9964 Ford Ave.nue - Sunday Mornings _10am
Welcome to our website.
To hear the latest sermon podcasts click here
The Vineyard
The Vineyard story is about ordinary people who worship and serve an extraordinary God. The Vineyard is simply one thread in the rich tapestry of the historic and global Church of Jesus Christ. But it is a thread of God's weaving.
From the beginning in the early 80's, Vineyard pastors and leaders have sought to hold in tension the biblical doctrines of the Christian faith with an ardent pursuit of the present day work of the Spirit of God. Maintaining that balance is never easy.
Nearly 30 years later, there are more than 1,500 Vineyard churches worldwide, 600 in the US, with 8 regions actively planting churches across the country. Since the beginning Vineyard Music, documented by www.vineyardmusic.com, has helped thousands of churches experience intimacy with God.
The Vineyard's journey has not been a straight path. It winds through many trials and triumphs. If you are interested in more, there are a number of books and DVDs available from Vineyard Resources that explore the history, events, issues and people who shaped the Vineyard in its first two decades. For more info or to find our Statement of Faith, please visit www.vineyardusa.org.
Our story
Planting in March of 2010 and pastored by Frank and Hannah Oesterheld, the Richmond Hill Vineyard Church (RHVC) was born out of the Vineyard Church of Savannah (VCS) which is still pastored by Kent and Janna Moore. VCS currently meets at the YMCA on Habersham St. in Savannah. In 2003, both the Oesterheld and the Moore families moved from Augusta to plant VCS. Frank served as the associate pastor to Kent and VCS from the very beginning, initially serving as the worship pastor as well. Over the years many families from the Richmond Hill and surrounding areas have been a faithful part of the church in Savannah. As the number of people commuting from Richmond Hill to VCS has grown over the years it became apparent that God had already laid the foundation for RHVC and in true church planting fashion, a church was born. RHVC has been blessed and commissioned by the Vineyard Church of Savannah and the Association of Vineyard Churches.
RHVC seeks to honestly engage and love people, no matter what their circumstances are, just as Christ first loves us.
We value the Bible as God's final Word and the unique authority it has in our daily lives. We value clear, applicable teaching from the Bible. God speaks to us first and foremost through His established Word, which He will never contradict. We value the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, through whom God empowers us to not just read the bible, but to truly live what it says. We value relationships that are real, transparent, expressive and genuine. Relationships that we experience first with God and then with one another in healthy community. We value real, meaningful connections with the orphan, the widow, and the poor no matter how they've come to find themselves in that season of life.
For a more detailed explanation of what we believe and why we believe it, please visit
http://www.vineyardusa.org/site/about/what-we-believe
We exist to connect the people in Richmond Hill to God and to one another by creating a passionate Christian community that pursues wholeness, healing, a compassionate connection to the lost and service to the poor.
-Listen. Listening first to God, for His voice, His guidance and direction through prayer and the reading of His word. Listening to one another as we share our hopes, visions and dreams. Listening and acknowledging the needs of the poor and everyone God places in our path. Listening to people in times of joy and celebration, as well as suffering, trial and pain. Nothing happens until we have first spent time listening. It's not that we need to dwell here until things are crystal clear, with no intent of action. It is so we are ALWAYS actively listening in order to have a sense for what God is doing and wants us to be available for. Always listen so that we are ready to GO and DO in obedience.
-Go. In Matthew 9:13, while teaching on mercy and compassion, Jesus says, "But GO and learn what this means." You wont find it in a church. You wont find it in a chair. We learn who it is that God means us to be by going out and connecting with people of all types, but especially the poor, the widow and the orphan. We cant GO until we've first LISTENED. Otherwise, where would we go? What direction?
-Do. Do the stuff. Believe that God is powerful and that His will is always healing. Serve the poor. Serve your neighbors. Give yourself away knowing that God has more for us that we can ever possibly give away. We cant DO until weve LISTENED and GONE. Like any true element of doctrine or theology, these three things exist together in a relationship of mutuality, reflecting in some way the Trinitarian Relationship.
Our lead pastors are Frank and Hannah Oesterheld. They have 4 children, Andrew, Gabe, Taylor and James.
Our associate pastors are Jason and NiCole Phillips. They have 2 children, Taylor and Jake.
Our childrens pastors are Steve and Amy Blanda. They have 3 daughters, Abigail, Olivia, and Hadley.
Front row L-R: Taylor Phillips, Taylor Oesterheld, Olivia Blanda, Gabe Oesterheld, Harper McKee, Abigail Blanda
Middle row L-R: Hannah Oesterheld, Frank Oesterheld (holding James Oesterheld), NiCole Phillips (holding Jake Phillips), Cara McKee, Amy Blanda
Back row L-R: Andrew Oesterheld, Jason Phillips, Mike McKee, Steve Blanda
Home Groups
Square one for getting involved is to begin forging relationships one person at a time. We are a church of Home Groups, not simply a church with Home Groups. When you meet someone new at the Vineyard find out which home group they are a part of and be sure to ask when and where they meet. We also have this info available at the front desk in our lobby. Home Groups are a major part of what keeps us connected in healthy community with each other, in other words they are the very fabric of our church family. We currently have 2 listed below.
Sunday Group
Hosted and lead by Steve & Amy Blanda at their home in Buckhead North. Childcare is available but please r.s.v.p. Begins at 5pm and usually ends around 6:30pm. For more info call 912.727.5233
Tuesday Group A
Hosted and lead by Mike & Cara McKee at their home in Richmond Hill Plantation. Childcare is available but please r.s.v.p. Begins with a meal at 6pm and usually ends around 8:30pm. For more info call 912.695.4934
Tuesday Group B
Hosted at the church building (9964 Ford Ave) and lead by Jason & Karen Canady. Childcare is available but please r.s.v.p. Begins at 7pm and usually ends around 8:30pm. For more info call 912.220.8445
We believe that our children are not only the future of the Church, but that our kids are a vital part of the Church RIGHT NOW. With that value in mind, we teach children to recognize and LISTEN to the voice of God, to GO into their world, and to DO the things that Jesus did by sharing His love with others.
Worship is not music. Worship is the posture of our hearts as we live and respond to all God has done in various ways. Worship is expressed to God from every aspect of our lives, and it is offered from our whole being. Music is only one expression for a worshipper. Worship is not confined to Sunday mornings or church meetings. Because of that, we believe worship should be expressed in various ways both individually and as a community. Everything we DO is an expression of worship, from making seemingly "un-spiritual" everyday life decisions, serving the poor, the widow, and the orphan, singing God's praises in gatherings as well as in personal time, prayer, loving our neighbor, even to the reconciliation of broken relationships. Worship is intentionally choosing to honor God with our decisions in the midst of every situations of life, in times of joy and triumph as well as suffering and sorrow. We believe that no matter what happens, God is faithful, just and good.
Sozo is a little Greek word with a big English meaning. It means comprehensive healing and restoration effective for the whole individual at every stage of life. It implies transformation, rescue and renewal. This is what God intends each and every one of us to experience. This can take place in the context of physical healing, emotional healing or often, a combination of the two. Where the enemy comes to kill and destroy, Jesus has come to resurrect and rebuild.
The Sozo team is made up of individuals, male and female, with a background in prayer and intercession. These are trustworthy people with a track record of sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, particular training and experience. They are available any Sunday morning during ministry time of course, but they are also available during the week by appointment.
When & Where
We begin our services at 10 a.m. each Sunday morning.
We are located at 9964 Ford Avenue, beside the Volunteer Fire Deptartment, directly across from Bryan Bank & Trust. If you have any more questions feel free to call us at 912.412.7328 or email us at info_rhillvineyard.org
What to expect
Expect to be warmly welcomed with smiling faces as we are genuinely happy to see you. Help yourself to the free coffee and make yourself at home.
Atmosphere
We provide a safe atmosphere for your children to worship God and learn more about Him, while the adults do likewise in another room. Our services last about an hour and twenty minutes including a message, prayer and congregational singing. We make time to pray for each other in each of our meetings within the context of worship, in a way that respects each persons privacy and dignity.
Style of Worship
We worship through prayer, communion, scripture reading & study, listening to the sermon, singing together with music and serving our community. Our music at this stage is acoustic guitar driven and simple. We strive to create an environment in which one can engage God freely and simply while still acknowledging that we are inspired by various forms of media that engage the senses. We sing everything from traditional hymns to some songs you'd hear on Christian radio.
Location Address:
9964 Ford Avenue
Richmond Hill, GA 31324
Our mailing address is:
Richmond Hill Vineyard Church
123 Stockbridge Drive
Savannah, GA 31419
phone - 912.412.7328
Lead Pastor
Frank Oesterheld
email - frank_rhillvineyard.org
Associate / Worship Pastor
Jason Phillips
email - jason_rhillvineyard.org
phone - 912.429.4929
Children's Pastors
Steve & Amy Blanda
email - amy_rhillvineyard.org
steve_rhillvineyard.org
Giving
Ezra: Rebuilding, Restoration and Renewal.
Wednesdays 7-8:30pm
- What does it look like when God gives you a mission that's much bigger than you are?
- What does it mean to walk that out when it doesn't look the way you thought it would?
- How do we trust God in the midst of opposition and conflict?
- How can the Church engage culture in meaningful, redemptive ways? How far is too far?
Join us as we engage all of these questions in a comprehensive study of the book of Ezra. We study one chapter every week, looking at the historical context, what the passage meant to the original audience and what it can mean to us today. We meet every week at the church (9964 Ford Ave.).
