Justin Detmers wears a lot of hats at Riv—and usually wears them all at once. As a pastor and Riv’s Director of Training & Engagement, he serves on the preaching team, helps oversee the REO Town venue, sits on the board of elders, and leads Riv’s internship program. He’s also the host of a podcast and spends much of his time investing in current and emerging leaders—encouraging them personally and helping them think critically about how we, as followers of Jesus, engage with the world around us.

Justin’s story with Jesus started young, thanks to the faithful influence of his parents and extended family—including an uncle who doubled as both pastor and holiday theologian. But what made the biggest impact were the people in his life who lived and loved like Jesus—not just talked about Him. That authenticity drew him deeper into his faith, especially during the summer of 2001, when he first visited Riv as a college student. A sermon on Romans 8 was, in his words, “paradigm-shifting”—a moment that reframed how he understood God’s love and grace.

When he’s not teaching, preaching, or mentoring, you’ll probably find Justin listening to podcasts about history, culture, or obscure ’90s music trivia, strumming melancholic indie songs on his guitar, watching MSU sports with (admittedly unreasonable) emotional investment, or hanging out with his wife and kids—who he’ll be the first to tell you are way cooler than he is. Also: if you tell him your birthday, don’t be surprised when he remembers it forever. He has a rare condition called a stenesthesia, which means he sees numbers in color and remembers them with freakish accuracy.

Whether he’s shaping leaders, teaching social studies at a local Big Ten university, or just enjoying a cup of coffee at Soup Spoon Café, Justin is passionate about helping people see that the grace of God—not our effort or performance—is the defining reality of the Christian life. As he puts it, Galatians 2:21 is the verse he’s been “vibing with” lately: “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing.”