RVLI Magazine 2021 by rivervalleychurch

RIVER VALLEY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

2021-2022

RV L I I L VR RV L I I L VR RV L I

TABLE OF CONTENTS 02

Pastor Rob and Becca

Creative Focus

What is RVLI?

Track Lead Story

FAQS

Student Life

Student Story

Schedule

Academics

River Valley Church

Tuition

Alumni Story

SEU Classes

Our Leader

Pastoral Focus

What’s Next?

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

RIVER VALLEY

PASTORS ROB & BECCA

“THE NEXT GENERATION ISN’T JUST TOLERATED; IT IS EMBRACED, CHAMPIONED AND LOVED.” At River Valley, the next generation isn’t just tolerated; it is embraced, championed and loved. Our heart has become “what can we do for you?” rather than, “what can you do for us?” We want you to do more than we ever could. You are right behind us, pushing us forward. Through River Valley Leadership Institute, we strive to help each student grow through a balance of encouragement, discipleship and development. Our goal through RVLI is to give you the and change the world. The best is yet to come!

OUR PASTORS

competency to advance the Kingdom of God

RVLI IS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE INTERNS IN THEIR SPIRITUAL GROWTH ALONG WITH INTENTIONAL AND PRACTICAL LEADERSHIP WHAT IS RVLI? DEVELOPMENT THROUGH HANDS-ON MINISTRY EXPERIENCE, WHILE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN COLLEGE CREDIT.

SEU AT RIVER VALLEY CHURCH We believe academics are a crucial part of the RVLI experience which is why we strive to create valuable learning

experiences.

Students

can

earn

Associates or Bachelors Degree in Ministerial Leadership after two to four years in the program. Students will take online classes and engage others through cohorts while implementing what they learn in real-time ministry contexts.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH We believe that before a leader can lead others, they ﬁrst must learn to lead themselves. We put an emphasis on the journey God has you on and do our best to help you learn to identify and follow His voice in your life.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT RVLI exists to equip new leaders in their process of discovering and developing their God-given gifts through intentional leadership development and hands-on ministry experience.

HANDS-ON MINISTRY EXPERIENCE The mission of River Valley Church is to lead people into an authentic, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. We believe the greatest vehicle for expanding the Kingdom of God is the local church. Each week, RVLI interns will have the opportunity to implement what they are learning and have access to a wide range of highly experienced and nationally recognized

leaders

help

them

take

their

leadership journey to the next level. As interns discover their purpose in ministry, it is our job to help launch them into all God has for them.

F R E Q U E N T LY A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S

model. All interns are required to serve on the weekend

DO YOU OFFER HOUSING FOR INTERNS JOINING FROM OUT OF STATE?

at their campus as well as attend the monthly RVLI

RVLI has limited dorm/apartment style housing

Leadership Labs, monthly RVLI cohorts and other

available on a limited basis for our Experience and

ministry speciﬁc events. For those participating in SEU,

Protégé students. Housing is offered on a ﬁrst-come

please refer to the Weekly Schedule on page 21.

ﬁrst-serve basis; however, those coming from out of

WHAT WILL MY WEEK LOOK LIKE? The schedule of your week varies on your track and

town have a priority over local students. Interns are required to pay monthly rent.

WHAT TRACKS CAN I CHOOSE FROM? We have different tracks you can choose from depending on your desired ministry focus. Those tracks include

HOW LONG DOES RVLI LAST?

Campus, Kids, Youth, Young Adults, Small Groups,

We have two internship seasons on the RVLI calendar;

Women’s Ministry, Pastoral Care, Global Project, Live Production, Film, Worship, Marketing, Social Media/-

June-August and September-May.

Photography, and Graphic Design.

WHICH MODEL IS RIGHT FOR ME? AM I ABLE TO EARN COLLEGE CREDITS DURING MY INTERNSHIP?

Discovery Model: For those who are looking to gain a deeper understanding of ministry yet have limited time availability. Experience Model: For those who are

Yes, you can enroll in Southeastern University (a region-

looking for an immersive ministry experience and want

ally accredited university*) to work towards a degree.

to grow as a leader. Protégé Model: Designed for those

After two years in the program you can complete your

who have completed a year of Experience Model and

AML (Associates of Ministerial Leadership) or after four

are interested in pursuing vocational ministry.

years in the program you can ﬁnish with your BSML (Bachelors of Science in Ministerial Leadership).

DO I NEED A CAR? CAN I BE ENROLLED IN A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY WHILE BEING IN RVLI?

Yes. Some ministry opportunities will require reliable transportation during the week and on the weekends.

Yes. This internship is most beneﬁcial when coupled with an educational component. If you choose not to go through SEU, we would highly encourage you to enroll in North Central University.

AM I ABLE TO BE CREDENTIALED AS A MINISTER THROUGH THIS INTERNSHIP? Yes. Through your classes with SEU you can begin your credentialing process to become a minister with the Assemblies of God.

*Southeastern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Southeastern University.

THERE IS SURELY A FUTURE HOPE FOR YOU, AND YOUR HOPE WILL NOT BE CUT OFF.

PROVERBS 23:18

ANGEL NELLIS More than anything, RVLI has taught me what it means to be by a deeper understanding that God is for me and his plans play out in crazy ways far better than I could have manufactured on my own.

That was over a year and a half ago now, and let me tell you: My

Never in a million years did I think I would be living in Minneap-

and undervalued but I really mean it. I’ve moved around a lot in

olis serving alongside these people. Just a Michigan girl, with adoration eyes for what God was doing here at River Valley Church, dreaming of what it would be like to be a part of it. I had disqualiﬁed myself from ever being involved here because I thought this was all too big and special for me to contribute to. After years of keeping up with what was happening at River Valley from a few states away I felt a pull on my heart that maybe just maybe RVLI was for me. I was living in Charlotte, North Carolina at the time and the application deadline was just a few days away. Within a month of that little heart tug I was loading up my clunky Buick Lesabre full of everything I owned to make a 22 hour drive to a place I knew very little about but felt very called to.

life has been forever changed. I know that saying is overused my life, and I have never lived somewhere that I felt more seen, known, loved and valued than I have since being here, since being a part of RVLI. It’s the people, it’s the culture, it’s the anointing. I joined the Young Adults track and have not only learned what it takes to help run a ministry, but I’ve been given permission to venture into and experiment with other interests and passions of mine. While serving with the Young Adults ministry here at River Valley I’ve also been able to step into the creative world of content and communications. I spoke up, letting my leaders know that I thought I had more to offer in those areas, and they

2 0 2 0 Y O U N G A D U LT I N T E R N

loved and valued by a community of people. Closely followed

created avenues for me to learn and develop those things in a space that allowed room for me to not yet be excellent in it. Going back to what I said at the beginning of this little testimony, “God is for me and his plans play out in crazy ways far better than I could have manufactured on my own.” This internship has looked far different than I thought it would. It took me in directions I never saw myself going. It is so evident to me that being here was right where I was supposed to be. Being poured into and developed as a leader through RVLI has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life up to this point. Grateful is the only word to describe my time invested in RVLI.

ACADEMICS

SOUTHEASTERN

NORTH CENTRAL

STUDY ABROAD

River Valley Church and Southeastern

If you would like to enroll in a

River Valley Church partners with 250+

University (SEU) have partnered to

traditional university experience, North

missionaries and ministries all over the

bring you a world-class educational

Central University is right in our

world. RVLI creates the opportunity for

experience. Through SEU, you have

backyard and is a great Assemblies of

you to study abroad while you are a

the option of earning an Associates or

God University that we highly

part of our program.

Bachelors Degree in Ministerial

recommend.

Leadership online alongside your

internship experience with RVLI.

TUITION

RVLI EXPERIENCE DISCOVERY MODEL EXPERIENCE MODEL $500 $1000

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE $10,060

Gain hands-on ministry experience while partnering with experts in the ﬁeld

Combines RVLI Experience with the

of your choice. Engage ministry on a whole new level as you have the

opportunity to earn your degree with SEU

opportunity to lead, innovate, and design new ministry paradigms.

(based on 15 hours per semester).

SEU CLASSES

ASSOCIATE OF MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP (AML) • Foundational Core = 34 Credit Hours • Ministerial Leadership Core = 15 Credit Hours • General Electives = 12 Credit Hours

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP (BSML) • Foundational Core = 56 Credit Hours • Ministerial Leadership Studies = 33 Credit Hours • Ministerial Practicum and General Electives = 33 Credit Hours • Degree Types: • BS Ministerial Leadership - Biblical Studies Track • BS Ministerial Leadership - Christian Ministry Track • BS Ministerial Leadership - Pastoral Care and Counseling Track • BS Ministerial Leadership - Worship Ministries

OTHER DEGREES • Business Administration • BS Communication and Mass Media • BS Digital Media & Design • BS Human Services • BS Organizational Leadership • BS Psychology

MINISTRY MINISTRY FOCUS

MINISTRY FOCUS

“THE BEST LEADERS DON'T LEAD FROM A PLACE OF TITLE OR POSITION, THEY LEAD FROM A PLACE OF INFLUENCE.” CAMPUS Grow in your ability to lead and develop leaders and

CHOOSE YOUR TRACK

steward the church in the areas of discipleship, generosity and serving. Gain experience in: Communication, counseling, administration, pastoral care, discipleship, sermon preparation and execution.

NEXT GEN Choose among Kids, Youth and Young Adults tracks as you gain insight into what it takes to develop and lead the next generation. Gain experience in: sermon preparation and curriculum design.

Event + service planning, discipleship, small groups,

MISSIONS Cultivate a heart for the unreached people groups as you work with our Global Project leaders. Gain experience in: Local + global outreach, global team planning, missionary communication, foreign relations + communication and working with other cultures.

CREATIVE CREATIVE FOCUS

CREATIVE FOCUS

“IT’S OUR FOUNDATIONAL BELIEF THAT ONE MOMENT IN HIS PRESENCE CHANGES EVERYTHING.” WORSHIP Grow as a musician or vocalist as you work with weekend experiences. Gain experience in: Songwriting, live mixing, music directing, musicality and worship development.

PRODUCTION Be developed and learn the technical side of ministry as you create the atmosphere for people to encounter God in an authentic way. Gain experience in:

CHOOSE YOUR TRACK

our River Valley Worship team facilitating inspiring

Stage design, lighting engineering, service production and stage management.

CREATIVE EMPHASIS Choose from any area of ministry and use your unique skills to add creative emphasis. In working alongside your desired ministry team, your skills will be developed as you have the opportunity to collaborate with the River Valley creative team to support them with your creative giftings. Gain experience in: Web development, graphic design and marketing OR Videography, photography, and social media.

GLOBAL PROJECT ASSOCIATE PASTOR

JOSH KRIEGLER

“What good is experience, if it isn’t shared with others to learn from and grow?”

Serving as a Track Lead with RVLI has been the most rewarding aspect of my role as a pastor. I have always valued and wanted to pour into the next generation, but that desire has been taken to a new level through RVLI. I realize that I may not be able to carry every torch to the ﬁnish line, but I know that when I invest into those coming behind me, the torch is in good hands. As it says in Matthew 5:15 “No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a

ROI. Return on Investment. This is the lens through which I have grown accustomed to seeing different opportunities or initiatives. What is the net gain or loss of me investing my resources (time, money and energy)? I spent much of my young adult life working for large corporations, where ROI meant focusing on the proﬁt to be made, and that proﬁt was always measured in dollars. In my role as an Associate Pastor within River Valley Global Project, I have learned to change the focus on that lens, from dollars to development. And, not just the development of an individual or team, but the development of God’s Kingdom here on earth.

stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” The same should be said about our knowledge and experience. What good is experience, if it isn’t shared with others to learn from and grow? My prayer is that through my role as a Track Lead, I am able to invest in the lives of my interns and help equip them to pursue the calling God has put on their lives. I pray that through shared experiences, we can help to challenge and push each other to grow in the ways God is calling us to grow. Leading the Global Project Track of RVLI has given me the opportunity to meet and mentor some amazing individuals and I am excited to see where God takes them next. At River Valley Church, we know we are called to send out our best, to wherever God calls them as missionaries, and the interns we have in RVLI are deﬁnitely some of our best!

COHORTS

SERVE TEAMS

Cohorts are a time for you to connect with interns within

Each campus has an amazing team of volunteers waiting

your track, hear from amazing leaders within our church,

for you to join them. Serve Teams make a difference in

and grow in community with other interns. Cohorts allow

the lives of every person who comes through our doors

for discussion based teaching, and are a great time to

from the parking lot to the platform. We encourage you

process what God is doing in and through you. Cohorts

to join a team, make new friends, and own the

happen once a month in the evening, and meet in coffee

atmosphere at your campus so those who are yet to

shops and homes.

come will be warmly welcomed and experience the life-giving presence of God!

LEADERSHIP LABS Leadership Labs are a time for you to be together with all

GLOBAL PROJECT

interns once a month and develop as leaders. There will be

Every month, teams of volunteers from River Valley

snacks, leadership teachings, small group discussions and

Church travel around the world to help meet physical

connections with interns from other campuses and tracks.

and spiritual needs and share the love of Jesus Christ. It

This will easily be one of your favorite experiences of RVLI.

is our goal that every person in our church goes on a

STUDENT LIFE

Global Team within 4 years of coming to River Valley.

SMALL GROUPS

Global Teams can cost as little as $400 for a weekend

Small Groups meet at all different times, days and

but no matter how long or how much, going is always

locations and there are hundreds of different groups to

worth it.

team or as much as $4000 for a longer 10–12 day team

choose from! Being in a Small Group will help you build healthy relationships with others, grow in your relationship with Jesus and serve through Local Projects.

ACADEMIC DAYS “Academic Days” are a classroom setting designed for you to take a deep dive into a variety of subjects. We hold these days twice a month and cover topics that

range from theology to current events and our role in it as believers and much more.

RVLI Academic Day; SEU Study Hall; SEU *Online Classes

Weekend Ministry

S Staff Prayer and Track Lead Day

T Midweek Ministry Events

W Day Off; *SEU Online Classes

T Day Off

F Evening Weekend Ministry

* schedule may vary based on track and campus

LOOKING BACK RIVER VALLEY CHURCH IN 2020

3,422

Commitments to Christ

276

Water Baptisms

$6,599,529

Missions Giving

820 Missionaries Supported

LO L

APRIL 17, 2022 Easter

JUNE 6-7, 2022 River Valley Church Conference

September 23-24, 2022 Sparkle Women’s Conference

OKING FORWARD OOKING FORWARD 23

“RVLI WAS LIFE-CHANGING FOR US! IT OFFERED US A CHANCE TO FULFILL OUR CALLING WHEN IT SEEMED LIKE OUR TIME HAD PASSED.”

NEIL & TRISH Neil and I went from being attenders at River Valley to being quite involved and serving in many areas we felt called to, but we had come to a place where serving in that capacity wasn't enough, and we knew that God had more for us. As we were were at and how God wanted to use us, he said; "There are

RVLI opened the door to full-time ministry for us, gave us

many people who serve and then go back to their jobs, and that

greater connections to pastors and leaders who spoke into our

is what they are called to, but you two have a call of vocational

lives and helped us grow, ﬁlled our tanks by giving us an oppor-

ministry on your lives, and God has something more for you.

tunity to serve at a higher capacity, and afﬁrmed our calling. As

Have you ever thought about RVLI?" That question opened a

we were 100% committed to RVLI, we saw God continually take

door for us that we never expected.

care of us. Our relationship with God, our kids, and our marriage were all stronger because we were obedient in the

The fall season of RVLI had already started, but within a few

season He had called us to.

weeks, we were enrolled in the program. It was a whirlwind process that God had His hand upon. Neil and I were in our

After a season of interning, God blew us away by opening doors

forties, married with three kids, had full-time careers, and

for us to step into vocational ministry at River Valley. Neil was

stepped into this new season of interning together. As crazy as

called into ministry at the age of thirteen, and he ﬁnally stepped

all of that sounds, God's plans don't always make sense to us.

into that calling thirty years later! Although our ministry journey

We were stepping out in complete faith and trusting the

is different from most, we are continually reminded of God's

promises of Isaiah 55 that His thoughts are not our thoughts

faithfulness to the dreams he puts in our hearts and the callings

and neither are His ways our ways. Neil and I couldn't see what

he has placed on our lives. RVLI was life-changing for us! It

was ahead, but we trusted God, knowing He knew where it

offered us a chance to fulﬁll our calling when it seemed like our

would lead us.

time had passed. We are so thankful for RVLI and the people

ALUMNI STORY

having a conversation with one of the pastors about where we

who believed in and championed us. By human standards, Neil and I shouldn't be where we are today…. BUT GOD!

OUR LEADER

D A S H A P O LYA K O VA

RVLI DIRECTOR In RVLI we are passionate about helping you identify and

pursue the creative arts or be a stay-at-home parent, God

step into the next season God is calling you into. You have

ﬁrst asks that you stay faithful to loving Him, while also

been created with unique gifts & talents that God wants

doing your best to love the people around you. Because

to use to further His kingdom. Our heart is to create a

of this, our mission is to champion and equip you into

space where you can discover what those are and learn

whatever YOUR next step is!

how to use them to engage the world around you, and advance the Kingdom of God.

This journey will stretch you and will require courage to allow God to do His work in you. It will also be the most

Living on mission is not limited to full-time ministry or

unpredictable and thrilling adventure of your life. We are

working at a church. The two things God asks of us is to

committed to walk this journey with you and cannot wait

love Him and love people (Matt. 22:37-40), no matter

to see where God takes you!

what context we ﬁnd ourselves in. Whether you feel called to go into business, go into the mission ﬁeld,

Are you ready to take the next step?

WHAT’S NEXT?

APPLY You can apply online at rvli.org.

INTERVIEW You will be contacted after you apply to set up an interview.

SEU To get started with the SEU experience, visit partners.seu.edu/rivervalley

HAVE QUESTIONS? CONTACT US rvli.org | rvli@rivervalley.org | 952-255-8800 29

RVLI.ORG