And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men". When Jesus calls anyone to follow Him there is only one appropriate response.

They immediately left their nets and followed Him"

We Mentor Jesus Followers

In September of 2026, we will accept a few young men and women into an immersive, twelve-month church planting residency. In addition to the study of Scripture, and devotion to Christ in prayer and worship, residents will be guided in developing their ministry gifts and skills as they serve on a volunteer team assisting pastors who are planting churches in WNY.

Secondarily, residents will develop skills in hospitality services, hotel management, culinary arts, marketing, property maintenance, and building trades as part time employees of River Spring Lodge. Residents will work twelve hours weekly at the lodge in exchange for tuition, room and board. For each additional hour worked at the lodge they will be paid $17.50.

During November thru April less time will be spent working at the lodge and more time will be devoted to prayer gatherings, special ministry events, personal study, church planting projects, church building restorations and community outreach. The lodge and the residency program will be closed starting on the Sunday before Christmas thru January 3rd.

Servant Leadership & Hospitality

Successful team members in church ministry and exceptional employees in Christian hospitality share one common trait. They thrive in serving others. Jesus embodied the heart of servanthood and taught His disciples to emulate Him as they served one another. The godly attributes of humility and self-giving Jesus calls us to follow are the polar opposites of American society's definitions of success and assumptions of entitlement. Our Christ-centered community is counter cultural. We seek the eternal virtues of Jesus that are developed in a lifestyle of Kingdom servanthood rather than grasping for the momentary pleasures and temporal rewards of a life lived to gratify self.

Jesus called them over and said to them, "you know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45

Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

Team members will be challenged to model the life of Jesus. One of the key components will be imitating the apostle Paul who worked with his hands making tents so he could preach the gospel free of charge. Like Paul, most church leaders in the evangelical world serve in unpaid volunteer positions and 47% of all evangelical pastors have been called to be bi-vocational. Many mistakenly judge the merit of a church leaders gifting by the reach of their platform and the visibility of their ministry.

Most faithful pastors are only known by God and the people they love and serve in their small congregations. Many of them make the sacrifice to earn all or part of their living in the marketplace so they are able to serve God's flock assembled in small congregations. These extraordinary men and women have a very high and holy calling! A young man came to the on-fire founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth and said, "I would like to serve the Lord fulltime, but I have not had a call." Booth looked at him in disbelief and answered, "What do you mean you have not had a call? You have not heard the call!"

Everyone who follows Jesus is in "fulltime ministry" no matter where they are called to serve. We are called to go into all the world and preach the gospel! Fulltime pay from a church organization has absolutely nothing to do with serving Jesus fulltime. "Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:22-24.

Whether we work in a factory, an office, a school, a hotel, a spa, a shop, our home, or a church every believer is called to devote their lives to Christ in fulltime service. In God's sight success is defined by how well we serve Him wherever He has assigned us to serve. His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy." Matt 25:21

Provided Meals and Lodging

Rather than a traditional classroom setting, we will gather at the Table of Discipleship four times a week for mid-day guided discussions of eternal truths and prayer with the Hamers. As time allows, we will also gather with Pastor David and Carolyn in the music studio to worship and pray, watch teaching series and worship videos while fellowshipping.

Housing Provided

Bedrooms for the men and women will be on separate floors. We will provide a coed gym. There is a home theater for viewing worship and teaching videos and some sports. We are too busy doing Our Father's business to waste time being entertained with secular broadcast or cable television. By limiting distractions, we maintain a prayerful, gospel rich, Christ-centered, Spirit filled environment that is conducive to spiritual growth.

Everyone will have free time to enjoy God's beautiful creation on display in WNY. Recreational activities abound from our own waterfront to Niagara Falls, the Letchworth State Park Canyon, the Finger Lakes, great golf courses, fishing in the summer to hunting in the fall, snowshoeing, cross-country and downhill Skiing in the winter.

We Have Decided to Follow Jesus

The Hamers mentor a few disciples of Jesus each year who realize the One Who died for them as a sacrifice is calling them to be a living sacrifice for Him. We are a community of love and grace. Sometimes we stumble. But true disciples get up, repent and keep pursuing Jesus. They follow Him on a pathway of surrender. They plan their life, live each day, and build their relationships in the light of Scripture. The essence of true discipleship is practical obedience to Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit. The expectations for that practical obedience in our community are outlined in a lifestyle agreement each resident agrees to abide by before being accepted to serve on the River Spring Ministry church planting team.

The uncommitted, the undisciplined and the unconverted are welcome each Sunday morning at the Chapel where the soul saving, life changing gospel is proclaimed. But our residency program is set apart exclusively to encourage, equip and empower authentic followers of Jesus who are making a good faith effort to walk with their Savior daily in pursuit of His purpose. Preference will be given to applicants with bible school training or a Christian college education. Exceptions will be considered if a Pastor affirms the calling and recommends a teachable candidate who has been faithfully attending, supporting and serving in their local church.

The River Spring Lodge Campus

For more than ten years David and Carolyn have been faithfully stewarding the River Spring Miracle that is still unfolding. After months of daily prayer, in December of 2015 the Hamers became caretakers of the abandoned, empty shell of a vegan health spa that had failed three years earlier. After another year of prayer, a twelve-month renovation and the investment of David and Carolyn's lifetime savings, they purchased and opened River Spring Lodge in 2016 with a Four-Star Class Hotel rating. Within three years, River Spring Lodge was chosen among 10,000 properties in the "I Love Inn's Group" as a top ten most romantic inn in America. Then in 2022 River Spring was honored as a top 25 small inn nationally and the highest rated Bed & Breakfast in New York State by TripAdvisor the World's foremost travel website.

The River Spring Chapel Campus

A church property in disrepair was gifted to River Spring Ministries in 2022. Along with completely restoring the sanctuary seating 200, a new coffee house/concert hall was built during an 18-month renovation. On the chapel's six park like acres, a bandshell was erected for summer concerts, Jesus People Festivals, and special ministry events.

Western New York's Beautiful Christian Wedding Venue

A world class Christin Wedding Venue at River Spring Lodge is nearing completion. This ministry operated wedding venue will open in July 2026, to uphold and celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage clearly defined for us by Our Creator in Holy Scripture. The revenue generated by operating a Four-Star Boutique Hotel and Conference Center with a Wedding Venue will provide the funding to operate the Servant Leadership Residency Program. The residents will develop in their ministry gifts and callings as they work beside mature ministry leaders planting churches throughout Western New York and Southern Ontario.

For Christ and Christ Alone

The disciples Jesus is calling to serve in the River Spring Community are not seeking prosperity, prominence or position. They are not looking for a place to build a platform for recognition or a stage for performance. Rather, they are seeking a life hidden in Christ with others who desire above all else to make Jesus famous among those who have never met Him.

We are 21st Century Jesus People Praying for a 21st Century American Spiritual Awakening

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly. Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. Acts 4:31-33 CSB