Our Beliefs, Purpose & Vision
 

1. WE BELIEVE... The Scriptures are Inspired by God and declare His design and plan for mankind.

2. WE BELIEVE... There is only One True God - revealed in three persons... Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (commonly known as the Trinity).

3. WE BELIEVE... In the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. As God's son Jesus was both human and divine.

4. WE BELIEVE... though originally good, Man Willingly Fell to Sin-ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world.

5. WE BELIEVE... Every Person Can Have Restored Fellowship with God Through 'Salvation'; (trusting Christ, through faith and repentance, to be our personal Savior). [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]

6. WE BELIEVE... and practice two ordinances-(1) Water Baptism by Immersion after repenting of one's sins and receiving Christ's gift of salvation, and (2) Holy Communion (the Lord's Supper) as a symbolic remembrance of Christ's suffering and death for our salvation.

7. WE BELIEVE... the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a Special Experience Following Salvation that empowers believers for witnessing and effective service, just as it did in New Testament times. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]

8. WE BELIEVE... The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is 'Speaking in Tongues,' as experienced on the Day of Pentecost and referenced throughout Acts and the Epistles.

9. WE BELIEVE... Sanctification Initially Occurs at Salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer is holy, but also a progressive lifelong process of separating from evil as believers continually draw closer to God and become more Christlike.

10. WE BELIEVE... The Church has a Mission to seek and save all who are lost in sin. We believe 'the Church' is the Body of Christ and consists of the people who, throughout time, have accepted God's offer of redemption (regardless of religious denomination) through the sacrificial death of His son Jesus Christ.

11. WE BELIEVE... A Divinely Called and Scripturally Ordained Leadership Ministry Serves the Church. The Bible teaches that each of us under leadership must commit ourselves to reach others for Christ, to worship Him with other believers, to build up or edify the body of believers-the Church and to Meet human need with ministries of love and compassion.

12. WE BELIEVE... Divine Healing of the Sick is a Privilege for Christians Today and is provided for in Christ's atonement (His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins). [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]

13. WE BELIEVE... in The Blessed Hope-When Jesus Raptures His Church Prior to His Return to Earth (the second coming). At this future moment in time all believers who have died will rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air, and Christians who are alive will be caught up with them, to be with the Lord forever. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]

14. WE BELIEVE... in The Millennial Reign of Christ when Jesus returns with His saints at His second coming and begins His benevolent rule over earth for 1,000 years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace.

15. WE BELIEVE... A Final Judgment Will Take Place for those who have rejected Christ. They will be judged for their sin and consigned to eternal punishment in a punishing lake of fire.

16. WE BELIEVE... and look forward to the perfect New Heavens and a New Earth that Christ is preparing for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him. We will live and dwell with Him there forever following His millennial reign on Earth. 'And so shall we forever be with the Lord!'

Our heart and vision are based on the following Scripture:
Matthew 22:35-40

35Then one of them a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38"This is the first and great commandment. 39"And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

The first and greatest commandment God gives us is to love. Jesus calls us to love Him with all of our heart. From love springs loving behavior, obedience to God, and obedience to God's Word. When we make love a top priority in what we do and how we do it, it changes things. It changes us.

The second commandment He gives, is for us to love one another. He wants us to treat each other as brothers and sisters (1 Timothy 5:1, 2). He says that it is by love that others will know that we are His followers (John 13:35). He calls us to love others, the way He loves us. His love is a perfect love. It does not fade over time. It is a love that is not self-seeking, envious, or easily angered. His love is one that rejoices with the truth, protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres (1 Corinthians 13). And it is with this great love that we here at Riverside Assembly strive to love all who come through our doors, as well as those in our surrounding community.

We live in a world that has been fractured by sin. A world that runs at such a dizzying pace that it has lost its sense of community. Though we are not perfect, we hope that you will always feel welcomed and loved at Riverside Assembly. If you are looking for a church, we hope that Riverside Assembly will feel like home.

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to interest others in Jesus Christ and to live together as a growing community of people who are worshipping God and joyfully serving Him, one another, and our world.

Our Vision

We at Riverside envision a church solidly founded on the love of God, which frees us to love one another. A place where all can find acceptance, forgiveness, hope, and healing.

We envision a people who are committed to growing in their relationship with Jesus, enthusiastic in their walk with God, and joyfully sharing Christ with others.

We envision worship services where the Holy Spirit will lead us into the presence of God and where God's Word will be clearly proclaimed. These will be times where honest and transparency are promoted and where all can experience compassion, receive encouragement, find inspiration, and freely praise God.

We envision a fellowship of believers where each member finds purpose through the discovery and the development of their spiritual gifts. A place where they will then be given opportunity to explore and find the joy of linking their gifts and interests in service to God and His church.

We envision an organizational structure that fosters good communication, enable leaders to lead and provides for the discovery and development of future leaders. A structure that provides boundaries (for direction), accountability (for safety), authority (for action), and appreciation (for confidence) so that the priesthood of all believers might by realized.

We envision small groups that minister to the whole person through loving relationships, accountability, Bible study, prayer, and fellowship activities.

We envision a church family that demonstrates the love of God by its actions. A people who are building relationships and meeting needs both within and without the congregation, while sharing their faith in Christ at every opportunity.

We envision facilities that will better enable us to offer dynamic, relevant, and varied ministries for all ages including appropriate community related functions.

We envision numerical and spiritual growth, as evidence to the life changing power of God and the loving influence of dedicated Christians in the lives of saints and sinners alike.

We envision God using us to equip and send those called to take the Gospel to other places in our world, especially those He would call from among us.

We envision that God's help and blessing this dream will become reality and will bring glory and honor to His Name.