Our heart is to live and model “Love that Transforms”. First, we want people to know and experience personally the transforming power of God’s unconditional love in their life. Second, we as a church want to model God’s transforming love to other people no matter their race, color, gender, age, dress, appearance, or income level. God cares about everyone.
River City Church was birthed in May of 2010 when the congregations of Northview Family Worship Center and Calvary First Assembly, both of Boise, brought their people, staff, and facilities together. The vision was to pool together our strengths to have greater impact in touching our city, and the world, with the Transforming Love of Christ.
We are called River City Church for two reasons. First, our city, Boise, is known for the Boise river that flows through it. It identifies us with our city. Second, in Ezekiel 47 and Revelations 22 the Gospel of Jesus Christ is described as a “river” that flows out from God’s throne to the whole world. It brings life and healing.
There are five things that rivers do that help describe out values at River City:
This value describes Worship. Rivers bring refreshing from the highest source. When we worship God, who is our highest source, with our lives through singing, prayer, giving, and serving, our life is refreshed.
This value describes Community. Rivers connect together and provide the environment for formation of community. We were not meant to live life alone. Life Groups and church family provide an opportunity to live life together.
This value describes Discipleship. Rivers supply the basics necessary for growth and development. Rivers cause things to grow. Our lives are enriched as we grow in the knowledge and understand of God’s Word and His plan for our life.
This value describes Ministry. Rivers generate the flow of power to the valley. As electricity is generated by the power of rivers, so God wants to empower every person with His Holy Spirit to use their gifts, talents, or passions to make a difference in other people’s lives for eternity.
This value describes Evangelism. Rives help shape the contours and surfaces of the earth. We fulfill Christ’s command to impact or city and the world with the Gospel by sharing our testimony, by serving, by giving financially, and by being involved in local and foreign missions.
River City Church is affiliated with theAssemblies of God. Who we are and what we do must always be rooted in God’s Word. It is the source of our deepest convictions.
….The Scriptures are Inspired by God and declare His design and plan for mankind.
…There is only One True God–revealed in three persons…Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (commonly known as the Trinity).
…In the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. As God’s son Jesus was both human and divine.
…though originally good, Man Willingly Fell to Sin–ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world.
…Every Person Can Have Restored Fellowship with God Through ‘Salvation’ (trusting Christ, through faith and repentance, to be our personal Savior).
…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.
…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.
… 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.
…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.
…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.
…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.
…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).
…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.
…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.
…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.
…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!’