River Valley Community Church

Why is your building in a shopping mall?
Well, we like shopping, so, to us this just makes sense. Mainly, however, we're here because God did a God-sized maneuver to acquire this place and give us the opportunity and funds to turn it into a classy, creative, and cozy home for our church. Since we're a church that longs to meet people where they are and to do that in unique ways, this location fits us well for now. Come inside and you'll see, this is a fun place to do church.

Why does River Valley Community Church exist?
We are where and how we are because of God's leadership. In 1989 God placed the vision in a few people's hearts to create a place where people could learn about God and come to know him. River Valley has developed over the years to be a dynamic and creative church with a compelling vision. We want to be a safe place for seekers to move towards Christ and a challenging place for believers to grow while serving the needs of others locally and globally. Concisely stated, we exist to experience and share the incredible life God has planned for us.

How does River Valley carry out this vision?
Though our entire structure is geared to leverage everything we have to reaching this enthralling mission, there are three basic components that drive everything else:

Sunday Experience: On Sundays, we create opportunities to experience God, to know him and his ways. We intentionally design an environment that's geared to help those who are curious about church and God seek out some answers and for those who already have a relationship with Jesus to learn to love him more. We do everything we can to not be churchy, so there are no hymnals, pipe organs, or suits and ties (besides, those things make us itch). We use modern music, cutting-edge media, powerful dramas as well as other artistic elements to illustrate and engage people's minds and hearts. The message is given without that old preaching voice, but in a manner that makes it intriguing to listen to. The Bible is used to help everyone understand how to solve some of the big issues of life. It is explained in ways anyone can understand...no experience necessary. While the adults and teenagers are in the main auditorium, the children are learning on their level in the KidZone.
C'Nex Groups: We believe that real life happens in relationships. We also believe that those relationships must be authentic and loving. Who needs more fake friends or gossip groups? That's why we gather together on evenings throughout the week in small groups of 8-15 people. These are our C'Nex Groups, and here is one of the main places where the church genuinely makes a difference in people's lives. Since we have these small groups, we're able to continually grow larger without ever losing intimacy. You'll be able to c-nect with God, others, and even the life God has for you in a fun and friendly way.
Worship and Discipleship Programs: Once a person comes to know Christ and has the support of a team, they will long to go even deeper in their understanding of how the Christian life works. That's why we offer "Igniter Classes " that provide a more comprehensive teaching of Scripture and life-application, helping people access and apply God's truth readily in their daily lives. We also offer "OASIS " the fourth Wednesday of every month. It's a time for Christ-followers to get together, worship God in an extended and intimate way, listen to an interesting and applicable Bible lesson and share time together in prayer. Along the way we also offer various other kinds of learning experiences, all with the goal of helping us live the life God has planned.

Why do you have "membership" in your church?
Many people think that once you decide to follow Christ by becoming a believer that there is no need to identify with a local church. We believe that this is a wrong understanding of both the biblical teaching and the practical value of church membership. There are at least five reasons why membership is important at River Valley:

The idea of membership is biblical and, therefore, important to us. Though the phrase "church membership" is not in the New Testament, many times people were urged to participate in a local gathering and many were identified with a specific church (Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:25-31; 14:12, 26; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Timothy 3:14-15).
Membership identifies people who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and who are ready to go public with that faith.
Formal membership helps the entire church function better. The leaders cannot lead and the shepherds cannot "shep" if those on the team are not identified. Can you imagine the chaos if a football team and the crowd were all mixed together without uniforms? They would play like the ________ (Bears, Packers, insert one).
Membership benefits the member by assisting them in making a public commitment to growth. Without commitment, little life-change happens.
Membership identifies those who have made personal commitments to support the ministries of River Valley with their time, talents, and treasure. It tells us who is on the team...who we can count on.

How do I become a member of River Valley?
Here are four simple steps to become a member of our church:

Give your life to Jesus Christ and receive salvation.
Though it is not a requirement of membership, we believe the Bible teaches that you should be baptized after you have accepted Christ.
Complete the Igniter 101 class.
Sign and return the Membership Covenant, making a serious commitment to live it out.

What are the benefits of membership?
There are tremendous benefits to being a member of River Valley. Here are two sets of them:

There Are Three Main "Legal Rights" of Membership: (1) Voting Rightsâ€”every Member, 16 years and older, can vote on the important matters of the church and influence key decisions; (2) Leadership Rightsâ€”every member of the church is eligible for consideration for any leadership or service position as long as they meet the requirements stated for such positions; and (3) Care and Nurture Rightsâ€”every member of the church can expect to be cared for and nurtured by the church within the ministry structure of the church (mainly through the care of a C'Nex Group). As such, members also receive priority for facility usage and staff member's time.

There Are Five Primary Benefits that Come with Membership: (1) You receive a family who will care for you; (2) You receive a community who will worship with you; (3) You receive friends who will hold you spiritually accountable for growth; (4) You receive leaders who will equip you and give you opportunities to grow, to serve and to fulfill God's dream for you; and (5) You receive a team who will join you in carrying out the Great Commission.

Under what form of government does River Valley operate?
Wow, if you care about this question, you either have major issues or you really care about joining our church. Read on. River Valley is a staff-led church. We are guarded by the Elders, guided by the staff, and gifted by the membership, while our Board of Directors help resource our ministries. More specifically, River Valley's government is built around a leadership team composed of four key groups:

The Elders
The Staff
The Board of Directors
The Ministry Team

The Elders have the ultimate responsibility for the oversight of our church body and the shepherding of its members. This team includes the Senior Pastor and other members nominated and approved by the membership of the church.

The Staff consists of paid and unpaid staff members including the Senior Pastor, Worship Arts Pastor, Youth Pastor, Ministry Director, Small Group Director and Children's Director. The staff functions by determining programming, giving vision and resources for the various ministries, and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the church. They provide the primary teaching and leadership for the church.

The Board of Directors is responsible for undertaking those areas of need that would otherwise prohibit the elders and staff from performing their biblical responsibilities. At River Valley, the function of the board includes financial, legal, and facility management matters.

The Ministry Team is made up of the volunteer leaders in charge of the primary ministries of our church. We call them Ministry Coordinators. These leaders must practice all commitments in our church covenants. This team leads their specific ministries, coordinates programming between the ministries, and provides a channel of communication between the ministries and the staff.

All decisions of the church are made within this structure. The entire membership has the right to vote on the election of elders and the purchase or sell of property. All other decisions are made by those in leadership of the various ministries, with the guidance of the staff and the oversight of the elders. The fluidity of this process allows those in ministry to make the intricate decisions for their ministries.

What is your music like?
Style of music is often a hot topic among church attendees. We have decided to break with tradition and develop a music style that is in tune with the music most people in the Rockford area listen to. We don't even own an organ. We use music that run the gamut from rock to pop to blues to acoustic to CCM. Unless you like that churchy sound, it's more than likely you will be comfortable and enjoy the music here. We encourage people to sing during our services, but at the same time, we give you the freedom to just sit back and listen.

Will you yell at me?
Everything about our church is geared to help people. We don't think yelling normally helps people. So, when it comes time for the biblical message, don't expect sweat, fist-pounding, or high volume. We wouldn't want you to yell at us, so we won't yell at you. Our speakers teach, and they do it in a style that's inviting, interesting, and easy to listen to. The truth is always taught; it's just taught in a more creative and caring way.

What "kind" of church are you?
The good kind, of course! If you mean by that question, "What denomination are you?" we are non-denominational. That means we are not affiliated with any one denomination - we accept all types. We are a part of the Willow Creek Association. We explain more about this in our Igniter 101 Class.

Are you a "Seeker" church?
The simple answer to that question is "yes " and "no. " See, wasn't that simple. Now you know. Because we're passionately committed to seeing people begin a relationship with Jesus Christ, you could say we're seeker-obsessed! Once you find him, however, we're just as deeply committed to helping you discover the life he has planned for you. We have several ways of getting this done, but primarily we design our Sunday Experiences to helping people, no matter where they are in their journey, find the answers they need while also equipping and challenging those who are already convinced to pursue the incredible life God has planned for them.

Are you a "Purpose Driven" church?
Yes! We believe the Bible teaches that the primary purposes of a church are to worship (connect with God), fellowship (connect with people), disciple (help people grow), share our faith, and serve others. We build our entire existence around these five purposes.

Why is creativity and freshness so important to River Valley?
We believe we're not functioning at our best or giving people their best shot at growth unless we're being fresh and creative in everything we do. Our God is a creator and he created us as creative beings. To settle for old ideas and stale strategies is, in our opinion, lazy and boring. We believe that the truth found in God's Word never changes, but the way of learning that truth and experiencing it should continually be developing. We also believe that our postmodern culture has modeled for us the value of creative ideas and fresh ingenuity. We want the church, where God is most radically functioning, to use original methods and innovative thinking to present his amazing truth and incredible life plan to all people.

What does "no experience necessary" mean?
Well, to be technical, it means there is no experience necessary. OK, maybe more detail will be good. By that catchy phrase we hope to communicate what is true about this great church. You (or I) don't need to have any experience with God, the Bible, church, churched people, church language, or the Christian life in order to be comfortable and helped here. You'll be accepted right where you are. That's right. No matter what you've done or who you've been, you're welcome here. We'll give you every opportunity we can to learn about God's love, grace, and forgiveness while assisting you to experience the incredible life he has planned for you. When you walk into our building, you'll realize how comfortable and safe it is. You won't feel out of place. Really, there's no experience necessary!

Why should I visit a C'Nex Group?
When you come to a Sunday worship experience, you'll have a chance to learn and worship, but you may not have many opportunities to really connect. In a C'Nex Group, you not only have more time, but you have fewer people to meet and get to know. The small group format in the comfortable setting of a home facilitates friendship and care. Here you'll have the time to slow down, relax, discuss questions related to the Sunday message, figure out the messy stuff of life, and laugh a lot along the way. It's in a C'Nex Group that you'll get to know people and find out just how valuable we think you are. You will, well, connect. And again, there's no experience necessary. We believe life-change happens through community and community happens in C'Nex Groups.

How do I know my kids will be safe and have fun?
First of all, we want our kids to be safe too. If it were not safe for our children, we wouldn't put them in there. The KidZone offers creative experiences for all ages, birth through 5th grade. We know and trust each of the leaders. They are both screened and trained to be doing the important job of loving kids and helping them grow in a safe, fun, and enjoyable setting.

What do you do with all the money?
We don't apologize for allowing people opportunities to give financial gifts to our church. In fact, we take time to teach the importance of good financial management and giving because God says our lives are better when we help care for others and are good stewards. The money that is collected through our offerings is used to support the ministries of this church, pay salaries of staff, maintain our facilities and support various outreach/missions efforts. Being a non-denominational church means that this is the only source of funding we receive. We are serious about keeping good financial records and being above reproach. We have a system of checks and balances, and our books are open to any church member at all times. All financial gifts given to our church are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law, and all givers receive a contribution statement at the end of the year.

Why do you invest so much in pre-teens and youth?
We believe the children and youth today have the most potential of anyone in history to change the world for God and for good. We believe the church of tomorrow is found in our youth groups and children's groups today. We know that growing up in today's schools and world is a tough task. We want to help our kids grow up with confidence, commitment, and the courage to do the right things. We also believe that God clearly works to move children and teens toward Christ. National surveys reveal that people who embrace Christ before the age of 13 are more likely to remain absolutely committed to Christ in their adult years than are people who accept Christ in their teenage or adult years (www.barna.org, Barna Update, Oct. 11, 2004). Several other national studies confirm that two-thirds of all adults who were born again believers made their decision to follow Christ before the age of 18 (Barna, Evangelism that Works, 1995, 45, n. 5). Our hope for our young people is that we can lead them to Christ, develop within them a solid biblical foundation that will guide them in making good decisions, meet their felt needs, and connect them with a network of friends and adults who will support them through these difficult yet thrilling years. We love kids and teens and, frankly, we get a kick out of pouring our lives into them.

How do you invest in the younger children?
We want the babies and toddlers in the nursery to experience genuine love and care when they're with us, so, we do everything we can, from their environment to the words we use, to show them that love. We hope to instill into the younger children that God loves them, we love them, and church is a fun place to be. We want the older kids to begin to learn the basics of the Bible, to understand how to become a Christ-follower, to experience worship, and to see that church is an awesome and exciting place to hang out.

I am a committed believer looking for a new church. Can I plug into River Valley?
Of course you can- if you fit! We want to grow our church primarily by growing God's Kingdom. That means, more than anything in the world, we want to reach seeking people and help them become fully devoted followers of Christ. We do, however, pray that God will send us mature believers who buy into our vision and identify with our style so that they can help us (Matthew 9:37). If you are a believer and you are coming to play on the team the way we play, we would love to give you a uniform and plug you into the lineup. There are some volunteer teams you can join right away. Prior to taking on leadership roles, however, you will need to become a River Valley member (attend Igniter 101), invest some time in a C'Nex Group, and travel through a few of our Igniter Classes.

What if I have more questions?
If you have questions, we'd love to help provide the answers. Please feel free to come to a C'Nex Group or a Sunday Experience, come by the Information Center, email the staff, drop by for a chat during the week, call, or even send it to us through snail mail. We'll do everything we can to help you find the answers to the questions you have about our church, about the Bible, about life, or about God. Our blog is another great tool to find answers to your questions. Hop on that and post your questions; there is no telling what kind of conversation and resources this will generate. Plus, you'll be like rad to the max if you become a blogger. Whatever you do, get answers and let us help. Remember, we exist to help you experience the incredible life God has planned for you, and there is no experience necessary.

How do I become a Christian?

This is the most important question of your life. You were created to be in a loving, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, to allow his love and power to transform you into his image, and to change the world by loving and serving others in Christ's power. The entire Bible is the story of God pursuing a love relationship with us. To become a Christian, you basically must give up your life into the control of Christ's and do whatever he asks you to do because you love him. When he forgives your sin and comes into your life, he changes you at the core of your being. If you like practical steps, here are the ones for you to begin this relationship with Christ:

A. ADMIT that you have sinned and disappointed God.

B. BELIEVE that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died as a sacrifice for our sins, and
that he came back to life.

C. COMMIT your entire life to him.

When you do this, you become a Christian (which means a follower of Christ). You then spend the rest of your life enjoying the intimate, love relationship with Christ and learning more and more how to be transformed into his image. When you die, you avoid hell, and you remain in his presence in heaven where he completes his transforming work and makes all believers and the world perfect.