Our team

the river Leadership

The staff and leadership team here at the River is comprised of men and women who love, care and pray for our church and our community. If you have any questions for any of our pastors or leadership team members, feel free to call our church office to find out how. You can contact the church office at info@therivr.com

  • Paul michel

    Lead pastor

    You can't exactly call Paul a newcomer. He's been here before. Paul was a member of The River from 1999 to 2006. In the spring of 2006, God called Paul out of his comfort zone, and into vocational ministry. After a couple years of studying God's word and the pursuit of God's vision for his life, Paul was ordained as a Pastor in 2008. Eight years of ministry experience....and he's back! In August 2016, Paul showed up, right on time for his appointment to join the River staff, as Lead Pastor.


    Paul enjoys time with his wife Tennille (married since 1994) and their 4 boys, Tyler, Mason, Miles, and Thatch. He also likes to spend time wrenching on his 80's muscle car project, and soaking up God's gift of music.

  • tony richerson

    Director of Operations

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  • collin lyerla

    TEaching pastor

    Student Ministries

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  • Lawrence & Laura Jahn

    flood (High School Ministry)


  • Amy Lyerla

    Rush (Junior High Ministry)

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  • Scott Gillman

    Director of Facilities

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  • Roxanne Wenger

    Worship & Arts Director

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  • Mary Blackwood

    RiverKids Director

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  • Austin Wenger

    Sunday Production Lead

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dIRECTORS & bUSINESS TEAM


Our goal is to have a church led by godly leaders, under the oversight and watchful care of the Directors.  The directors are given ultimate responsibility and authority to see that the Church remains on a true biblical course; that its members are being appropriately shepherded; that the body is being fed through insightful and accurate teaching; and the life of the church is being well managed with the assistance of other competent and godly leaders.  They are to care about the spiritual and physical well-being of members, regularly praying for the sick.  They are to guard the body against harmful influences, confronting those who are contradicting biblical truth or who are continuing in sinful behavior.  In doing so, they are to keep closing potential entrances for Satan, so that the truth of Christ will remain credible to both the congregation and the community.


The purpose of the Business Team is to provide assistance to the Directors and Pastoral Team in the areas of professional counsel.  It is to leave the "business stuff" with those gifted in this area.