In November 2022, RiverBend Church held its first worship service. The church is the result of a merger between Union Missionary Baptist Church and Cornerstone Community Church. For years, the two churches enjoyed a warm relationship and shared ministry in the community. In early 2022, both churches began dreaming about the Gospel impact that a combined church could have on the community. The merger process was bathed in prayer and skillfully guided by outside mentors. It was an amazing experience watching God take two distinct groups of people and, from them, create RiverBend Church. Despite some differences between the groups, the common thread was sound Biblical doctrine and shared core values. By building on this foundation, the churches developed a culture of love and mutual respect. This culture was pivotal in enabling them to navigate the merger effectively, culminating in the church holding its first worship service on November 20, 2022.
While change is not always easy to embrace, RiverBend is a testimony to what is possible when people prioritize the Gospel, love God, and love one another instead of personal preferences. In its first year of existence, God used RiverBend to baptize 23 new believers and add many new families to His Church. The church is becoming a multi-generational, multi-ethnic church that looks more like its community as it engages in the mission of making disciples of Jesus. It is our sincere desire that God would use the Riverbend story to inspire hope in other churches that their best days are ahead… as they follow Christ!
Our History
OUr Mission
OUr vision
OUr Beliefs
OUr core values
RiverBend Church exists to make disciples of all nations who love God (UP), who love their neighbors (OUT), and who love one another (IN). (Matthew 28:18-20, Matthew 22:37-40; John 13:34-35)
Our Mission
We will be a multicultural, multigenerational church that is thriving in its grand purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ who make disciples.
Our Vision
OUr Mission
OUr Beliefs
OUr core values
OUr vision
We believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant and authoritative Word of God. We further believe that the Bible is the final authority for faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:105)
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father and His personal return in power and glory. (John 1:1-2,14; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:24; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2; 1 Peter 4:5; Romans 14:9; 2 Timothy 4:1)
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling every Christian is able to live a godly life. We further believe His power and gifts are available to believers today. (John 16:8-11; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 5:18).
We believe that the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross is solely sufficient for the salvation of lost and sinful humanity. We further believe that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is necessary so that man might come to repentance from sin and, by faith, accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (Romans 3:22-23; Ephesians 2:1-3; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19)
We believe in the resurrection of both those who believe in Jesus and those who do not believe: those believing to eternal life with Christ and those unbelieving to eternal punishment in hell. (Romans 2:6-11; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:11-15)
We believe that the church is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons. We further believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. We further believe in the autonomy of the local churches, free of any external authority and control. We recognize believer’s baptism and the Lord’s supper as Scriptural means of testimony for the church. (Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Acts 14:27; Acts 18:22; Acts 20:17; Acts 13:1-4; Acts 15:19-31; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 1 Corinthians 5:4-7, 13; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 18:8; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
We believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant and authoritative Word of God. We further believe that the Bible is the final authority for faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:105)
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father and His personal return in power and glory. (John 1:1-2,14; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:24; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2; 1 Peter 4:5; Romans 14:9; 2 Timothy 4:1)
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling every Christian is able to live a godly life. We further believe His power and gifts are available to believers today. (John 16:8-11; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 5:18).
We believe that the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross is solely sufficient for the salvation of lost and sinful humanity. We further believe that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is necessary so that man might come to repentance from sin and, by faith, accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (Romans 3:22-23; Ephesians 2:1-3; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19)
Our Beliefs
OUr Mission
OUr vision
OUr Beliefs
OUr core values
We believe in the resurrection of both those who believe in Jesus and those who do not believe: those believing to eternal life with Christ and those unbelieving to eternal punishment in hell. (Romans 2:6-11; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:11-15)
We believe that the church is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons. We further believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. We further believe in the autonomy of the local churches, free of any external authority and control. We recognize believer’s baptism and the Lord’s supper as Scriptural means of testimony for the church. (Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Acts 14:27; Acts 18:22; Acts 20:17; Acts 13:1-4; Acts 15:19-31; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 1 Corinthians 5:4-7, 13; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 18:8; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
OUr Mission
OUr vision
OUr Beliefs
OUr core values
Worship
We are a community of disciples that worship Jesus Christ, individually and as a church, in an authentic, Spirt-led manner (John 4:23-24, Romans 12:1-2, Colossians 3:17,).
Scripture
We are a community of disciples that know and obey what God’s Word says, empowering us to live and grow as followers of Jesus Christ (Psalm 119:11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Prayer
We are a community of disciples that communicate with God, individually and as a church, in a simple and honest way, allowing God to shape and mold us as we encounter His Presence (Matthew 6:5-15, Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Community
We are a community of disciples that enjoy deep personal relationships through which we encourage one another, and hold each other accountable to grow (Ephesians 2:19-22; Hebrews 10:24-25).
Serving
We are a community of disciples that follow Jesus Christ in serving others inside and outside of the church. (Matthew 20:25-28, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7).
Sharing
We are a community of disciples who share in the responsibility of spreading the life-changing Gospel message throughout our area and around the world, one life at a time (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8).
