About Us

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Church History

In 1985, after decades of musical concert touring, Christian and secular television productions, and receiving Grammy and Dove Award honors, the focus of ministry changed dramatically for Dony and Reba Rambo McGuire. They believed God was calling them out of concerts into evangelistic crusades. 1994 found Dony and Reba stepping into a seven year season of ministry as Revivalists. They were privileged to personally mentor over 36 young ministry interns, each one fulfilling at least a year tenure of “on the road, hands-on training.” Many of them have continued on to become Pastors, Evangelists, and Psalmists.

In the fall of 2000, Dony and Reba heard the voice of God speaking to their hearts, “Now is the time to begin your greatest assignment… The River At Music City.” On February 11, 2001, their journey into a new season of life called “Pastoring” began. With daughter Destiny, son Israel, and spiritual children by their side, they launched a new church, The River At Music City, in Nashville, Tennessee. Needless to say, the ride has been exhilarating.

At its inception, The River rented a banquet hall at The Waterfront Complex on Metro Center Boulevard in downtown Nashville. The emphasis was on building a strong foundation of quality leaders and committed families. The desire for effective children’s ministry to nearby Cumberland View launched them into a weekly outreach known as “Splash Club.” Over 100 children were brought in each week to enjoy skits, clowns, dances, games, an upbeat message of the Gospel, and were fed a nutritious lunch.

By this time, The River was leasing its own facility at The Waterfront and people from the four corners of Nashville were gathering to experience the love, the Word, worship, and life-changing atmosphere of true community. “We watched in awe as a family of believers was beginning to be formed,” says Pastor Reba. “We were all aware something unique, even supernatural, was happening…God was building His church.”

The River began evolving into a rainbow of all people and all cultures. Men, women, boys, and girls began blossoming in their individual gifts. While not for everyone, The River became exactly the church that many in Nashville had been searching for. Over and over the same testimony was heard, “We walked into a service and began to weep because we knew we had found ‘Home’.”

As the church expanded, the leadership felt the overwhelming need to pray and believe God for the doors of opportunity to open up in the city to buy their own property. Miraculously, on August 15, 2004, The River began the purchase of their much needed campus, relocating to 141 Belle Forest Circle in the thriving Bellevue community. “We knew when we became aware the property was for sale it was our land!” exclaims Pastor Dony. “We now have a beautiful facility for all people groups to come and find hope.”

The River At Music City is a strong, vibrant, young church having great influence in a city of great influence!

Our Mission

To Raise Up A People of supernatural spiritual hunger in relentless pursuit of God’s presence…

To Raise Up A People fully equipped with infinite wisdom and fresh revelation of the full counsel of God’s Holy Word...

To Raise Up A People exemplifying the heart of God for a multi-racial, multi-cultural covenant family…

To Raise Up A People whose passion for the lost, the despised and rejected, will propel them to the marketplace…

To Raise Up A People of excellence and integrity, whose primary passion is fulfilling the mandate of Jesus Christ…

“GO MAKE DISCIPLES!”

Our Vision

WE’RE CALLED TO BE A COVENANT FAMILY

Committed to unity where we are known for our love and commitment to each other, and our deep devotion to the Lordship of Jesus.

WE ARE CALLED TO BE A MULTI-RACIAL CHURCH

“Without prejudice, where there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, (there is neither black or white, neither rich or poor, neither educated or illiterate), for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). We will not tolerate religious prejudice against those whose belief system may be different than ours. (There is no distinction between Baptist, Methodist, Nazarene, Assembly of God, Catholic, Pentecostal or any other denomination of people!)

WE ARE CALLED TO BE SUBMITTED TO SCRIPTURAL GOVERNMENT

Submitted to and operating under divinely appointed eldership of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers (Eph. 4:11).

WE ARE CALLED TO BUILD STRONG FAMILIES.

Where husbands love their wives, even as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it; where wives submit to their husbands, even as unto Christ; and where children are taught, trained and disciplined from infancy to adulthood to live Godly lives (Eph. 5:22-33).

WE ARE CALLED TO RESTORE THE ARTS TO THE CHURCH

Including music, dance, drama, writing and art (drawing, painting, pottery, sculpture, etc.) with excellence by providing teaching and training for all ages and opportunities for expression within the ministry of the Church.

WE ARE CALLED TO PROVIDE EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

For students from pre-school through the 12th grade in a Christian environment where high academic standards are maintained and students are taught respect for authority, patriotism, manners, integrity, high moral standards, and strong work ethics. Our goal is to train future generations of responsible adults who will make major contributions to the quality of life in their community.

To establish a Bible institute that will teach Bible courses on a college level as well as practical Biblical classes on marriage, parenting skills, personal finances, social awareness, and community involvement.

To establish a school of writing where writers from around the world can be educated on how to better craft the God-given gift within them.

To establish practical schools of ministry that may run in week-long intervals to educate people with practical understanding in much needed Church ministries (i.e. sound systems, video applications, dance ministry, drama ministry, children’s ministry, praise and worship, etc.).

WE ARE CALLED TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED MINISTRIES

To children, youth, young adults, singles, married couples, men, ladies, and the elderly designed to address the needs of their age group and family status.

Which may include retirement facilities for the elderly, housing for un-wed mothers, an adoption agency for parentless children, and housing for men and women who have fallen out of society due to moral, mental, or emotional failure, and/or financial collapse.

WE ARE CALLED TO BE AGGRESSIVE AND EFFECTIVE EVANGELISTS

To reach out to all people groups socially, economically, and morally, and demonstrate the compassion of Jesus to them in their times of need. It doesn’t matter what someone has done or is doing; we’re going to embrace humanity with the love of Jesus in us.

WE ARE CALLED TO RAISE A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE

IN ALL THAT WE DO…
IN ALL THAT WE ARE…
THAT WE MAY BE…
THE SALT OF THE EARTH . . .
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD . . .
A CITY SET ON A HILL THAT CANNOT BE HIDDEN . . .
SO THAT OUR LIGHTS WILL SO SHINE BEFORE MEN,
THAT THEY WILL SEE OUR GOOD WORKS,
AND GLORIFY OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.

Our Covering

We believe in Scriptural covering:

Ephesians 6:1
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”

1 Peter 5:5
“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.”

Submission to those over us in the Lord is not about being controlled or manipulated; it’s about being served by those who by experience have been where we’ve not yet been. There are many (too many to mention) who are in our lives as spiritual fathers, who give ongoing input into the life of The River. Among them is one who stands out as the true Apostle over this work, Bishop David Huskins.

Bishop Huskins is the presiding Bishop over the International Communion of Charismatic Churches and the Fellowship of Vineyard Harvester Churches, as well as serving as Senior Pastor of Cedar Lake Christian Center in Cedartown, Georgia.

Bishop Huskins gives of his time on an ongoing basis to minister to the congregation at The River, as well as being available to our Senior Pastors 24/7. His insight to us as a “local church” in the ever challenging times of our world has been an invaluable treasure. His love and passion for the church is unparalleled among church leaders.

He and his wife, Michelle, have four children… Aaron, Zach, Isaac, and Michael. They all reside in Cedartown, Georgia.