Join the 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.

• Facilitate first, teach second – All people are unique. This means that different environments help different people grow. Sunday mornings are often set up to teach in a lecture-based format. That is not what a Growth Community is designed to be. It is meant to be interactive with a lot of participation.

• Ask a lot of Questions – We need to teach in a way that will elicit participation from our community. If we consider the way Jesus approached people, he often asked questions, even if it was in response to a question asked of him. A good leader is active in asking questions getting people to participate.

• Wait for an answer – The average person’s tendency is to wait less than two seconds after asking a question before trying to answer it themselves. Try to wait for at least three seconds. It will be uncomfortable at first, but it gives people needed time to think.

• Word up – Point people to the Scriptures. It’s not about the leader or the book. We have to be careful to not turn people or books into idols. Encourage the group to study the Scriptures to confirm the truth about what is taught and discussed.

• Managing the class – Inevitably the class will have someone who monopolizes the group discussion, brings the discussion back to themselves constantly, or does not participate in group discussion. If you need help with class management, please do not hesitate to contact Roy for suggestions.

• Confidentiality – Continually remind your group that anything said in the group, stays in the group. This frees group members to be able to share in confidential matters. Along those lines, group members should be encouraged not to bad-mouth family members, or other church attendees. Discussions can be generic, without names used, so as not to influence ones view of another.

• Watch the time – Be sensitive to the start and end times. People make a huge effort to get there on time and expect it to begin (and end) on time. Bedtimes and childcare are often a factor as well.

• Be hospitable – This is far more important than a clean house or even sufficient seating. Your chief responsibility is to help people who come into your house to feel at home in a group setting. The more comfortable the environment, the more genuine the community.

• Invite, invite, invite – It is your house! Tell people to come! You know where and when it is, so make sure others do as well. Who will you invite?

• Food – If you decide to have food or beverages, make sure it is organized, and you oversee it. This does not mean you have to make it all the time. Just make sure it is well organized to avoid confusion as to who is providing the refreshments for each week.

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.

• Be willing to be properly trained in your area prior to serving
• Training is provided, however previous experience is strongly encouraged
• Training will include an initial evaluation, followed by a period of working with current audio team
• Willing to put in the time and effort that it takes to become proficient at your position on the Production Team
• Commit to be on time when asked to serve
• Attend both rehearsal and gathering(s) for the weekend you are scheduled
• Attend a weekly Production Team meeting, prior to your scheduled gathering
• Understand that we work as a team, helping each other to achieve the best we can
• Be willing to consistently give and receive feedback
• Take direction on overall sound from Production Director
• Keep sound volume at a designated level
• Mix up to 6 vocalists
• Mix 8-10 musicians
• Mix up to 8 digital tracks in addition to band
• Ability to pay attention to a variety of things happening at once
• Always know what is next, create effective transitions
• Ability to troubleshoot problems with audio system as well as find and remove problems in sound using EQ and other techniques

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.

• Be willing to be properly trained in your area prior to serving
• Training is provided, however previous experience is strongly encouraged
• Willing to put in the time and effort that it takes to become proficient at your position on the Production Team
• Commit to be on time when asked to serve
• Attend rehearsal for assigned gathering, check lighting during rehearsal for any changes/problems
• Manage haze level in auditorium
• Manage house lighting during gathering
• Turn system on/off
• Manage blackouts, baptisms, extra gathering items
• Eventual goal is to learn how to program lights and assist with programming gatherings

*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.

• Be willing to be properly trained in your area prior to serving
• Training is provided
• Willing to put in the time and effort that it takes to become proficient at your position on the Production Team
• Commit to be on time when asked to serve
• Attend a weekly Production Team meeting, prior to your scheduled gathering
• Understand that we work as a team, helping each other to achieve the best we can
• Be willing to consistently give and receive feedback
• Ability to pay attention to detail and be focused for long periods of time
• Display slides and videos at appropriate times, instructed by Production Director
• Be ready to run band lyrics during equipment failure
• Understand how to load new songs and or media for display

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.

• Be willing to be properly trained in your area prior to serving
• Training is provided
• Willing to put in the time and effort that it takes to become proficient at your position on the Production Team
• Commit to be on time when asked to serve
• Prior to production meeting, arrive with enough time to turn on your camera, test its signal, and check tripod and camera functions for operation. Communicate to Video Director any issues that you find, or troubleshoot.
• If you are late, you must communicate to technical director or you may be replaced for that gathering.
• Attend a weekly Production Team meeting, 15 minutes prior to your scheduled gathering
• Take direction from the video switcher on what shots are needed
• Listen to music ahead of time for your scheduled week to learn songs and what might be helpful to film, in conjunction with what camera you are on.
• There are some predetermined shots for each camera, however direction from the video director takes priority over this. Direction will be given prior to each gathering.
• Understand that we work as a team, helping each other to achieve the best we can
• Be willing to consistently give and receive feedback

*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. 

• Be willing to be properly trained in your area prior to serving
• Training is provided
• Willing to put in the time and effort that it takes to become proficient at your position on the Production Team
• Commit to be on time when asked to serve
• Encouraged to attend practice
• Arrive 30 minutes early, turn on and check all equipment (Video Switcher, TVs, Cameras, Live Streaming Equipment, Test Switcher controller, Label and Prepare Hard Drives)
• Lead meeting 15 minutes prior to each gathering
• Go over schedule, instruct camera operators of what you are looking for
• Be in place at countdown

*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.

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:

• Love God and exemplify how to live for Him
• Love them unconditionally
• Make them feel welcome
• Invest in their lives
• Pray for them
• Encourage them
• Have a great attitude (Your attitude and actions not only reflect the church, but more importantly Christ!)
• Dress modestly (Please do not wear any skin-tight, revealing, or graphic clothing while serving. You are an example.)
• Refrain from using marijuana, tobacco, and alcohol products while serving
• Be active in the church, not only in serving, but in a Growth Community