At the close of each year, our RiverTree staff puts together a list of highlights to share with our Elders. This year we thought it would be great to celebrate with our entire church family what God has been doing . . . This is just the tip of the iceberg.
It was a challenging year of transition. Moving further down the missional path, growing in our generosity, maintaining fiscal stability in a deteriorating economy . . .
Here are a few of the things that God has allowed us to be part of:
Alex Absalom joined our staff. Alex is a leading practitioner in the global missional movement and has brought much needed wisdom and leadership.
Chris Payne was brought on board to lead our tech team. Chris brings incredible skill to our tech areas, but more importantly, models the character of Christ to everyone he leads.
Andrew Berg seamlessly transitioned into our lead role as Worship Leader.
Jon Tisevich became Lead Pastor at our Lake Campus. Lake is “on the move!”
Toby Thomas became Lead Pastor at our Massillon Campus. Toby loves Massillon, the people, the church and being Jesus in the community.
Through Kingdom Synergy Partnerships, we saw the vision of “making it hard to go to Hell in Ohio” march forward. Pathways Church launched in Cincinnati. City Edge Church launched in Cleveland. Revolution 216 launched in Cleveland. Mark Pratt began his missional movement in Cleveland. Pulse Church launched in Columbus.
As a result of our partnership with Stadia, Compassion International and our 2010 Christmas Eve offering, we were able to launch four new churches in Ecuador. More than 1,000 people are now part of those churches and 1,500 children are sponsored through Compassion International.
Today, more than 2,500 people gather in new church plants that God has enabled us to be part of!
In May we led a discipleship trip to Israel with 20 church planters from Ohio.
We launched SYNERGY. SYNERGY is our partnership with Stadia and Love Canton, committed to research and development, training and peer learning as the missional movement moves forward.
Our first ever SYNERGY Ignite exploration experience was held. 32 churches from across the country attended!
SYNERGY University held its first learning modules. Leading theologians taught more than 100 students Biblical principles and worldview.
RiverTree celebrated Easter with 1st Christian.
In September, 32 GoCommunities launched!
We reduced our debt load by $800,000. We continue on our journey to be debt free.
We finished the year in the black!
Three Child Survival Programs were started in Ecuador. 305 RiverTree families stepped up to the plate to care for these moms and children.
Climbing4Kids raised $100,000 for children at risk in Ecuador. An additional $10,000 was raised for the Christian Children’s Home of Ohio.
3,700 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes were collected and distributed.
37 people went on international missions trips. 122 people traveled on domestic missions trips.
66 families were “adopted” for Christmas.
More than 200 water filtration systems were purchased and distributed.
1500 Thanksgiving meals were prepared and shared.
350 Project Care Christmas stockings were filled for foster children in Stark County.
More than 400 people per month were fed from the Food Pantry.
More than $10,000 was collected for the Pregnancy Support Center through the baby bottle initiative.
9 children were adopted into their Forever Families.
1,476 Compassion sponsorships!
182 children became followers of Jesus via these Compassion sponsorships.
More than 1.5 million dollars was invested “outside the walls” of RiverTree into God’s Kingdom!
Once again, I share all of this with you, not to pridefully say “look what we have done,” but to humbly celebrate what God has done through us. To say “Thank-you for allowing us to be part of Your church.”
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?” –2 Chronicles 29:14
So very impressive. Quite amazing what the Good Lord will allow to us accomplish when we work together as one. Rivertree should be very proud of itself. Let’s build on that great success. Congrats to everyone who participated in any way, shape or form.