The Story

The River Church began as a group of idealistic college students who believed that a community could be changed by simply loving people and pointing them to Jesus. From the beginning, people in the church made friends with people in the trailer parks, adopted low income neighborhoods, knocked on doors to help with household projects, all the while intentionally building relationships with the less fortunate and inviting them to join us in following and worshiping Jesus.

As time went on, the church became less associated with college students and became an eclectic community church made up of “ordinary” people. There is something unique about a church that makes room for broken and hurting people, reaches out to drug dealers and addicts, and gives people the space they need to take their next steps on the journey of becoming someone better. People from all walks of life, all levels of maturity, and all levels of society live and grow together in authentic community with one another. The River is a church of second chances. Even among our church leadership, we have those who have made serious mistakes, yet through the grace of God have been transformed.

The pastor of The River, Corey Magstadt, has spent the last six years entrenched in this community. He spends much of his week in various coffee shops throughout the city, constantly building relationships and seeking to point people toward Jesus. Many people have entered The River community through relationships that have been established over coffee and meals. Pastor Corey also intentionally networks and partners with the leaders of other ministries and organizations to facilitate transformation within the community.

Service Information