"Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."

Jeremiah 29:7

We believe that God has intentionally placed us in our specific city for His glory. Therefore, we are called to care about the needs of our city: We care about the sufferings, injustices, beauty, and happenings in our city. We, too, are called to seek the welfare of our city and to pray for our city!

God has created you on purpose, for a purpose. In fact, we are confident that God has gifted you with certain abilities, passions, relationships, and circumstances in order for you to have a Platform for Mission in our city. Our Platforms for Mission are the places, ministries, and opportunities where we help others deeply engage with Jesus. So, consider this: Where is God moving you to bring the hope of Jesus to the people in our city?

Santa's Wish List

As Christmas approaches, there are many families in Fort Lauderdale who do not have the ability and resources to purchase Christmas gifts for their children. In response to this need, one of our Rio families created an organization called Santa’s Wish List which is a 501(C)(3) charity that identifies children in need through churches, schools, and the community. The child’s exact wishes are identified, the gifts are purchased, wrapped, and delivered with the help of many volunteers.

With your help, we have the opportunity to serve generously in our community in partnership with Santa’s Wishlist!

If you have any questions, please reach out to Drew Chery at drew@riovistachurch.com.

Ministry Partners:

01. Care Portal: The Heart of Prevention

CarePortal is a technology platform that connects the Body of Christ to the needs of children who are at-risk or are already a part of the child welfare system.

02. Rio House

The RioHouse facility serves as a safe home for formerly homeless women and their children, offering a healthy environment and loving Christian community to families in need.

03. Family Advocate Ministry

With our Ministry Partners, 4KIDS of South Florida, our Family Advocacy Ministry (FAM) helps identify, equip, and support families within our church community who can care for children in foster care. We believe a family’s source of strength can be found in those who are willing to wrap around them through a Community Care Team.

03. Shared Meals with Hope South Florida

As part of a holistic approach to homelessness, Hope South Florida seeks to build hope, housing, and community. One way they do this is by providing shared meals 6 nights a week and on Saturdays for those who are food insecure in Broward County. Shared meals also include access to their mobile shower, employment assistance, and access to proper identification; birth certificates, driver’s license, state id, and other key documents to help in their search for employment.

04. Hope Women’s Center

Hope Women’s Centers exists to encourage and equip women and men to make informed decisions regarding unplanned pregnancies. All our services are free of charge to the women and families we serve. Learn more about who we serve and hear stories from courageous moms and dads at Hope!

05. Love Bags

A local ministry founded by Bob Denison and led by Chet Beers at Holiday Park every Tuesday night desiring to reach the homeless in a real tangible way. Their ultimate goal is to love them as Jesus would.

Ministry Partners:

01. Care Portal: The Heart of Prevention

CarePortal is a technology platform that connects the Body of Christ to the needs of children who are at-risk or are already a part of the child welfare system.

02. Rio House

Rio House is a safe home for formerly homeless women and their children, offering a healthy environment and loving Christian community to families in need. As a multi-unit transitional housing facility in the Hope South Florida network, Rio House is owned and cared for by Rio Vista Community Church.

03. Family Advocate Ministry

04. Shared Meals with Hope South Florida

05. Hope Women’s Center

06. Love Bags

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Serve the City Events

Throughout the year, we have various Serve the City events where all Rio members are invited to serve generously as the body of Christ as we seek the flourishing of our city together. When one or more of those is active, it (or they) will appear below.