper sound, and ultimately provide the message to the audience clearly. Being able to take direction from the production director on the sound levels and style of sound required is a must. Prior experience and training is a strong recommendation.
*Where Applicable – Lighting volunteers are responsible for the operation and execution of our digital light board. The ability to sense a musical beat and understand the flow of music is a must. Initial training will be on how to operate a pre-programmed light show and navigate through transitions. Attention to detail is needed.
A ProPresenter volunteer is responsible for operation of the lyrics and bible verses displayed on the screen. They must have a willingness to learn and listen to the music we’re singing prior to the gathering. Precision on changing slides, timing, and ability to take direction is a large part of this position. You will be trained on how to operate the software, as well as how to load new items and obtain media for display.
*Where Applicable – The goal of a video camera volunteer is to operate and understand how our video cameras work. They must be able to provide steady fluid movement, and be able to focus for extended periods of time while taking direction form the Video Director. Understanding of tripods, manual focus, manual brightness and shot composing is a must.
*Where Applicable – The video switcher must operate and understand the video switcher, lead the video team, be comfortable calling and switching camera shots and communicating with the camera operators what shots are needed. The video switcher ultimately determines what the audience sees on the screens and/or recording. They must have an understanding of the vision for the video stream and be able to translate that into video mixing. The video switcher will take direction from the production director on the vision for the video ministry as a church. The ability to focus for a long time and take in and process large amounts of data is needed. Understanding of music and music structure is a plus.
Drivers will be expected to maintain a valid Michigan drivers license along with all needed endorsements. Greet all those you transport with respect and a smile. Do not smoke in church vehicles! Drivers must submit background check.
The Guest Services team will follow the same guidelines as those on the weekend gatherings.
Table Leaders will attend weekly Recovery Table Leader meetings at 6:30p and join us for prayer at 6:45p. Once in your groups please take attendance. The goal of table time is to apply the speaker’s message and biblical concepts to the discussion. Sobriety will be maintained at all times by Table Leaders. Please have a willingness to educate yourself on addiction.
You must respect the confidentiality of all attendees.
Follow Food Safe serving practices. Respect and follow directives of those leading Refreshment + Meal service. Greet all those that enter with a smile!
River Kids Sunday Gathering
Infant-4 Years
K-5th Grade
AWANA
Infant-4 Years
K-5th Grade
River Moms Nursery
Special Events
We ask that all River Kids volunteers strive fulfill the following commitments:
Faithful to the Lord
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
We ask that every adult who is a leader be committed, growing, and actively living for Jesus Christ.
We ask that every leader acknowledges the Lordship of Jesus Christ in their life and has a personal relationship with Him.
We ask that every Leader is committed to having a lifestyle that is above reproach, this includes social media.
Faithful to the Church
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some…” Hebrews 10:24-25
We ask that every leader commits to attending a weekend gathering and is part of a Growth Community.
We ask that every leader attends a bi-monthly ministry meeting.
We ask that every leader is punctual and at least 15 minutes early when they are scheduled to serve with River Kids. If you are going to be late, or cannot make it please communicate with the River Kids Director at your location.
Faithful to River Kids
“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.” I Thessalonians 2:8 and 19-20
We ask that every leader commit to 9 months of serving. Children need leaders who will:
Faithful to the Lord
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
We ask that every leader acknowledges the Lordship of Jesus Christ in their life and has a personal relationship with Him.
We ask that every leader be committed, growing, and actively living to serve Jesus Christ.
We ask that every leader is committed to having a lifestyle that is above reproach, this includes social media.
Faithful to the Church
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some…” Hebrews 10:24-25
We ask that every leader commits to attending a weekend gathering.
We ask that every leader is punctual and at least 15 minutes early when they are scheduled to serve.
Faithful to Students
“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.” I Thessalonians 2:8 and 19-20
We ask that every Leader commit to 9 months of serving.
Students need leaders who will do the following:
Scheduling: We use an online scheduling system (Planning Center). Each band member is expected to have a basic ability to check email, block out dates, and download documents required for rehearsal.
Rehearsals: You are expected to be on time and prepared. Rehearsal is not the time to learn a song. You should be practicing during the week on your own time and come prepared to rehearsals. Please put in the time to make the team successful.
Spiritual: You are expected to be actively participating in a gathering each weekend and a growth community every week.
Humbleness: We are not on stage to perform but to lead the congregation in worship. This means using your musical gifts to point towards Christ and not yourself.
Standards: As a representative of Christ and His Church, worship team members are expected to live a life pursuing holiness at all times. If sinful habits become an apparent issue, the director/pastor may request to meet to deal with sin Biblically.
Leadership: You are asked to support the leadership of the gathering team and The River Church. God has placed those in leadership at The River to lead this ministry. We try our best to utilize every person involved in the ministry to their fullest potential. That being said, it is expected that you be supportive of the leadership. If a conflict arises, we also ask that it be handled in a Biblical manner. This means having a conversation with the person(s) involved to resolve any issues. (Matthew 18)
Punctuality: It is expected that you will be on time for all rehearsals and sound- checks. This allows for the time needed to adequately prepare for weekend gatherings. Please arrive early enough to set up prior to rehearsal start time.
Skills Required: Basic musical ability and audition is required. You must be age 13 or older to serve on the worship team.
Always let the Worship Leader know when you will be absent. Try to notify within 2 weeks of your scheduled gathering and block out in Planning Center Services.