About River of Willows

What is River of Willows?

River of Willows is a community that seeks and experiences God through creative expression. In Genesis, we see Father God’s love for us first as a creator when He spoke the world into existence. As we are created in His image, we too are creators. Not only are we invited to participate with Him, but we are made for creativity. 

God’s love and spirit of creativity are like the flow of the river. It is life-giving and healing, restorative and powerful. Just like a river with its tributaries converging to create a fertile plain, so we live our lives in that abundant place of God’s glory, in the connection to Him and to one another. 

When we step our toe into God’s creative stream, we are forever changed. 

We long to be like willows. These trees thrive at the edges of bodies of water and stand up to life’s adversities with their flexible strength. We model our lives after willows, planted near God’s presence, rooted in His truths, and living with moldable hearts. We lean into a deeper relationship with Him and His people.

Creative Connection in Him is a Pathway in the Wilderness

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

Isaiah 43:19

Truths We Hold: 

  • We are creative because our Father is a creator and we are created in His image. 

  • Our identity is in Christ Jesus and not what we produce. 

  • Jesus takes our small pieces and transforms them for His good purpose. We bring our small pieces together in collaboration with one another to bring in the Kingdom. 

  • We need rest as the Lord rested after creation and we rely on Him to provide.

  • Acts of creativity help us experience God and are vital to our relationship with Him, ourselves, and others. 

  • The Kingdom of God is now and our making breaks through the darkness and lets the Kingdom shine in.