Riverside Church
A COMMUNITY OF HOPE
Our Story
Jesus prayed, “Father, make them one.” (John 17).
That prayer is being answered here in the Quad Cities. We are no longer multiple congregations, but one church family — united in Jesus, filled with His Spirit, and committed to His Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Riverside Church — a Community of Hope — is dedicated to worldwide interdenominational evangelism. Everything we do is intentional. Our purpose is not to build a brand, a budget, or a cultural club, but to see God’s Kingdom established on earth as it is in Heaven.
Our Passion
We believe ministry is not reserved for “professional Christians.” Every believer is a minister of the Gospel. Riverside is an organic, authentic, and diverse family of Christ-followers, each leaning into the work and outworking of the Holy Spirit. That means no two gatherings look exactly the same. Worship, prayer, and the Word flow together as the Spirit leads.
Our passion is to raise up passionate leaders, commission parents to lead their homes, strengthen marriages as spiritual unions, and empower believers to carry the presence of Jesus into every sphere of life. Together, we are not just attending church — we are becoming the church, one family on mission.
Have Faith
We anchor our lives in Jesus, trusting Him fully as Savior, Healer, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and soon-coming King.
Give Hope
We pour encouragement and joy into others, serving our city and proclaiming the Gospel as a fountain of hope.
Be Love
We embody God’s love in action — welcoming, forgiving, and embracing people so that when they see us, they see Jesus.
Our Call To Oneness
We believe Jesus’ prayer in John 17 — “Father, make them one” — is being fulfilled in us right here in the Quad Cities. Oneness in God’s church is not something we take for granted, but a desire we continually endeavor toward. With humility and grace, we walk out unity as a people reconciled into Christ. Two congregational streams have become one river, flowing with greater strength and purpose; and we look forward to many more.
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We must never forget: we are not building the church — Jesus builds His church. Our call is to walk in faith, give hope generously, and be love in action — to love God deeply, love people well, and carry the presence of Jesus into the Quad Cities and beyond.
Jesus is reconciling all to Himself. His Church, His Bride, shall be prepared, purified, unified, and ready for His return.
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Jesus prayed in John 17 that we would be one so that the world would know the Father sent Him. That is our purpose. That is our mission. And that is the result we long to see in the Quad Cities: a unified church testifying with power that Jesus is Lord, so that our neighbors, our city, and the nations would come to believe.
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It’s time for God’s church to set aside what divides us, as we give Him supremacy and adoration. It’s time to step out of isolation and into family, to lay down pride and preference and pick up humility and love. Together, we will walk as one — purified, unified, and prepared for the day of His return.
Sunday Services
Join us each Sunday at 9:30 AM for Spirit-filled worship, authentic fellowship, and a Christ-centered encounter where everyone has a place and Jesus is the focus.
Freedom In The Spirit
We begin every gathering by acknowledging that the Holy Spirit leads the way. While we value order, we hold our structure loosely so there is always room for prayer, prophecy, and spontaneous ministry. Freedom in the Spirit isn’t chaos — it’s the atmosphere where Jesus ministers to His people directly.
Teaching
Our services often begin with teaching that lays a biblical foundation for the day. The goal is not information alone, but transformation — helping us grow in faith, hear God’s voice, and walk in obedience. We believe the Word of God is alive and active, preparing us to live as disciples in the everyday.
Fellowship
After teaching, we pause to connect with one another, because church is more than a gathering — it’s family. Over coffee and conversation, we build relationships that carry far beyond Sunday morning. Fellowship is where strangers become friends, and friends become brothers and sisters in Christ.
Prayer & Worship
From fellowship we flow right into prayer, accompanied by open, spontaneous worship. This allows people to receive ministry immediately, rather than waiting until the end of service. Worship then rises from these moments of prayer, creating a prophetic, Spirit-filled environment where Jesus is exalted.
Preaching
Preaching at Riverside is Spirit-led and Christ-centered. It’s not just a lecture, but an encounter — rooted in Scripture, yet alive with the prophetic word for today. Every sermon aims to draw us closer to Jesus and equip us to live out faith with courage, hope, and love.
Celebratory Worship
Every service ends with worship, because Jesus is the main event. We celebrate His presence, His goodness, and His Kingdom, joining in the song of Heaven where worship never ends. This is both the culmination of our service and a foretaste of eternity, where every heart and every tongue exalts Jesus as Lord.
Children and Next Gen
We believe kids and teens are not just the church of tomorrow — they are the church right now. Our Next Gen ministry uses Wonder Ink curriculum to disciple children in safe, Spirit-filled environments designed for their age and stage. From littles in the nursery through grade school students in the cafeteria, every child is seen as a carrier of God’s presence, equipped to know Him, love His Word, and walk boldly in their faith.
Our teens stay in the main service for the first weeks of the month to experience worship as part of the whole church, then gather for teen ministry twice a month on Sundays for focused discipleship and connection. In addition, they come together for a monthly youth hangout that builds community and friendships beyond Sunday morning.