Senior Pastor Succession Updates

A Significant Milestone Reached (March 2026)

Dear Riverside Family,

With hearts full of gratitude and humble awe, we share meaningful progress in our search for our next Senior Pastor. Since our February update, the Elders have completed the on-site visits with the two candidates. These visits included extended conversations, campus tours, meetings with key staff, and time for each candidate and his wife to explore our communities.

After thorough prayer, careful evaluation of all we observed and heard, and seeking the Lord’s unified direction, the Elders have selected one finalist candidate whom we believe God is calling to lead Riverside Church into its next season. We are deeply encouraged by this man’s character, pastoral heart, theological alignment with the Christian & Missionary Alliance, preaching gift, missional passion, and evident fit with Riverside’s unique DNA as one church family across multiple campuses – reaching lost people for Jesus!

To allow these final discernment steps to unfold without distraction and to honor the transition at his current ministry, we will continue to keep the finalist’s name and any related details confidential at this time. We will share his identity publicly in mid-April prior to heading into the introductory weekend.

Next Steps: Finalist Visit and Introductory Weekend

We are now entering the final discernment phases:

• Finalist Visit (upcoming weeks): The candidate and his wife will return for a multi-day visit.  This will include:
• Experiencing Sunday morning services quietly and unobtrusively across multiple campuses to observe and sense the life of Riverside
• Additional focused time with staff leadership team and Elders
• Informal social gatherings with staff leadership team and Elders to build relationships in relaxed settings
• Personal time for the couple to explore the area further (schools, housing, community life, etc.)

Following this visit, both the candidate and the Elders will prayerfully confirm whether to proceed.

• Introductory Events (anticipated soon after): If mutual peace and leading persist, the candidate will return for a number of introductory events.  During this time:
• He will preach during our Sunday services
• There will be opportunities for the congregation to meet him and his wife through planned connection times, allowing the church family to become acquainted with his heart for ministry and leadership

Pending continued affirmation from both the candidate and the Elders, the Board of Elders will extend a formal call to serve as Riverside’s next Senior Pastor, in keeping with our governance structure and Christian & Missionary Alliance guidelines.

As always, every step is marked by intentional prayer, humility, and a shared commitment to follow God’s voice and timing.

Confident in God’s Sovereign Hand

We stand amazed at how the Lord has guided every detail - from the very beginning through today’s clear leading. The God who has faithfully shepherded Riverside for over 90 years is the same God orchestrating this transition. We trust Him fully to complete what He has started, bringing the right leader at the right time for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom through Riverside.

Thank you for your prayers, your trust, and your continued partnership in this sacred journey. We will continue to provide updates as we move forward.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” - Psalm 27:14

In His faithful and good hands,

Brad Long
(on behalf of the Board of Elders)

 How You Can Keep Praying With Us

Your faithful intercession has carried us this far and remains vital in this climactic season. Please continue to pray specifically into these final stages:

 Pray for our finalist candidate and his family
Ask God to grant clear confirmation during the upcoming visits, deep peace for the entire family, protection from any confusion or opposition, and wisdom as they discern whether Riverside is the place God is calling them to serve.

Pray for the Elders
Pray for ongoing unity, spiritual discernment, courage to follow God’s voice, and protection from distraction as we finalize this recommendation.

Pray for our Staff
Pray for joy, openness, and encouragement as they engage during these visits. Ask God to use these interactions to affirm their ministries and build excitement for what lies ahead.

Pray for Pastor Tom and Gwen
Thank God for their steadfast faithfulness through this long transition. Pray for continued grace, rest, and joyful anticipation as Pastor Tom concludes his tenure and they prepare for their next chapter.

Pray for our entire Riverside congregation
Pray that we would remain united in love, patient in waiting, free from unnecessary speculation, and increasingly expectant that God is about to do something beautiful. Ask Him to prepare our hearts to receive and embrace the leader He has chosen.

Frequently Asked Questions

God's Faithful Guidance Continues (February 2026)

Dear Riverside Family,

We come to you with deep gratitude and growing anticipation. Since our January update, God has continued to lead us with remarkable clarity and peace through this season of transition. We have now completed the first-round video interviews with the strong pool of candidates identified by NL Moore & Associates. After careful prayer, discussion, and discernment, the Elders have narrowed the field to two outstanding pastoral candidates.

Both men have also completed thorough theological interviews with Pastor Tom Lundeen and Dr. Dan Scarrow, our District Superintendent with the Christian & Missionary Alliance. We are genuinely encouraged by their character, theological alignment, pastoral heart, and evident qualifications to lead Riverside. We feel great peace about each of them and are excited for the next steps that will allow us to see how God might be calling one to serve as our next Senior Pastor.

Next Steps in the Journey

In the coming month (February/March), each of the two candidates will visit our Riverside for on-site interviews and interactions. These visits will include:

• Opportunities to tour our campuses and communities
• In-person interviews and extended conversations with the Elders
• Meetings with key staff members
• Informal meals together

These on-site visits are a critical part of discerning fit and confirming God’s direction. Following the initial visits, the Elders will engage in further prayerful evaluation. One or both candidates may be invited back to experience the life of Riverside during our Sunday services and to further explore the communities.  If the Lord continues to give clear unity and leading, one finalist will return for a candidate preview weekend, during which the congregation will have the opportunity to meet him and hear him preach.

Every step continues to be marked by intentional prayer, humility, and a shared commitment to follow God’s voice rather than our own preferences or timeline.

 How You Can Keep Praying With Us

Your prayers remain the most powerful and essential part of this process. We invite you to continue lifting up these same key areas, now with fresh focus on the current phase:

1. Pray for the two candidates and their families Ask God to give them clear guidance, deep peace, and protection during these visits. Pray that each would sense the Lord’s leading—whether toward Riverside or toward His other plans—and that their time with us would be Spirit-filled and confirming.
2. Pray for the Elders Pray for continued wisdom, unity, non-anxious discernment, and spiritual sensitivity as we conduct in-person interviews, process what we hear and see, and seek the Lord together for the next decision.
3. Pray for our staff Pray for sustained joy, energy, and unity as they host candidates, share openly, and continue carrying out faithful ministry amid this season. Ask God to use these interactions to encourage and affirm the staff.
4. Pray for Pastor Tom and Gwen Thank God again for their faithful leadership and pray for continued grace, rest, and joy as Pastor Tom finishes this chapter. Ask the Lord to prepare the way for their next season with confidence and blessing.
5. Pray for our entire Riverside congregation Pray that we would stay united, patient, hopeful, and focused on Jesus. Ask God to guard us from speculation or division, deepen our trust in His plan, and stir fresh expectancy for the leader He is bringing.

Trusting the One Who Goes Before Us

We stand in awe of how God has guided every detail so far—from the initial profiles to the candidate pool to the clarity we now sense. The same faithful Shepherd who has carried Riverside through every previous season is sovereign over this process today. We trust Him completely to bring us the leader He has prepared, at the time He has appointed, for His glory and our good.

Thank you for your steadfast prayers, encouragement, and patience. We will share another update once the on-site visits are complete and the Lord has given further direction.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” — Lamentations 3:25

In His faithful hands,

Brad Long
On Behalf of the Board of Elders

As Riverside Church continues forward in this important season of transition, we are grateful for the steady and faithful way God has guided every step of the Senior Pastor search process so far.

We are pleased to share that we have now entered the next phase of the search. In partnership with NL Moore & Associates, our search firm, we have begun first-round video interviews with several pastoral candidates who were carefully identified and vetted through their nationwide search. These candidates reflect strong alignment with Riverside’s mission, values, theology, and ministry context, and we are encouraged by both the quality of candidates and the strength of our partnership with NL Moore.

Throughout the month of January, the Elders will continue conducting video interviews. Following these conversations, the pool of candidates will be prayerfully narrowed as we seek clarity on those whom God may be calling to serve as Riverside’s next Senior Pastor.

Looking Ahead in the Process

As the search progresses, the anticipated remaining steps include:

• Completion of first-round video interviews
• Prayerful narrowing of the candidate pool
• More in-depth interviews with finalists
• On-site visits with select candidates involving Elders, staff, and key leaders
• A finalist candidating weekend, where the congregation will have the opportunity to meet the candidate and hear them preach

Each phase is being approached with intentional prayer, discernment, and patience, trusting God’s timing and leading rather than rushing the process.

How You Can Be Praying With Us

This season continues to be a deeply spiritual journey for our entire church family. We invite you to partner with us in prayer in these specific ways:

1. Pray for whomever the next Senior Pastor will be
   Ask God to prepare his heart, family, and calling—even now—for Riverside Church. Pray that he would be clearly guided, deeply rooted in Christ, and ready to shepherd our church with humility, courage, and love.
2. Pray for the Elders
   Pray for wisdom, unity, discernment, and spiritual clarity as they conduct interviews and make recommendations. Ask God to guard their hearts, align their perspectives, and help them clearly recognize His leading.
3. Pray for our staff
   Pray for encouragement, peace, and strength as they faithfully carry the day-to-day ministry of Riverside during this season. Ask God to protect unity, sustain joy, and affirm the calling each staff member has to serve His church.
4. Pray for Pastor Tom and Gwen
   Give thanks for their faithful years of ministry and pray for continued grace, wisdom, and peace as they walk through this transition. Ask God to bless them, guide their future plans, and surround them with encouragement and rest.
5. Pray for our entire congregation
   Pray that Riverside would remain united, patient, trusting, and expectant. Ask God to deepen our faith, strengthen our love for one another, and keep our focus on His mission as we move forward together.

Trusting God With What Comes Next

We remain confident that the same God who has faithfully led Riverside Church for generations is fully at work in this process today. We trust Him to oversee every conversation, every decision, and every step ahead—and to bless Riverside with the leader He has already chosen for the next chapter of our church’s story.

Thank you for your prayers, your trust, and your continued faithfulness as we walk this journey together.

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” — Psalm 37:23

 Brad Long
On Behalf of the Board of Elders

Continuing the Journey

As we shared in our first update, Riverside Church is in a special season of transition as we seek the next Senior Pastor who will lead us into the future God has prepared. Over the past several months, the Elders and our partners at NL Moore & Associates have completed foundational work that set the stage for the active search phase now underway.

With the approved Candidate & Opportunity Profiles in place, NL Moore is now conducting a nationwide search for candidates. They are reaching out through their extensive ministry networks, prayerfully identifying and assessing pastors who may be a strong fit for Riverside’s unique calling and culture. We are deeply encouraged by the careful and Spirit-led approach guiding every step of this journey.

What’s Next

In early January, NL Moore will present a pool of qualified candidates to our Search Team. From there, we will begin first-round video interviews, designed to help us get to know the candidates and sense potential alignment with Riverside’s mission, values, and ministry context.

Following the video interviews, we anticipate on-site interviews with up to three candidates. These visits will allow for in-person conversations with Elders, staff, and select ministry leaders. After prayerful discernment, one or two finalists may be invited back for a finalist site visit and ultimately a candidating weekend, where the congregation will have the opportunity to meet the candidate and hear them preach.

Throughout this process, our goal remains the same: to discern, with clarity and unity, the individual God is calling to lead Riverside Church into its next season of ministry.

How You Can Be Involved

Your prayers continue to be the most important part of this process. Please pray:

• That God would clearly guide the search firm and the candidates they contact.
• For wisdom and unity for our Search Team and Elders as they begin interviews in the new year.
• For the pastors being considered, that they would be sensitive to God’s leading and at peace about their place in His plan.
• For our staff and congregation to continue walking in faith and trust through this transition.

We are grateful for your encouragement, patience, and prayer as we follow God’s leading step by step. The same God who has faithfully shepherded Riverside through every season will continue to provide everything we need in a new leader. We look forward to sharing another update with you in early 2026 as the interview process unfolds.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5–6

A Season of Transition

After 22 years of faithful leadership, our treasured Senior Pastor, Tom Lundeen, has prayerfully decided to transition from his role as Senior Pastor, effective in the summer of 2026. This decision comes as a natural and positive step in his remarkable season of life and ministry. Since joining Riverside Church in 2003, Pastor Tom has led with vision, dedication, and a heart for Jesus, guiding our church through incredible growth and transformation. His leadership has been a profound blessing, and we celebrate his legacy as we look forward to God’s continued work in the communities we serve.

Pastor Tom’s decision reflects his deep commitment to ensuring Riverside Church thrives under new leadership. After a robust study of pastoral succession by the Elders and Pastor Tom, and seeking God’s guidance, the Elder Board believes now is the right time to pass the baton to a new Senior Pastor who can envision and lead Riverside into the next season of ministry. This transition is not an end but a beautiful continuation of God’s plan for our church.

Confident in God’s Provision

We are confident that God, Who has faithfully guided Riverside Church for decades, has already prepared the next Senior Pastor to lead us forward. The Elder Board, in partnership with N.L. Moore & Associates, a trusted consulting group specializing in pastoral transitions, is diligently working on a thoughtful and prayerful process to identify the right leader, ensuring an objective and Spirit-led selection.

As a congregation, we trust in God's perfect timing and provision. The Elders, who are authorized by our Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA) Constitution to call the next Senior Pastor, are committed to seeking the Lord’s direction every step of the way. We are excited about the future and believe that God will bring a leader who will continue to advance His mission at Riverside.

Your Role: Participate in Prayer

This transition is a spiritual journey for our entire Riverside family, and your prayers are vital. We invite you to join us in praying for wisdom, unity, and clarity as we seek God’s will for our next Senior Pastor. Pray for Pastor Tom and Gwen as they discern their next steps, for the Elder Board as they lead this process, and for the future leader God is preparing for us. In the meantime, Pastor Tom will continue to serve faithfully, preaching God’s Word and leading us with the same passion and commitment. Let’s unite in prayer and support to make this transition a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness.

Looking Ahead

We will regularly inform you as we make our way through this transition process by posting updates here with important milestones. Thank you for being part of Riverside Church. Together, let’s seek God’s guidance and celebrate the exciting future He has in store for us!