The River Church Community
The River Church Community is a non-profit evangelical congregation in San Jose, California, founded in 1997, offering weekly worship services, age-segmented ministries, small groups, and community outreach to Silicon Valley residents, currently led by a transitional pastor following 2025-2026 senior staff departures.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersSan Jose, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The River Church Community does
The River Church Community is a private, non-profit evangelical congregation based in San Jose, California, founded in 1997 and affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church since April 2016. The church operates from a single campus at 670 Lincoln Avenue in the Willow Glen/Midtown neighborhood and conducts weekly in-person worship services on Sunday mornings, supplemented by online streaming and podcast distribution across major platforms. Its core programs span age-segmented ministries (Kids' Community for infants through 5th grade, Youth Ministry for middle and high schoolers, Emerging Adults for ages 18-25), relational Small Groups, Serve Teams, and a Compassion & Justice outreach arm operating grocery delivery and food pantry partnerships. The Partnership (membership) program, River 101 onboarding classes, and seasonal programs (Advent, Lent, Maker Camp) constitute the engagement funnel.
The church generates revenue primarily through voluntary donations (tithes, offerings, firstfruits giving, stock transfers via Zelle and EFT) with Maker Camp program fees ($150 per child) as a secondary, sub-scale stream. Financial figures are not publicly disclosed. The organization currently operates with approximately 7 paid staff members and an 8-person volunteer Board of Directors, and is in a pronounced leadership transition: three senior pastors resigned in March 2025, a Transitional Lead Pastor (Nathan Kimbrough of VitalChurch Ministry) began in October 2025, and a further round of staff departures occurred in June 2026.
The River faces material operational and reputational headwinds, including a third-party investigation into harm experienced in the youth ministry from 2014-2019, the acquittal of former Youth Pastor Brett Bymaster on 10 felony sexual abuse charges in November 2025, and the pending Huang lawsuit appeal. Leadership depth has thinned across Worship, Youth, Small Groups/Outreach, and Compassion & Justice functions, with the Lead Pastor Search Task Force process underway to identify permanent senior leadership.
The River Church Community firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The River Church Community
- Legal name
- The River Church Community
- Website
- https://the-river.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The River Church Community is a non-profit evangelical congregation in San Jose, California, founded in 1997, offering weekly worship services, age-segmented ministries, small groups, and community outreach to Silicon Valley residents, currently led by a transitional pastor following 2025-2026 senior staff departures.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The River Church Community industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Religious Services / Church Congregation
- NAICS
- Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)
Keywords
Where The River Church Community is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Jose
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The River Church Community business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Tithes and Offerings: Voluntary financial contributions from congregation members following biblical principles of firstfruits giving, tithing (10%), and cheerful giving. Funds support church operations, staff, facilities, and ministry partners locally, nationally, and internationally.
- Program Fees: Fees for programs such as Maker Camp summer program ($150 per child with scholarships available) to offset operational costs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Maker Camp 2026: One-week half-day summer camp for kids |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
The River Church Community product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The River Church Community is a non-profit evangelical church that provides weekly in-person Sunday worship services, age-specific ministry programs (children, youth, young adults), small group communities, and compassion and justice outreach. It supports its congregation through spiritual formation programs (Advent, Lent, River 101 onboarding), volunteer serve teams, a Partnership membership pathway, online giving, and a Benevolence Fund for those in financial need. The church also operates a seasonal Maker Camp for children.
Product overview
The River Church Community is a multi-site evangelical church offering a unified portfolio of in-person and digital programs centered on Christian worship, spiritual formation, and community service. The core offering is weekly Sunday Services combining liturgical and contemporary elements, supported by age-specific ministry programs (Kids' Community, Youth Ministry, Emerging Adults), Small Groups for relational connection, and Serve Teams for volunteer contribution. Seasonal programs include Advent and Lenten practices, and Maker Camp for children. The church provides digital engagement through sermon podcasts and online giving platforms. The Partnership program serves as the church's membership pathway.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sunday Services Weekly in-person corporate worship gatherings on Sunday mornings at 10 AM, combining liturgical traditions with contemporary worship including musical worship, prayer, communion, and teaching. Targeted at congregation members and visitors.
- Small Groups Ongoing community groups meeting on various days, focused on connection, support, spiritual growth through learning, prayer, serving, and worship in smaller relational settings. Targeted at congregation members and newcomers.
- Kids' Community Children's ministry with age-specific classrooms (Infants, Toddlers/Preschool, PreK-1st Grade, 2nd-3rd Grade, 4th-5th Grade) using Godly Play Montessori-based curriculum for spiritual formation. Targeted at children from infants through 5th grade and their parents.
- Youth Ministry Middle and high school ministry with Sunday gatherings, discipleship cohorts, youth group activities, and volunteer leadership opportunities for spiritual development. Targeted at middle and high school aged youth.
- Emerging Adults (Young Adults) A space for ages 18-25 to connect, build community, and explore faith and life together, hosted and led by volunteers. Targeted at young adults aged 18-25.
- Compassion & Justice Community outreach focused on food security and shelter, including grocery deliveries, warehouse volunteering, and partnerships with organizations serving those in need. Targeted at those experiencing hardship and volunteers.
- Maker Camp One-week, half-day summer camp for kids (rising 1st-6th graders) featuring design, creation, maker projects, and faith-based activities. Targeted at children and their families; $150 per child with scholarships available.
- Partnership (Membership) Church membership program involving River 101 classes, small group participation, serving commitments, and an annual Partnership Covenant for deeper belonging and ownership. Targeted at congregation members seeking formal membership.
Companies that use The River Church Community
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The River Church Community technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The River Church Community partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Abrahamic Alliance InternationalcoreThe River Church Community is a proud partner and collaborator with Abrahamic Alliance International as they work with Jewish, Muslim & Christian communities to serve the poor. Joint events and collaborative initiatives in community service and interfaith engagement.
- VitalChurch MinistrycoreProvides transitional pastoral support and comprehensive church assessment services. VitalChurch Ministry helped conduct an extensive diagnostic survey and provides Nathan Kimbrough as Transitional Lead Pastor to guide the church through a season of transition and discernment.
- InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (Taka Chan)minorCampus ministry partner serving LGBTQ+ students and faculty with the love of Jesus Christ. The River financially supports this ministry partner.
- Transform Arts (Francesca)minorArts ministry under Cru in the Bay Area focusing on discipling and encouraging artists (dancers and actors), with participation in anti-trafficking art ministry. The River financially supports this ministry partner.
- EvaSUE (Evangelical Students' and Graduates' Union of Ethiopia)minorCampus ministry in Ethiopia with 112 staff members. The River financially supports this international ministry partner.
- International Students Inc. (Gary Claassen)minorBay Area ministry serving international students as extended family during their time abroad. The River financially supports this ministry partner.
- Reaching Out CenterminorFood pantry partnership for grocery deliveries to those in need. Volunteers pick up food from this pantry for The River's compassion and justice ministry.
- City TeamminorPartnership for Willows grocery delivery program. Truck driver picks up pre-loaded groceries from City Team facilities for delivery to families.
- Second Harvest Food BankminorWarehouse team volunteers sort food and package boxes for food ministries across San Jose including other River grocery partnerships.
- Christian Community Development Association (CCDA)minorThe River sends teams to the annual CCDA National Conference (November 5-8, 2025 in Grand Rapids, Michigan) which inspires, trains, and connects Christian community development practitioners.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The River Church Community competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- North Point Community Church: Large Atlanta-based evangelical multi-site church known for contemporary teaching and small group ministry. A broader evangelical incumbent whose ministry model (small groups as primary engagement layer, teaching-driven worship) closely mirrors The River's approach at scale.
Direct peers
- Venture Christian Church: Multi-site evangelical church in Los Gatos/Silicon Valley offering contemporary worship, children's and youth programs, and small groups. Highly comparable evangelical peer serving the same Silicon Valley demographic with overlapping programming.
- South Valley Community Church: Community-focused evangelical church in San Jose offering worship, children's and youth programs, and small groups. Same-city direct peer operating in overlapping San Jose neighborhoods with similar ministry structure.
- East Valley Church: Silicon Valley evangelical congregation in the Evergreen area of San Jose affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church. A current River board member (Michelle Albertson) previously served as Treasurer and Deacon at East Valley, indicating direct cross-pollination and shared denominational governance structure.
- Menlo Church: Large multi-site evangelical church in Menlo Park (formerly Menlo Park Presbyterian) serving the Silicon Valley with contemporary worship, extensive children's and youth programs, and a teaching-focused model. Directly comparable on target market and programming mix.
- Peninsula Bible Church: Established evangelical congregation in Palo Alto with multi-generational programming, small groups, and contemporary teaching. Closely comparable Silicon Valley peer with similar theological positioning and congregational structure.
- The Rock Church San Jose: Multi-site evangelical congregation with a San Jose campus offering contemporary worship, family ministries, and small groups. Same-market peer with comparable programming and family-focused positioning.
- New Community Church: Evangelical church in the Saratoga/Cupertino area of Silicon Valley with contemporary worship, children's ministry, and small groups. Comparable Silicon Valley evangelical peer targeting similar demographic and offering overlapping programs.
Others
- Abrahamic Alliance International: Interfaith nonprofit partner collaborating with Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities on poverty alleviation. Listed as a core strategic partner of The River for joint interfaith service events; comparable as an ecosystem/partner organization rather than direct competitor.
Regional players
- Willow Glen Community Church: Neighborhood congregation in the Willow Glen area of San Jose serving an overlapping local geography. Comparable as a same-neighborhood faith community, though with a different theological tradition (non-evangelical).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The River Church Community social profiles
Digital presenceThe River Church Community financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The River Church Community leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
The River Church Community funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The River Church Community M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The River Church Community
What does The River Church Community do?
The River Church Community is a non-profit evangelical church that provides weekly in-person Sunday worship services, age-specific ministry programs (children, youth, young adults), small group communities, and compassion and justice outreach. It supports its congregation through spiritual formation programs (Advent, Lent, River 101 onboarding), volunteer serve teams, a Partnership membership pathway, online giving, and a Benevolence Fund for those in financial need. The church also operates a seasonal Maker Camp for children.
Is The River Church Community a public or private company?
The River Church Community is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The River Church Community founded?
The River Church Community was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The River Church Community based?
The River Church Community is headquartered in San Jose, United States, in the North America region.
How does The River Church Community make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tithes and Offerings are the primary driver. The others are program Fees.
Who are The River Church Community's main competitors?
North Point Community Church is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Venture Christian Church, South Valley Community Church, East Valley Church, Menlo Church, Peninsula Bible Church, The Rock Church San Jose and New Community Church. Abrahamic Alliance International is listed as an others. Willow Glen Community Church is listed as a regional player.
Does The River Church Community have an API?
No public API is recorded for The River Church Community.
What industry is The River Church Community in?
The River Church Community's product category is Religious Services / Church Congregation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAA, Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues), with a secondary code of BPAGAJAG, Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling). Its NAICS code is 8131.