Welcome
The River in Tulare is a place where the life and flow of God is working in and through people willing to give their all to Him, wanting to grow into the people He created them to be and ready to go wherever others need this flow. Thanks for checking us out and we trust you will be introduced to this refreshing place through this site and even consider stopping by to get a feel for the water. We would love to have you, and we invite you to experience all that God has for everyone interested in following Him.
Ministries
Below you will find what we currently offer for you at The River– ways for you to connect with others in our church body. There are serving ministry opportunities as well, but please feel free to visit us, get to know us and then see where you can jump in and serve. You can contact us at therivertulare@gmail.com with any questions you may have.
FELLOWSHIP
A great part of what God is working in our lives happens while we interact and enjoy one another’s company. Fellowship–well, just hanging out and sharing life together–takes place any time folks in His flow share the ups and downs of life and get to remind each other of God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness. It’s a blast!
CURRENT FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
- Prayer (All Welcome) — First Friday of every month 7 PM @ Greer’s home Contact Greers @ 559-686-3217
SMALL GROUPS / BIBLE STUDIES More than a requirement, diving into His Word and discovering together the character of God and His plan for His very favorite creation provides direction and encouragement to passionately live in the abundance He has for us.
CURRENT BIBLE STUDIES
- Women’s Bible Studies — Tuesdays @ 1:30 PM Contact Lillian Bailey @ (559) 688-8596
- Bible Study (All Welcome, Located in Porterville) — Thursdays @ 6:00 PM Contact Jing Delima @ (559) 783-8131
- Men’s Breakfast — Located @ Salles in Tulare, Tuesdays @ 8:00 AM Contact Richard @ (559) 936-7351
- Women’s Bible Studies (Armor of God) — Tuesdays @ 6:30 PM Contact Deborah Sparks @ (559) 936-5955
CHILDREN
Go to our River Kid’s page to see what is happening!
YOUTH A Jr./Sr. High ministry that meets in the home of one of our members. Crew is held on Wednesday evenings 6:15-8:15. We have food, fun and bible study. To volunteer or for more information contact the church office: therivertulare@gmail.com or 559-429-7246.
Teaching
We hope you enjoy listening to all the Lord has been showing us through our teachers.
We would love to have you join us on Sunday mornings, and if you are unable to make it we hope you can be blessed by the teachings as we post them below.
God bless you
Letters to Leaders – 2019
- Aug 25, 2019Letters to Leaders – Authorities, the World, & Influence
- Aug 18, 2019Letters to Leaders – Emotions & Attitude
- Aug 11, 2019Letters to Leaders – Conflict
- Aug 4, 2019Letters to Leaders – Servant Leadership, the Only One
- Jul 28, 2019Letters to Leaders – The Work of Becoming
- Jul 14, 2019Letters to Leaders – Everyone is a Theologian
- Jul 7, 2019Letters to Leaders – Introduction
All Sermons
- Jan 26, 2020Calling – Louis Sparks 01.26.20
- Jan 19, 2020Calling – Louis Sparks 01.19.20
- Jan 12, 2020Calling – Louis Sparks 01.12.20
- Jan 5, 2020Calling – Louis Sparks 01.05.20
- Dec 22, 2019Advent – Louis Sparks 12.22.19
- Dec 15, 2019Advent – Louis Sparks 12.15.19
- Dec 1, 2019Advent – Louis Sparks 12.01.19
- Nov 24, 2019Louis Sparks 11.24.19
- Nov 17, 2019Louis Sparks 11.17.19
- Nov 3, 2019Tamara Bock 11.3.19
Give Grow Go
In a season of transition and maturing in our church family, God spoke to the leadership …
GIVE IT ALL AWAY, GROW PEOPLE AND GO WHEREVER I SEND YOU.
GIVE IT ALL AWAY: GALATIANS 2:20
- Lay it all down before Him (plans, agendas, dreams and aspirations) and surrender all of “self” to Him.
- Give Him your all: time, talents and treasure – they’re all His anyway!
- Our lives are not our own; trust Him for our future.
GROW PEOPLE, NOT JUST BUILDINGS: EPHESIANS 4:11-13
- He is perfect relationship and came, died and rose again so we could have relationship with Him and one another.
- Our calling is to make disciples, not simply believers, who will give their all away to Him and become like Him.
GO WHEREVER I SEND YOU: MATTHEW 28:18-20
- Therefore GO–across the street or around the world!
- It’s an outward, expansive perspective that sees the whole world as our mission field.
- It’s about God, one another and all the “others”.
WE ENDEAVOR TO FULFILL THE CALLING OF GOD UPON OUR LIVES AND SURRENDER EVERYTHING TO HIM; GROW TOGETHER TO BECOME THE PEOPLE HE DESIRES AND TO TAKE HIM TO ALL THE PEOPLES AND PLACES HE LEADS.
“We have a God-focused vision of a Training and Equipping Center ministry for the nurturing and maturing of those answering God’s call to GIVE, GROW and GO. ”
— Louis Sparks
In 2009 our church sent a team of Volunteers to share god’s love with the people of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. It proved to be a very successful adventure; the team was used of God to minister through medical services, children’s outreach and pastoral encouragement, reaching hundreds of children, families and local leaders.
In various and subsequent trips we’ve delivered medical help to thousands of adults and children in neglected area’s, shared Jesus with a thousands of kids, practiced construction techniques in challenging conditions and, encouraged local pastors with His word. It is now clear that this is the time to see the dream become a reality. What else can we do but answer Him, “Yes, Lord, send us.”We have a God-focused vision of a training and equipping center ministry for the nurturing and maturing of those answering God’s call to give, grow and go.
Here is a link to the Summer 2017 Missions trip:
There are currently plans for another missions trip in the summer of 2020 where we will offer youth rallies, medical aid, as well as a pastors’ retreat.
On May 8th, 2014 River TEC and friends departed on a 12 day missions trip to the islands of Leyte and Samar in the Philippines. There were nearly 1000 patients who saw our doctors, over 500 children ministered to, and significant progress was made on a building on the River TEC property.
To God be all the glory, honor, and praise!
We love our Filipino family and will keep them in our prayers and in our hearts!
This post Yolanda video was produced by Foursquare and gives a great insight to the Filipino peoples’ spirit and also their needs.
Special prayers are going out to our friends and family in the Philippines right now as they and the entire nation deal with the aftermath of a devastating storm. God bless the Philippines. If you would like to help River TEC continue to carry out what God has planned for the Philippines, you can send donations to: The River, P.O. Box 2039, Tulare, CA 93275 with “River TEC” in the memo. If you would like to donate to general relief for the Philippines, we are also sending funds to Tacloban, Tuk-Tuk, and Cagaut on a regular basis. You can send those donations to the above address as well with “Yolanda Relief” in the memo. Thank you and God bless.
This post Yolanda video was produced by Foursquare and gives a great insight to the Filipino peoples’ spirit and also their needs.
Online Giving
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
— 2 Corinthians 9:7
Online giving is a safe and easy way to support the ministry of The River. This system enables you to support the church by making a one-time contribution or establishing a recurring contribution. Your contribution can be made directly from your bank account or by using your credit card, we accept Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover.
3 SIMPLE STEPS
1. Create a user name.
2. Provide contact and bank or credit card information.
3. Indicate the amount, frequency (one-time or recurring) and designation for your gift.
*Keeping your information and contribution secure is a top priority to The River.
BENEFITS OF GIVING ONLINE FOR BOTH YOU AND THE CHURCH:
First Fruits: In Proverbs 3:9 we are taught to honor the Lord with the “First Fruits” of our labor. By setting up a recurring contribution that is scheduled to come out of your account on the day you specify you can ensure that your First Fruits are given back to God.
First Fruits: In Proverbs 3:9 we are taught to honor the Lord with the “First Fruits” of our labor. By setting up a recurring contribution that is scheduled to come out of your account on the day you specify you can ensure that your First Fruits are given back to God.
Simplicity: You will not need to remember if you gave this month or send in your offering checks when you are out of town.
Security: Online giving is more secure than giving with a check in that an electronic gift can’t be lost or stolen. A giving statement will be sent to you at year-end for your personal tax purposes.
Affiliation
The Foursquare Church
Lighthouse Rescue Mission
