All-Church Garage Sale

Clear out your closets and come shop for treasures! Our all-church garage sale is a morning of great finds, good food, and time together as a church family, and there’s a place for everyone to be part of it. All proceeds go back into our church’s ministry fund, helping us continue the work God has called us to right here in our community.

📅 Saturday, October 17
🕐 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 River of Life · 21580 River Ranch Road, Estero

Donate your items

We’re looking for items in good, working condition: furniture, home goods, décor, clothing, toys, tools, and more. One small request: please make sure everything is something you’d be happy to buy yourself. Broken, stained, or worn-out items make more work for our volunteers, so those are best left at home.

📅 Friday, October 16
🕐 5:00 – 7:00 PM
📍 Drop off at the church

Volunteer

Many hands make light work! There are two ways to serve:

Friday setup crew · Friday, October 16, starting at 5:00 PM
Help us set up, sort donations as they come in, and price items for the big day.

Saturday sale team · Saturday, October 17, arriving at 7:00 AM
Help run tables, assist shoppers, and clean up after the sale.

Whether you can give an hour or a whole shift, we’d love to have you on the team. To sign up, talk to Nina Dellinger.

Come for pancakes

Stop by for pancakes, available for a donation. Bring your family, bring your neighbors, and make a morning of it.

Visit the prayer tent

Our prayer tent will be open throughout the sale. Whether you’re a longtime member or a neighbor just stopping by, our team would be honored to pray with you.

Ways you can help: donate items, volunteer, or both! Questions? Talk to Nina Dellinger.

Name Tag Sunday

Ever smiled at someone every Sunday for months but never learned their name? You’re not alone, and Name Tag Sunday is here to help!

On October 25, we’re inviting everyone to wear a name tag and make it easy to say hello. Whether you’ve been part of River of Life for decades or you’re walking through our doors for the very first time, a simple name tag takes the guesswork out of introductions. It helps break the ice, spark new conversations, and turn familiar faces into real friendships.

📅 Sunday, October 25
🕐 10:00 AM Service
📍 Name tags in the lobby

How it works

Grab a name tag from the table in the lobby on your way in, put it on, and you’re ready to go. Then take a moment to introduce yourself to someone new. You might be surprised who you meet!

Visit the RLA Merch Store

Our merch store will be open before and after service with special pricing on t-shirts and journals. It’s a great time to pick up something for yourself or a gift for someone else. Proceeds from all sales continue to benefit The Jerusalem School.

A Quick Note About Online Giving

Starting this month, there’s a small change to online giving. Here’s what’s changing, what isn’t, and what it means for you.

What’s changing?

The processing fee for credit and debit card gifts is going from 1.9% to 2.3%. That’s an increase of 40 cents for every $100 given. For example, a $100 card gift used to have a $1.90 fee and now has a $2.30 fee.

Why is it changing?

The increase comes from the company that processes card payments, not from River of Life or our giving platform, Nucleus. Nucleus has held the 1.9% rate for more than seven years, but the processor would no longer keep it.

Does River of Life or Nucleus keep any of the fee?

No. Nucleus doesn’t earn anything from processing fees, and none of this increase goes to the church or to Nucleus.

Who pays the fee?

The fee is always added to your gift at checkout, so the full amount you intend to give goes to the ministry. Your gift to the church stays the same. Only the processing fee changes.

I have a recurring gift. Do I need to do anything?

No. If your recurring gift uses a card, the updated fee is applied automatically. If it comes from your bank account, nothing changes.

Is bank account giving changing?

No. Giving from your bank account still costs $0.25 per gift, no matter the amount. For a $100 gift, that’s $0.25 by bank account compared with $2.30 by card.

How can I keep fees as low as possible?

Choose your bank account instead of a card when you give online. Giving by cash or check in person has no processing fee at all.

Thank you for your faithful generosity. It makes everything we do at River of Life possible.

NEW

A Sunday Series This October · 10:00 AM

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Isaiah 43:19 NIV

This October, join us as we discover the new things God is doing in us and around us.

October 4: A New Thing
October 11: A New Song
October 18: A New Experience
October 25: A New Territory

For our kids

Our kids will be learning right alongside us, with a weekly truth for each Sunday of the series:

October 4: I see God doing a new thing.
October 11: I sing a new song to the Lord.
October 18: I want a new experience with Jesus.
October 25: I take new territory in God.

Water Baptism

Have you made the decision to follow Jesus? Water baptism is a powerful way to declare your faith publicly and celebrate new life in Christ. It’s the first step of obedience in following Him. Whether you’ve been thinking about it for years or you’re just now feeling the nudge, we’d love to celebrate this step with you, and family and friends are welcome to come cheer you on. Sign up online, and we’ll reach out with more information.

📅 Wednesday, October 28
📍 River of Life

Small Groups

Church is better together. Our RLA Groups are a place to build real friendships and grow in your faith in a relaxed, welcoming setting. With groups on different days and for different stages of life, there’s a place for you. Find yours and jump in!

RLA Young Adults

A place to connect with others, grow in relationship, and be discipled.

📅 Sundays after the morning service
📍 RLA, Second Floor
👥 Ages 18–35 · No cost, food provided

Register for Young Adults →

Women’s Prayer

Women come together to pray for the needs of the church while following the leading of the Holy Spirit.

📅 Wednesdays
🕐 8:30 AM
📍 RLA Sanctuary

No registration required. Come as you are able.

Deeper Dive Bible Study

Go deeper into the Sunday morning message in a casual setting.

📅 Wednesdays
🕐 6:30 PM
📍 RLA, Second Floor, Pastor’s Study
👥 Ages 18+

Register for Deeper Dive →

Home-Based Bible Study

A space for anyone looking to build relationships and grow in the Word.

📅 Wednesdays
🕐 6:30 PM
📍 A home in Bonita Springs
👥 Ages 18+

Space is limited and registration is required. Once you register, you’ll receive the address and gate entrance information.

Register for Home-Based Bible Study →

CampFire

Our Wednesday night ministry for kids. Bring them along while you’re here for your group!

📅 Wednesdays
🕐 6:45 – 8:00 PM
📍 River of Life

Learn more about CampFire →

RLA Women’s Bible Study

Building a strong community of women at RLA while growing in the Word.

📅 Thursdays
🕐 10:00 AM
📍 RLA, Main Sanctuary
👥 Ages 18+

Register for Women’s Bible Study →

Finding Jesus in Recovery

A safe place for those in a recovery program, or considering one, to find Jesus intentionally. Everyone is welcome, from inside or outside RLA.

📅 Thursdays
🕐 6:30 PM
📍 RLA, Second Floor
👥 Ages 18+

Registration isn’t required, but it’s appreciated.

Register for Finding Jesus in Recovery →

360 Men’s Group

A breakfast for men of all ages to gather for connection, encouragement, and discipleship.

📅 Saturdays
🕐 7:30 AM
📍 Skillets at University Village, 10950 Eagle Village Dr., Ste. 330 C, Fort Myers
👥 Ages 18+ · Cost: your own meal

Register for 360 Men’s →