About

Who we are

Welcome to River of Life Church — a united and welcoming community formed from two long-standing local churches, led by a passionate team and committed to growing together in faith, love, and service.

About us

River of Life is a lively church, formed in 2022. We’ve been referred to as ‘rustic’ and we quite like that description! Our faith in Jesus is raw and real, we avoid pretence and performance. We believe integrity matters and we attempt to make our times together as accessible and authentic as possible.

Please check out this website for more information, but if you want to get to know us, you’ll have to come along and meet us in person. We would love to see you.

Get in touch

Who’s Who?

Meet the people behind River of Life Church — a team passionate about serving others and building community.

Pioneer Network

Church Leaders

Dave and Julie Smith

Dave and Julie Smith lead River of Life. They were in leadership at The Well and have over 15 years’ experience in leadership, as well as serving in ministries including worship, youth, and children’s work. Married for over 30 years with two sons, they are passionate about glorifying Jesus, helping His people grow in love and gifts, and seeing the Kingdom of Heaven made visible on earth.

Administrator

Katie Lancaster

Katie Lancaster is the church administrator. If things need organising, emailing, arranging or sorting – Katie will be on it!!

Trustees

Our Trustees

Our Trustees are Kevin & Barbara Ashby, Kathy Long and Mark Hayllar.

Pioneer Network of Churches

We joined the Pioneer Network in December 2024. This relational network gives us access to support, accountability, resources and training. There are 2 other Pioneer churches in Eastbourne and we worship together 3 times a year and engage on other joint projects and ministries.

Pioneer Network

What we believe

Our Values

These are summed up in the following five statements, based on the five-fold ministry in Ephesians 4:11-16.

We are sent

We actively seek to expand God’s Kingdom by equipping and sending each of us to bring heaven to earth in our everyday lives.

We prioritise His presence

We deeply value and prioritise God’s presence, seeking to move in the gifts of the Spirit and respond to His voice and calling – both as a church and as individuals.

We invite others to Jesus

We wholeheartedly embrace the call to make disciples, equipping believers to share Jesus through genuine friendships, meaningful activities and acts of kindness.

We are a loving community

We honour one another as family, each committing to love, care for, encourage, support and protect a rich and vibrant community to grow.

We are centred on the Word of God

We centre our lives and church family on the Word of God, striving to faithfully teach and live out its truth in every area of our church and daily lives.

Belonging at River of Life

Joining the family at River of Life is not about voting, formality, or control. It is about belonging.

To join is to say:

“These are my people, and I am committed to them.”
“I will share in the life of this church and support its mission.”

It is a mark of covenantal commitment; a visible way to live out love, responsibility, and faithfulness together.

In the early church, believers were known, cared for, and committed to one another. They shared burdens, encouraged one another, and used their gifts to serve the community. We want to follow that example.

It is a mutual commitment. You commit to the church, and the church commits to you; walking together in faith, service, and support.

Joining also helps the church care for you well. Leaders can walk with you intentionally, support you in growth, and guide opportunities for service and leadership.

It is a way of saying, “I am intentionally choosing to be a part of the River of Life church family”.

Our History

In June 2022, Langney Community Church and The Well Community Church came together to form River of Life Church. Both churches had been around for about 30 years, and after a period of prayer, discernment, and careful planning, the merger was agreed.

Initially, the eight leaders from the two churches continued together as a single leadership team, providing stability and reassurance during the transition. In August 2025, the leadership structure was updated to reflect the current team.