• What Kind Of Church Is Riverside?

Riverside Community Church is an independent, non denominational church designed for the families of   Alaskans to feel completely at home- and when you get right down to it that’s what a church is supposed to be… a home.  When you visit you will see we are a friendly, laid back group of people working together to create a church where everyone can feel loved & accepted no matter where they happen to be on their spiritual journey.  It is with this vision in mind that we do everything we do, all the while using the Bible as a road map and never compromising it's overarching message- that Jesus can not only save us, He can also give us a more satisfying and exciting life on this earth than we could ever have dreamed up or imagined for ourselves!

That’s an interesting question.  The answer depends on which Sunday you choose to visit.  If you chose to make your first visit on Easter Sunday or Christmas Eve you’d be joined by about 700 people spread out over 4 different services.  If you visit on a typical Sunday during the winter you’d see an average of 375 people.  But if you visited Riverside during the summer you’d see an average of about 330.  The summer is when Alaskans get out to soak up every bit of available sunshine so they can survive the dark winters, so numbers understandably drop when the sun comes out.  Each service is unique, even though the content is basically the same at all 3.  Which service will be best for you and your family?  Try them all and see for yourself.

• Why Do You Use Easy To Understand Translations Of The Bible? 
  

The new translations of the Bible that have come out in the last 5 years are absolutely amazing in allowing the message of the Bible to come to life in modern 21st century language!  The Bible was originally written in the simple language of the streets & was meant to be read and understood by EVERYONE.  It was never meant to be boring or dry, and it was never meant to be irrelevant to our everyday lives!  Its purpose is to point us toward Jesus, to tell us how much God loves us and to teach us how to have the awesome lives God created us to live– amazing lives that Jesus died for.  This why we prefer tanslations written in more comtemporary English, ones that don't require a theological degree to understand.  In the foyer you will find complimentary copies of the Bible (The New Believer's Bible & The Message) that you can take home with you. The New Believers Bible is an easy to read version with lots of help for understanding what you read.  The Message Paraphrase is a little different and might be a good way for long time Christians to see afresh the truths that you have always taken for granted.  If you would like one of these Bibles, or if you know of someone who would, please feel free to grab one when you visit.

• Why Do You Dress So Casually At Riverside? 

I guess you could call Riverside Community the "Relaxed Fit" church.  We’ve searched through the entire Bible and haven’t yet found the, “thou shalt wear a suit & tie to church” command… so we figure if God doesn't require a suit & tie then why should we?  We believe that church isn't about how you look- rather it's about finding God's plan for your everyday life.  Riverside lets people come and worship God however they feel most comfortable… whether that's in a three piece suit or blue jeans!  It is our hope that people will find just how comfortable life with God can be… with or without the suit.    

• Why Don't You Take A Collection At Riverside?

• So What Does Happen To The Money I Put In The Box?

Since we are a non-denominational, independent community church, we don’t receive any financial help from outside sources.  The ministries of Riverside only exist because of the generous financial support of our members.  The money from your offerings goes to pay bills, salaries, and other supplies that fuel the outreach of this church.  As a matter of fact- ten percent of the money we collect goes directly into a fund to help those less fortunate in Eagle River and around the world (yes… Riverside gives part of our income back to God too). 

• So How Do I Become A Member?

• We Hope You'll Join Us!

This is our vision in a nutshell.  We hope that your family will choose to join us here at Riverside as we try to become the kind of church and the kind of people that God envisioned when He created us.  If you have any questions please call or e-mail us and we’ll do our best to answer them.

• But What If Riverside Isn't For Me?

We know that not everyone will feel at home here at Riverside .  We believe that there are so many different kinds of churches because God made so many different kinds of people.  If Riverside isn’t for you please feel free to talk to Pastor Ed about the kind of church you’re looking for… he knows many of the Pastors and churches in the area and might be able to help you find the best place for you & your family.  We’d love to have you here at Riverside but if God is calling you to something different you’ll be much better off listening to Him rather than staying here with us ;0)

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