Pastor Bob Ellis

Growing larger, growing smaller is the way Pastor Bill Ellis of Riverside Community Church in Oakmont describes his growing church. Although the statement appears to be paradoxical, it really speaks to the concern of getting lost in the crowd of a bigger church. Riverside, Pastor Bill related, has 800f its members in small group settings every week. It is here that ministry and spiritual growth takes place.

“Life together,” is the key to small groups. It’s where church is. Pastor Bill emphasis that “we want you to feel at home,” and have a place where everyone can find support, encouragement, fellowship, and be able to develop significant relationships. Small groups permit everyone attending Riverside to find a place. No one is left out.

The church prints a catalog listing all the small groups. These groups range from Bible studies and book series to creative arts, family and parenting, fitness and wellness, helps, hospitality, missions, outreach programs, seniors, single parenting, support and recovery, women, career and workplace, youth, children, and many others.

The church leased another building in 2001 to accommodate all the children. From nursery to grade six, there are nine different levels for each age group. There are two different children’s church services and Sunday School. Youth meet during the week.

Riverside Community Church

Riverside Community Church in Oakmont has never advertised and doesn’t have a marketing program, yet it has experienced a 25% yearly growth rate for many years. Pastor Bill Ellis said they now have three services on Sunday to accommodate everyone and are looking for land to build. It wasn’t always that way, he said. Founded in 1986 as a newly planted Assembly of God church in Penn Hills with a part time Pastor, meetings were held in a small hall. Bill Ellis was asked to pastor the church full time and took over in 1988. The early days were a test in faith for him and he said he learned many personal lessons.

One of his first steps was to move the church to a more appropriate building for services. A year later they moved to a Lutheran Church that had open time for their Sunday services. There had been little growth in the church so far, so they began to reach out and the congregation began to grow. It wasn’t long before they outgrew their building and began looking for a new one. Five years later the church took a leap of faith and purchased the former Riverside Presbyterian Church in Oakmont.

The move to Oakmont led to a growing church that reaches out to the community in a relevant way that addresses today’s needs and issues. Although every age and makeup of people attends Riverside, there is a particular appeal to young adults and families. The church’s programs, conversational sermons, and contemporary approach speak to today’s generation. People are finding a home and they are telling others.

There are five pastoral staff members. In addition to Senior Pastor Bill Ellis, there is David Kennard, Adult Ministries Pastor, Donald Marsh, Student Ministries Pastor, David Longstreth, Music and Outreach Ministries Pastor, and Denise Churchel, Director of Children’s Ministries. If you go to visit Riverside, Sunday services are at 8:00 am, 9:30 am, and 11:15 am. Children’s Services are at 9:30 and 11:15 am. Call 412-828-2488 for further information or visit their web site at http://www.rccag.org.

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