Gospel-empowered discipleship in authentic community
A people who love like family, are honest about sin, and remind one another of the Gospel as Jesus changes us together.
About River City
Who we are and what we believe.
River City exists to glorify God by proclaiming the Gospel to our city and ourselves. We want to spark a movement of Gospel-centered churches known for discipleship in authentic community, passionately pursuing those who do not know Jesus, and unnatural generosity throughout West Michigan and beyond.
Our vision
Welcoming every person in Grand Rapids into a family where Gospel-empowered discipleship, authentic community, and unnatural generosity are the norm.
Passionately pursuing those who do not know Jesus
We want to get outside our doors and meet friends, neighbors, coworkers, and classmates where they are.
Unnatural generosity
The generosity of Jesus shaping our time, resources, emotional capacity, and presence for others.
Who we are becoming
We want River City to feel like a real church family, not a crowd you attend beside.
Some people arrive ready to find a church home. Others come carrying questions, church hurt, or a long break from church life. We want River City to be a place where people can come honestly, hear the Gospel clearly, and be drawn into a real church family.
Mission first
River City exists to glorify God by proclaiming the Gospel to our city and ourselves. We want that mission to shape not just what we say on Sundays, but how we live all week long.
A real church family
We do not want to be a polished crowd. We want to be a committed, contributing family of disciples who are fully known, fully loved, and growing in ordinary faithfulness together.
Life beyond Sunday
Weekend services matter deeply to us, but not as the high point of church life. We see them as a starting point that sends us back into discipleship, community, prayer, service, and mission.
What we believe
Clear, historic, and centered on the Gospel.
By the Gospel we mean the good news that though we are sinners, Jesus lived in perfect obedience, died in our place, rose again, and now saves by grace all who repent and trust in Him.
- The Bible is God’s Word and our authority for faith and life.
- Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, our only Savior and King.
- Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone.
- The Gospel announces Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for sinners.
- The Holy Spirit gives new life and forms the church into a holy people.
- The local church is led by elders and served by deacons for the good of the body.
Life together
We want people to be fully known and fully loved as they grow into committed, contributing family members.
At River City, belonging is more than attending a service. We want to be the kind of church where people are cared for, prayed for, challenged, and equipped through Scripture, prayer, repentance, care, and everyday obedience together.
That is also why membership matters to us. Membership is not a status marker. It is a way of saying, “I am all in on the mission of this church, and I want to help build a people shaped by the Gospel.”
Leadership
We want leadership to be trustworthy, plural, and clearly ordered for the good of the church.
River City Church is led by a plurality of elders with the title of pastor. Those pastors care for, serve, and lead the church under the authority of Christ and His Word. Deacons strengthen the ministry life of the church.
In other words, elders shepherd and teach, deacons strengthen the ministry life of the church, and the whole body is called to live on mission together.