Welcome to River Valley Church
Who We Are
River Valley is an exciting and thriving church founded by Pastors Rob and Becca Ketterling in 1995. Our mission is to lead people into an authentic, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. We believe in a life-giving, positive church culture where people worship God, connect with one another and are launched into their God-given purpose.
Our mission is to lead people into an authentic, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Our vision is to change the world. We don’t see that as an impossibility, as we serve a God who uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Our goal is to see lives changed through dozens of physical locations around the globe, millions of people influenced through our online community, 500 people sent out from our church as long term missionaries and a network of 1,000 churches that give one million dollars annually to missions – resulting in one billion dollars given to missions every single year. We’d love for you to be a part and help us fulfill God’s vision!
Our values are the foundation for everything we believe God has called us to do as a church.
Presence of God. We believe that one moment in the presence of God changes everything. Everything we do rests on His presence in our lives.
(James 4:8,10; John 4:23, Acts 3:19; Hebrews 10:19-22)
Generosity. The spirit and practice of generosity fuels the rest of our values. We are committed to being generous-hearted people.
(Proverbs 11:24-25; 2 Corinthians 9:6-12)
Our Heart is Global. We are a local church with a global vision to raise up and send out 500 full-time missionaries from our church. Our heart for unreached people across the globe is what makes us distinct.
(Acts 1:8; Romans 10:13-15 1 Chronicles 16:24; Psalms 2:8)
Next Generation. We would give anything to reach the next generation with the hope of Jesus and launch them into their God-given purpose.
(Psalms 78:5-7; Proverbs 22:6; Mark 9:42; Matthew 19:14)
Unity. We come from an ever expanding number of backgrounds and experiences, and we unite under one name, Jesus.
(Acts 4:32; Psalm 133; Ephesians 4:3)
Inspiration. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we bring life and lift to all situations. We truly believe that in Jesus Christ, the best is yet to come!
(Psalm 23:5; Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Romans 5:1-5)
Authenticity. We are real people doing real life together. We are being made new through the power of Jesus and sharing our journey with those around us.
(1 John 1:6-10; Proverbs 28:13; James 5:16)
The Bible is the Inspired Word of God
The Old and New Testament are verbally inspired by God, the only written revelation from God to man. The Bible is infallible and the authoritative rule of faith and conduct for mankind ( 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13 & 2 Peter 1:21).
The Fall of Man
Man was created in the image of God (Genesis 2:26). By a voluntary act of the will, Adam and Eve disobeyed God (Genesis 3:6). That first sin had several repercussions: Man was excommunicated from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23), a curse was pronounced (Genesis 3:14-19), the process of physical death began (Genesis 2:17) and man died spiritually (Romans 5:12-19). Sin separated humankind from God (Ephesians 2:11-18) and left man in a fallen and sinful condition (Romans 3:23).
There is One True God
God is called by many different names because of the different dimensions of His personality, but God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4). God is super-dimensional and eternally self-existent (John 8:54-59). God is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. He is the creator of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1-2). While God is one, He has revealed Himself in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
The Salvation of Man
The only means of salvation is Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12, John 14:6). He died on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins (1 Peter 2:24). He offers each of us a pardon for our sins (Hebrews 9:26) and wants us to become children of God (John 1:12).
When we put our faith in Christ, it triggers a spiritual chain reaction. We become the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 3:5). We become citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20-21). We are given eternal life (John 3:16). We are adopted and become children of God (Galatians 4:4-7). Our sins are forgiven and forgotten (Hebrews 8:12). We are credited with the righteousness of Christ (Romans 4:4-5). We are born again (John 3:3). God takes ownership of us (1 Corinthians 6:20). We receive an eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14, 1 Peter 1:3-5).
The evidence of salvation is two-fold. The internal evidence is the direct witness of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16). The external evidence is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23). We become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and are transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The Church and Its Mission
The Church is the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) and has a three-fold purpose: to evangelize the world (Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15-16), to worship God (1 Corinthians 12:13) and to equip for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Cor. 12:28, 14:12).
The Holy Spirit
The nine fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) are the by-product of a Spirit-filled life and evidence of spiritual maturity. The nine gifts of the Spirit are different manifestations of the Spirit to build up the body (1 Corinthians 12:1-11). We are instructed to diligently seek the gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1), but they must be exercised in an orderly way (1 Corinthians 14:26-33) in the context of love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).
The Final Judgment
There will be a final judgment in which the dead will be resurrected and judged according to their works (Matthew 25:31-46, Romans 2:1-9). Everyone whose name is not found written in the Book of Life, along with the Devil and his angels, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). Those whose names are written in the Book of Life will be resurrected and stand at the judgment seat of Christ to be rewarded for their good deeds (1 Corinthians 4:5).
