how do i say 'yes!' to christ?
The Bible teaches that becoming a follower of Jesus means both "receiving" Him and "believing" in Him (John 1:12). You can place your faith in Jesus in any of our services, classes, or right where you are at this moment. Simply talk to God as you would anyone else and tell Him you admit you are a sinner and need God's forgiveness, that you believe Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins and rose from the dead to provide you a new life, and that you commit your life to His leadership. If you make a decision to say "YES!" to Jesus, please let us know! We'd love to provide you some material to help you in your new walk of faith and to answer any questions you might have. Feel free to talk to one of the pastors on a Sunday morning, use our staff directory to send them an email, call our office at 763.263.2410, or just drop a note.
what is baptism at riverside?
What is it and why should I consider baptism? In the New Testament, baptism was virtually the first thing someone did after saying their own person 'YES!' to Jesus. As modeled in the Bible, baptism is an act of obedience that Jesus expects of every believer. It is an outward sign of an inward conversion experience -- a celebration of new life. Though some traditions practice the act of baptism differently, the Bible's examples show that people were old enough to come to a choice of faith, and then they got baptized -- totally immersed -- in water. That's why we do it that way.
what is child dedication?
While infants and very young children can't choose baptism because they're not yet at the age of belief, we do offer parent-child dedication, an option for parents to commit to guiding their children toward saying their own personal 'YES!' to Jesus when they're ready. Through parent-child dedication, the pastor and congregation pray over the families as they make a public and personal promise to raise their children with godly principles.
how does riverside celebrate communion?
Communion is a time to reflect and remember what Jesus did for us on the cross to forgive our sins. We generally offer communion the first Sunday of every month. You don't have to be a member of Riverside to participate in communion, but we do ask that you've said your own personal 'YES!' to Jesus. Trays containing the elements are usually passed through each of our venues and when everyone has been served the Pastor will initiate partaking together.
how can i become a member?
We encourage newer attenders to stop by a "Next Steps" area on Sunday morning to say, "Hi!" This is a great way to meet some of our pastors, and learn a little bit about Riverside. This low-key connection will open up the opportunity for you to ask questions and discover ways to get connected to activities beyond Sunday services. After that, if you are thinking about membership, we encourage you to attend our membership class where you will gain a better understanding of Riverside's three core values, our mission, and the beliefs of the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination. As part of the class you will be given materials that allow you to begin the process of membership, should you so choose.
what is tithing/giving to the church?
We truly believe giving is an act of worship. We don't receive an offering each week to guilt you into giving, but because we want you to have the opportunity to give back to His purposes! Your generosity enables Riverside to be used by God to change hearts, transform lives and reach more people for Christ. You can give by cash, check, or online.