Hey Church!
Every once in a while, God invites His people into something that is bigger than a building, bigger than a project, and even bigger than a financial goal. He invites us to become part of a story that will outlive us. I believe Make Room is one of those moments.
When we read Scripture, we find that God’s people have always prepared places where others could encounter Him. They rebuilt walls. They restored temples. They repaired gates. They gathered stones. They built altars. None of those things were the destination—they were simply places where people met the living God.
That’s our heart.
This campaign isn’t about bricks, carpet, paint, or concrete. It’s about making room for people. Making room for the young family walking through our doors for the very first time. Making room for children to discover that Jesus loves them. Making room for students wrestling with life’s biggest questions. Making room for marriages to be restored, addictions to be broken, prodigals to come home, and ordinary people to become passionate followers of Jesus Christ.
For years, God has been incredibly faithful to The River. We’ve watched lives changed, people baptized, families healed, and disciples made. But over time, our facilities have begun to show the effects of age and heavy use. Some areas need repair. Others need to be safer. Some simply need to better reflect the incredible work God is doing beneath the surface.
Imagine walking into a children’s ministry full of laughter, worship, and joy—a place that is safe, clean, welcoming, and overflowing with life. Imagine a worship center with room for more people to hear the gospel. Imagine restoring areas that have quietly deteriorated so future generations inherit something healthy instead of something neglected. Imagine our campus communicating before a single word is preached: “You matter, so we prepared a place for you.”
That is the vision.
The truth is, someone made room for every one of us. Someone gave. Someone served. Someone sacrificed. Someone prayed. Someone built. AND Because they did, we had a place where we could encounter Jesus.
Now it’s our turn. The Apostle Paul reminds us: “Through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13). Generosity has never simply been about meeting needs. It has always been about becoming more like Jesus. Every act of giving loosens our grip on temporary things and strengthens our trust in eternal things. We don’t give because God lacks resources—we give because He is shaping our hearts.
Every dollar invested through Make Room is an investment in people we may never meet this side of heaven. A little boy who will one day become a pastor. A teenager who will surrender to ministry. A hurting couple whose marriage will be restored. A widow who will find hope. A skeptic who will become a worshiper. A child who will hear the name of Jesus for the very first time.
That’s a return on investment Heaven celebrates. One day, none of us will stand before Jesus and wish we had accumulated a little more. But I believe many of us will rejoice knowing we helped create places where people found eternal life.
So today, I’m asking every person who calls The River home to do three simple things.
First, see the vision. Don’t see a construction project. See transformed lives.
Second, pray. Ask God what part He would have you play. Seek Him together as a family. Trust Him to lead you.
Third, give generously. Not reluctantly. Not under pressure. But joyfully, knowing that every gift becomes part of God’s work through His church.
Whether your gift is large or small, it matters because it reflects a willing heart. Years from now, children will laugh in rooms you helped restore. Families will worship in spaces you helped prepare. People will meet Jesus in places your generosity made possible.
That’s a legacy worth leaving.
Let’s make room for what God desires to do next. The best days of The River are not behind us. By God’s grace, they are still ahead. Thank you for believing in this vision. Thank you for loving people you may never meet. Thank you for making room.
With gratitude and hope,
Pastor Brent