Our History
River of Life was founded in the summer of 2000 as a downtown Cincinnati church plant with a heart for reconciliation and gospel-centered community. What began as a simple community Bible study grew through prayer, partnership, and the generosity of local ministries who believed in the vision of seeing a diverse church take root in the city.From the beginning, River of Life has been committed to proclaiming Jesus Christ, serving our neighbors, and building a church family that reflects the beauty of God’s Kingdom across racial and economic lines.
A Brief Timeline
2000 – River of Life begins as a community Bible study under the leadership of Alvin and Caroline Sanders.
2003 – Hope Evangelical Free Church acquires a permanent facility for River of Life.
2008 – Kareem Smith becomes Senior Pastor.
2012 – Chris Woodard becomes Senior Pastor.
2025 – On December 7th, 2025, Brandon Woodard was elected our next Senior Pastor.
Today – River of Life continues to grow as a gospel-centered church serving Cincinnati
Our Affiliation
River of Life is affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA), a movement of churches committed to the authority of Scripture, the centrality of the gospel, and the mission of making disciples locally and globally.