For Pastor Jesse Hardy and his wife, Rachel, the path to establishing River Community Church was less of a relocation and more of a homecoming. Although the church is celebrating its fourth year at the corner of Old Red River Road and South Kiowa, the couple’s connection to the Enchanted Circle dates back to the mid-1990s when Rachel’s grandparents retired in Cimarron.
Before returning to New Mexico, Jesse spent over two decades in ministry in Magnolia, Texas. “I worked as a kids pastor and taught Sunday school and eventually pastored adults in Texas for many years.” Soon, the calling to be in Questa and establish a church became something the Hardys couldn’t ignore. In 2022, the family finally answered that call, opening the church in a familiar space. “We had actually stayed in the building that’s now our church in 2011 when it was an airbnb,” Jesse stated.
Starting a ministry from the ground up brought its own set of challenges, but the family remained focused on their mission. “The path to start a church in Questa wasn’t necessarily an easy path, but we were obeying God’s plan,” Jesse explained. “It has been such a blessing being in Questa. We love this village so much.”
The church operates on a Sunday evening schedule from 5 to 7:30 p.m. to encourage fellowship. “We began with a meal at 5 and our service starts at 6 p.m.,” Jesse said. This focus on togetherness extends to the Hardys’ personal life as well; they homeschool their children, with three still at home and six in total.
Beyond the Sunday service, River Community Church has become a staple at the Questa Farmers Market, which returns this May. The Hardys operate the market’s coffee and pizza bar to support their youth initiatives. “We run the coffee and pizza bar at the farmers market and everything we earn goes toward student ministry,” Jesse mentioned.
The church also sponsors several youth programs provided at no cost to the community, including Vacation Bible School for preschool through eighth grade, scheduled for July 13–16 this year. Other upcoming events include student camps at Glorieta for grades 6–12 and kids’ camps at Inlow Baptist Camp for grades 2–5. Their largest annual event, Riverfest, occurs the Saturday before Halloween. The festival focuses on providing food and games for local children and saw an attendance of 200 people in 2025. Additionally, the church hosts a student night and Bible study every second Wednesday of the month.
For Easter, River Community Church will join other local congregations for a community sunrise service. “All of the community is invited to come to Eagle Rock Lake at sunrise,” Jesse said. Following the sunrise gathering, the church will hold an evening Easter service beginning at 4 p.m. that begins with a large meal, then children’s activities, culminating with their Sunday service.
Jesse Hardy emphasized that the church is dedicated to a life of service and biblical teaching. “We live our lives according to what the scriptures say, nothing more nothing less,” he stated. “We want the public to know that we are here for them. We want to be a part of the community’s lives. River Community Church is a community of people who live out our faith everyday in a way that shares Jesus with everyone. This is not just a thing we do, it’s who we are.”
