The River is an independent congregation of Christians located in Poughkeepsie, New York. Our goal is to introduce Poughkeepsie and the Hudson Valley to the love of Christ Jesus in a meaningful, relevant, and practical way.

The River strives to be non-religeous. We believe that Scripture tells us that we serve a God who doesn't care about ritual or ceremony, who doesn't mind loud music and who isn't offended by T-shirts and jeans. Our goal is to facilitate an atmosphere that doesn't build any walls between you and Jesus.

A huge focus of The River is to demonstrate God's love practically by living as servants to our community and the world. You can find out more about that effort in the Beyond the Walls section.


Our Mission:

"To bring people to Jesus and membership in his family, develop them to Christ-like maturity, and equip them for their ministry in the church and life mission in the world, in order to magnify God's name."

We have shortened our Mission Statement into what we call "The Church Motto". You will see this motto around the building and on some of our printed material.

"Working together in loving the Hudson Valley to Christ"

The Great Commandment: "Jesus said, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart...soul...and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.'"
Matthew 22:36-40

The Great Commission: "Jesus said, 'Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
Matthew 28:19-20

Unity as a goal: "...all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."
1 Peter 3:8