B E H I N D / T H E / B A R

Since 2009 the journey for RiverChurch has been nothing less than adventurous. What started with living room prayer meetings, to a creepy old office complex, to a miniature model church building (built by an architecture firm specializing in designing church buildings), to Saturday Church in a coffee shop, to our weekly Sunday gatherings at Cadence Coffee in the heart of downtown – we’ve seen some mountain tops and some valleys.  

Over the past few years  the walls of our space have seemed to close in on us as our family has grown.  We have  been, and remain content to stay right where we are, embracing the cozy.   We believe that when its time to make a move – God will open a door, and we’ll walk through. 

We’ve had folks recommend property outside of the downtown  area, but that never felt right.   God led us to the heart of our city to reach the heart of our city, to shine the light of Jesus brightly.  We’ve come to know who we are, where we are, and why we are supposed to be there.  

Everyday of the week we engage in market place ministry partnering with Cadence Coffee to provide an space for anyone and everyone to come in and find a place of goodness, gladness, peace & rest- an oasis of sorts.  We’ve done that for almost 12 years and we plan to keep doing that, as long as we are able.   

But there is still more for us to do. 

Our history as a church has always included being the hands and feet of Jesus in practical ways. Locking arms with others to lift the name of Jesus and to expand His Kingdom, not ours.   From early on we decided as a body, to not just go to church, but to go BE the Church. 

Yesterday,  we entered into a contract  and a due diligence phase to purchase a building that is literally 100 steps from our doors. It’s not a new space. In fact,  it’s old – over 100 years old.  Relics and artifacts of history both good & bad are covered by years of dust inside. The work to restore and the path to purchase this building seems steep and  a lot longer than 100 steps. 

By worldly standards, this journey is impossible for our community of faith. But we believe that this IS the door God is opening in front of us and inviting us to walk through.  

There’s an old Chinese proverb that says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

The 100 steps from our current front door, to our new front door might as well be 1000 miles.   But here’s what we know . . . . 

The same God calling RiverChurch Chattanooga to walk through one door, 100 steps to another, is the same God who  . . . 

. . . . told Noah to build an ark.

. . . . told Abraham to go to a land that He would show him.

. . . . told Moses to lead the Hebrew slaves out of Egyptian bondage.

. . . . told David to take down a giant.

. . . . told Peter to come out of the boat and walk on water.

And we will obey Him, just as they did.

So . . . . step 1.

99 more to go.

If you would like to join us on this journey – prayer, giving, or just plain curious to see what happens – feel free to reach out.