In 1998 the rice fields north of Sacramento, California were beginning to be developed in preparation for a huge influx of people. Being only a few miles from downtown Sacramento, the area promised shorter commutes, affordable housing, new schools, and state-of-the-art facilities. At the very same time, God began to stir the heart of Pastor Jim Bogear (who was on staff at Arcade Wesleyan Church) with a vision to plant a ministry there that would be a "church for the community." This area, now called Natomas, would soon be ripe for a new kind of harvest: no longer rice crops, but instead men, women, and children experiencing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ for the very first time.

Following the call, Pastor Jim and his family, along with a small group of others from Arcade, began to reach out to the Natomas area by offering sports camps for the local children. This generated positive influence and reputation in the community before the church had even opened its doors. In October, 2000, The River Church held its grand opening service at Natomas Park Elementary School, with 183 people in attendance.

The River Church continues to experience the "immeasurably more" that God promises in Ephesians 3:20. Over the years we have added staff and our growth has been exponential. After outgrowing the facilities at Natomas Park Elementary, we were blessed to be able to move our celebrations to Inderkum High School, where we currently meet.

We rejoice in our growth only because it fulfills the continued vision of "M&M" – Making and Maturing Disciples. We continue to be a church focused on our community, realizing that each man, woman, and child who enters our doors represents another eternal address.

In the beginning, we stepped out in faith, believing that our Father was preparing us for so much more. We dreamed of having a place to call home, a place to minister on a daily basis to men, women, students, and children, and a place that would serve as a home of worship for our area. We have said all along that we never intended to build a "community center," but rather believe that our Father has called us to become the Center of the Community.

We continue in our commitment to grow one face at a time, to provide a church home in which people can find a way to connect, to grow, and to serve. We are continuing to make plans for our eventual permanent home in Natomas, and trust in God's plans for our future! We believe that when each of us grabs a paddle and works together, we can catch the current of His Love and live the journey of this God-sized adventure in a powerful way.