Pastor Jeremy Levi
I grew up in a Christian home and went through all the motions of “Church” and as a result never really had a relationship with God. I like to say, “We were really big on the do’s and don’ts, and real short on the love.”
I’ve always believed in God, but I sure lived far from Him.
I took a break from my treasured cowboy lifestyle in 2001 and joined the military for a career right after 9-11. I served from September 2001 to February 2009, but there was an emptiness inside me that I assumed was missing the cowboy life.
After separating from the service, I attended college at West Texas A&M and graduated with a bachelors in agriculture education.
I came back to where I belonged and worked on ranches across the country.
Once again, I put all my efforts into being the absolute best. I woke up thinking about it, practicing it, reading about it, surrounding myself with the best and went to sleep thinking about how I could be a better cowboy.
I again found another emptiness that needed filling. Perhaps I was searching for my real purpose in life. Then it hit me, “This is how Christ calls us to follow Him and to spread His Holy Word to those in the wilderness.” To give Him our best! I surrendered to Jesus and my mission today is to carry the Gospel to those in our rural culture and beyond!
With the help of my godly and beautiful wife, two sons and daughter, I pastor RRCF and am an independent farrier in the Hondo, Medina and Bandera area’s. I am enjoying life as Jesus wants me to live. By His Grace and Mercy, my life is now complete. He leads me down the path He wants me to travel.
Associate Pastor Corey Cline
Thank the Lord that he brought me here. I was having a hard time staying up to snuff at being a dad, husband, and provider. I love my family and I wanted to be everything they needed. God brought me to my knees and I finally realized I couldn’t do it on my own.
Thanks to Jesus, the Holy Spirit started working inside of me. He led me to this church and it has been our home ever since. Jeff and Jeremy were true examples of Christ and showed me how to follow him. I could never repay the blessing they have been in my life, yet I don’t intend to quit trying.
I started to give things to God. Not just burdens, worries and failures but also the good things that I love, like my family, and He blessed them all.
I am eternally grateful and have been honored to serve my Father through youth ministry, as a lay pastor, as an elder and now as a pastor. It has been a blessing to lead friends, family, even strangers to the Lord.
Our family has a passion for rodeo and it brings us great joy. We love our rodeo family and we are committed to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ while we are on the rodeo trail with anyone willing to listen.
If you want to get better, you will have to change. And what better example than the perfect sacrifice. Thank you Jesus.
Young Adult Pastor Remington Talley
I was one that did not grow up in church. Instead, I spent my time competing in sports and working on a ranch while growing up in Kansas. Through various life struggles and events, I came to know the Lord at a rodeo bible camp in Hamilton, TX. The Lord did a big work in my life and I knew he was leading me away from old sinful habits. I knew I couldn’t do this life on my own anymore.
With my various visits to Texas to visit my sister and the rodeo camp, I fell in love with the state and made the move just 2 weeks after high school graduation. I began my journey as a welder, joining the trade life. I was blessed to get plugged into a cowboy church in Dublin, TX. I quickly felt the calling to start serving with the youth group even though I had never been in a youth room before. This led to me serving as a youth pastor for 5 years and stepping into the associate pastor role for 1 year. Through serving the Lord and helping grow my students, I was blessed to meet my wife Josie at an AFCC church camp. From there, we married in 2023 and made the amazing move here in 2024 for her schooling.
It has been such a blessing in our lives to be a part of this church community here at Ridin’ the River. I am excited for this new role and ministry the Lord is blessing our church with. Research shows that those within the young adult age range are most likely to leave the church as they are no longer at home with their parents. My wife and I can not wait to pour into the young adults in our community and to walk through life’s journey with them. I strongly believe that we will see so much growth from this new ministry and that we can keep the younger generation plugged into the church!