Phoebe & peter's Story
Peter and Phoebe grew up in drastically different worlds. Phoebe was raised by an atheist father who she says "hated the idea of God." She didn't attend church growing up, nor did she even discuss God. That all changed when she was 21.
"I basically just said, if there’s a God, I could use a little help. And what followed from that, when I was about 21, was so astonishing,” Phoebe said.
On the other hand, her husband Peter grew up to become a pastor in New York. Phoebe and Peter married and joined the evangelical movement until the church Peter pastored closed. It led them to visit the River.
A New Kind of Church Environment
The couple had a smooth transition to the River after Peter's church closed. After visiting, they both found a new kind of church environment that was culturally relevant and was a safe space for people to ask questions.
"It didn’t care too much about issues of the day that supposedly divided Christians and non-Christians," Peter said about the River. "What they cared about was that God was doing really important, powerful, lovely things in all our lives, and let’s talk about that."
As a former atheist, Phoebe was shocked to find the River wasn't like the average churches she had visited. Instead, she encountered a variety of religions, backgrounds and ethnicities. This kind of diverse environment is the kind of community that Phoebe believes Jesus wanted his people to create and thrive in.
Peter has also appreciated the River's space for questions and giving him a platform for helping him feel comfortable asking those questions. Now, he realizes that a relationship with God is just one big adventure where He invites us to enjoy the ride.
What to Expect at the River
From the beginning, the goal of the River was to create a diverse church in Lower Manhattan that reflects the beauty of the melting pot in NYC. From different ethnicities to orientations to faith backgrounds, our church's doors are open for you. Jesus came to the world and proclaimed the good news to everyone, and our church does the same.
Through fellowship together and intellectual sermons, you can grow in your faith and ask the questions you need to without fear of judgment. Just like Phoebe and Peter said, the River strives to work with today's culture instead of against it. Our doors are open whether you want to stop by for a Sunday service, join an engaging LifeGroup or take a class.
Visit Us to Learn More
If you're searching for a connection with the living God, come to the River. We would love to welcome you into our vibrant community and give you a place to call home. Stop by the River for a visit today or come to a Sunday service and see what we're all about.
"I basically just said, if there’s a God, I could use a little help. And what followed from that, when I was about 21, was so astonishing,” Phoebe said.
On the other hand, her husband Peter grew up to become a pastor in New York. Phoebe and Peter married and joined the evangelical movement until the church Peter pastored closed. It led them to visit the River.
A New Kind of Church Environment
The couple had a smooth transition to the River after Peter's church closed. After visiting, they both found a new kind of church environment that was culturally relevant and was a safe space for people to ask questions.
"It didn’t care too much about issues of the day that supposedly divided Christians and non-Christians," Peter said about the River. "What they cared about was that God was doing really important, powerful, lovely things in all our lives, and let’s talk about that."
As a former atheist, Phoebe was shocked to find the River wasn't like the average churches she had visited. Instead, she encountered a variety of religions, backgrounds and ethnicities. This kind of diverse environment is the kind of community that Phoebe believes Jesus wanted his people to create and thrive in.
Peter has also appreciated the River's space for questions and giving him a platform for helping him feel comfortable asking those questions. Now, he realizes that a relationship with God is just one big adventure where He invites us to enjoy the ride.
What to Expect at the River
From the beginning, the goal of the River was to create a diverse church in Lower Manhattan that reflects the beauty of the melting pot in NYC. From different ethnicities to orientations to faith backgrounds, our church's doors are open for you. Jesus came to the world and proclaimed the good news to everyone, and our church does the same.
Through fellowship together and intellectual sermons, you can grow in your faith and ask the questions you need to without fear of judgment. Just like Phoebe and Peter said, the River strives to work with today's culture instead of against it. Our doors are open whether you want to stop by for a Sunday service, join an engaging LifeGroup or take a class.
Visit Us to Learn More
If you're searching for a connection with the living God, come to the River. We would love to welcome you into our vibrant community and give you a place to call home. Stop by the River for a visit today or come to a Sunday service and see what we're all about.