From Riverside to What’s Next

If you spend any time with Doug Foley, you will learn two things quickly: Doug loves Jesus, and Doug loves his neighbors. These two loves are what drove him to start Riverside Neighborhood Church.

It all started seven and a half years ago when Doug—who attended the Lake Mary campus at the time—invited a few neighbors into his living room to talk about Jesus and study the Bible. Over the next weeks and months, these neighbors invited their neighbors. Soon, Doug was hosting a full church service at his house! As more people came, this new expression of Summit outgrew Doug’s house. The community began meeting in an elementary school and then eventually moved to Riverside Acres, a neighborhood park.

“I’ve had the time of my life leading Riverside through all of its iterations,” says Doug. “We have seen roughly two dozen people come to know Jesus as Savior and be baptized. We have worked together to provide food and other necessities for people in need. We have volunteered in schools, thrown block parties, worshiped together, and funded projects.”

A Riverside service at Riverside Acres.

Riverside’s School Supply Drive

Every New Beginning Comes from Some Other Beginning’s End

As Doug shares stories of the Riverside community, you can see his profound sense of gratitude. He knows that every friendship formed and every life changed is evidence of God’s faithfulness. And reflecting on these memories is bittersweet now that Doug looks to the future. 

Earlier this year, Doug and his team made the difficult decision to close Riverside. There were a couple of important factors that went into this decision.

One was Riverside's meeting place. While the park was a fun place to meet for worship services, it had its challenges. “Remaining at the park was not a viable long-term option because of the limitations it placed on growth and ministry opportunities,” explains Doug. “As our congregation’s children gradually aged out of children’s ministry, we recognized the need to make a move that would help us attract and retain new families.”

Doug explored the possibility of merging Riverside with another church in the neighborhood. But in the end, it became clear that this was not the direction God was leading them.

At the same time, Doug was carrying the responsibilities of two full-time ministry positions. Along with leading Riverside, he was the Lead Chaplain at the Orange County Jail. Then, last year, Doug’s mother was diagnosed with cancer. Sadly, she passed away in September. Doug had the honor of delivering her eulogy, and the experience helped him realize that it was time to step back so he could continue to care well for his family.

Although the expression of Riverside Neighborhood Church has come to a close, Doug remains incredibly hopeful about the future. He recalls a line from the ’90s song “Closing Time” (a song Doug doesn’t even particularly like all that much, he’ll have you know!):

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.

The Next Chapter

Through his work at the jail, over the years we’ve been able to celebrate alongside Doug at our Beach Baptisms.

“It’s been a wonderful ride,” says Doug. And though the closing of Riverside brings a sense of sadness, he sees the bigger picture of eternity. “Buildings don’t go to heaven. Legacies are built on people, and people keep going. We celebrate the time we had and all that God has done, but in reality, nothing is truly lost. The energy and resources spent in service to Jesus pave the way for a more glorious resurrection morning when all the saints gather in thunderous worship of our great and glorious King. That is what Riverside was about!”

The legacy of Riverside continues on. Many have found new church homes and remain connected with each other in deep friendship.

And as for Doug, he hasn’t lost his passion for Jesus or his neighbors! He continues to serve as Lead Chaplain in the Orange County Jail. And because he has more time to pour into this ministry, he’s been able to foster deeper connections with the people there. This year, he’s had the privilege of baptizing nearly thirty men. He’s looking forward to sharing more stories of transformation he sees at the jail each day.

Above all, Doug wants the Summit community to know how grateful he is for its support. “Thank you to everyone who prayed for us and cheered us on through the years,” he says. “Those prayers were seeds that fell on good soil and produced fruit thirty-, sixty-, and one hundredfold. I will always marvel at the faithfulness of Summit. Even in the midst of trial, this church continues to shine like a lamp on a stand, refusing to be hidden under a basket. Thank you for allowing me to be part of it during this season of life.”

You can catch up with Doug and the Foleys on Sundays around Summit, and we look forward to having Doug back as a guest teacher!

Written by Media Team writer, Michael Murray
Michael is a long-time Summit partner and author of five devotional books. He has a passion for sharing the good news that every single person matters to Jesus. Michael loves spending time with his wife, Diana, and their son, Emmett.