In June of 2001, founding pastor John Wiley wrote in his journal that he was accountable to God for his community. With this realization and a desire to take action, one month later on July 1, 2001 a small group met in the Wiley family's living room at three o'clock in the afternoon, and River Church Family was born.

In these meetings, the church's mission of restoring our broken lives began, through individuals experiencing unexpected authenticity in relationships and communication with one another. Meetings grew, and moved from the Wiley's living room, to City Hall, to the YMCA, and then to a small storefront by December of that year.

The River became known in the community for continually giving freely from what God had entrusted us with and always showing up for the people of the city, demonstrating our commitment to uncompromising generosity. Projects like our Adopt-A-Block ministry, purchase of a community swimming pool, and desire to serve neighbors in need who were living at local pay-by-the-week motels were hallmarks of our mission of reviving our communities.

As a result, River Church Family began to see people from different walks of life, backgrounds and stories being welcomed with open arms to join together in love, experiencing an unapologetic integration together with one another.

River Church Family is comprised of individuals committed to showing God's love to others through actively using their gifts to serve them and meet their needs. Releasing hope to our world has been occurring through partnerships with many local and global organizations serving those in need. This intentional growth and opportunity for individuals to pursue their dreams and use their gifts is how we experience unreserved empowerment.

Current Pastors Timmy and ‘Tisha Hensel found the mission and the values reflected by River Church Family to be incredible evidence of God at work in and through the lives of the church. They joined River Church Family in 2006, and were appointed as lead pastors together in 2017.

Pastors Timmy & 'Tisha believe that they have been called to the River and placed here for such a time as this. We know that accomplishing the mission God has planned for our church body only happens through the love of Jesus. We will continue to point individuals to Jesus, to experience his love and to imitate him as dearly loved children. We long to see every person at River Church Family experience intentional growth in their lives, pursue their dreams and use their gifts to glorify God and build his kingdom on the earth.