2021 Annual REPORT

lead pastor letter

“Remember your history, your long and rich history. I am God, the only God you’ve had or ever will have— incomparable, irreplaceable— From the very beginning telling you what the ending will be, All along letting you in on what is going to happen, Assuring you, I’m in this for the long haul, I’ll do exactly what I set out to do.” Isaiah 46:9-10 (MSG)

 

These words remind us to pause, reflect on all that God has done, and reassure us that He’s not yet finished. He is still writing “His Story.” He is still writing our story too! In the ministry reports below, you will hear encouraging stories of how God has been working through you to help kids, students, young adults, and adults find and follow Jesus! 

 

This year we have been on a journey through The Story and have seen the sovereign power of God working out His cosmic purposes throughout history. We hope you have developed a regular habit of reading scripture and that you have grown in your understanding of how everything fits together. We have done our best to show you Jesus along the way and have sought to help you apply His truth today. It has been encouraging to hear stories of how this emphasis has strengthened and unified us as a church family. 


Throughout 2021 we have had the joy of welcoming new followers into the RCC family and celebrating with them their stories of transformation through baptism (February & August)! When I recall all the memories of 2021, I have two favorites. First was the We At RCC series that inspired us to embrace our mission and core values (click here for a refresher on that series). Second, the My Side Of Riverside Rally, where we honored all of you who contribute and have left your fingerprints on the blueprint – you are engaged and are taking ownership of your spiritual community. 



Over the past 12 months Heather Bach and Kasie Sullivan joined our team, and they each serve with passion as they honor the Lord with their callings, gifts, talents, and treasures. I’m blessed to serve alongside our staff and Board of Deacons – Emily Ammerman, Andrea Bender, Lee Huffman, Taylor Schubert, and Mike Wolf. Their prayers, encouragement, support, and guidance are life-giving gifts to me.

 

As you watch the videos from each of our team leaders and their areas of ministry, I hope you’ll take time to offer prayers of thanksgiving for all that was accomplished this past year in Jesus’ Name. Take time to celebrate just some of the stories of those loved and cared for by our church family. Keep in mind that when you sacrificially gave, you were investing in the power of the Holy Spirit to change the trajectory of people’s stories!

 

With my love, 


David Kennard // Lead Pastor





campus pastors

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KIDS ministry

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Student Ministry

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Young Adult Ministry

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Worship and Creative Arts

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In 2021 we financially supported 12 missionaries in 11 countries as well as nine local ministry organizations on a regular monthly basis. We regularly partnered with six additional local organizations. We raised over $51,835 to feed children through Convoy of Hope’s One Day to Feed the World offering. Your generosity has allowed us to come alongside others to provide over $30,000 through our Pandemic Emergency Fund and $9,540 through benevolence funds. We raised $12,422 to provide gospel printing and improvements to children’s facilities in Myanmar through our SEAPC Care for Kids campaign. We raised $9,700 and collected hundreds of bags of groceries for our 5 local food banks, and we were able to provide gifts for 60 kids and teen moms during our Christmas Giving initiatives. We’re also thrilled to report that in a year filled with so many challenges our participation in the bell ringing campaign helped to raise $19,899 for the efforts of our local Salvation Army!


You served the needs of our surrounding communities by providing free community dinners, stocking the Little Food Pantries all across our area, volunteering at food distributions, The Building Block of Natrona, Light of Life, visiting the homeless, ringing bells for the Salvation Army’s kettle campaign, and donating food, toiletries, and clothing to our annual food/clothing drives. Bless you for seeing the many needs and responding with selfless, sacrificial generosity. We do more as a church when everyone gives and participates, even in small ways; it adds up to make a very big difference in our world! And there is no better return on investment than the return we will one day see when God’s Kingdom is fully and finally established. Thank you for contributing to the needs around us both near and far!

Click on the pictures above to watch greetings from some of our Assemblies of God partners.