lindsey smallwood

Lindsey joined The River Church Community in June 2018 and became part of the staff team in 2026 as Worship and Teaching Pastor. She is passionate about helping people encounter God through worship, Scripture, and authentic community. Lindsey loves finding fresh and meaningful ways to tell God's story and help others to use their gifts in service to God and their neighbors.

Before joining The River staff, Lindsey served in a variety of ministry contexts across the country, including as a church staff pastor in Anchorage, Alaska, a women's ministry director in Boulder, Colorado, and a campus pastor serving students at Stanford University. Lindsey's vocation extends beyond the church as well. For more than twelve years, she has worked as a classroom teacher and currently teaches middle school English and history during the week.

Lindsey is married to Chris, a physics professor, and together they are raising four sons. As a family, they love redwood hikes, beach days, and sharing meals with their neighbors in the front yard.