Our Values & Vibe
Our Values
We have six principles that shape who we are and what we do: acceptance, transformation, relevance, biculturalism, authenticity, and impact.
Acceptance
We embrace you as you are
“Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” -Romans 15:7
You don’t have to dress a certain way, clean up your life, or even believe the same things we believe. God welcomes all people into relationship with Him; so do we.
Transformation
We pursue radical life change
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” -Romans 12:2
God doesn't simply accept you; he wants to transform you. In Jesus, you can be a new creation—healed from past mistakes, shaped into a better spouse or friend, and empowered to care for others more generously.
Relevance
We connect biblical truth to people’s lives
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” -2 Timothy 3:16
God wants to speak into your life—the struggles you face, the questions you ask, and the issues you care about. Every week, we apply the timeless truths of the Bible to your life in ways that are clear and practical.
Biculturalism
We honor the complexity of being Hmong and American
“God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” -Acts 10:34-35
Children of immigrants straddle two cultures that often have conflicting worldviews. We strive to reflect thoughtfully on ourselves, our values, and our cultures, and to examine them in light of biblical values.
Authenticity
We are real and transparent
“Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” -1 Thessalonians 2:8
We all crave deep relationships, but often our fears and insecurities get in the way. RiverLife is a family where it’s safe to be yourself, and you’ll see this modeled everywhere you look—from the pastors on stage to greeters in the parking lot.
Impact
We make a difference in our communities
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see you good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” -Matt. 5:16
God created His Church to be a blessing to the world. Together, we work tirelessly to serve those in need and make a positive impact on our communities.
Learn More about Our Values
“My goal today is to help you buy into these values as well. Because, for us to accomplish our mission, we need to do it together. And if you value different things, we’re gonna butt heads with each other because you won’t agree with the decisions we make.” -Pastor Greg
“We all make decisions based on our values. The only difference is whether you're intentional or unintentional about it. At RiverLife, we want intentional about our decisions. We want them to reflect our values.” -Pastor Greg
Our Vibe
Every organization has a vibe. It’s that feeling you get when you walk through the doors. It’s the impression people make on you. It’s those intangibles you know are there but are hard to pin down. We have four declarations that make up our vibe: we are a family, we are welcoming, we are innovative, and we have fun.
We Are Family
“Church is not a place you go to. It’s a family you belong to.” -Rick Warren
In Jesus, we are adopted children of God, we are brothers and sisters to one another, and we have a big brother in Jesus. We take that truth seriously. We hug. We chat. We want to know each other’s names and stories. We are not simply individuals occupying the same space; we are a family.
We Are Innovative
“To reach people that no one is reaching you have to do things that no one is doing.” -Craig Groeschel
We are a high-risk, low-anxiety church because our hope is in Jesus not in our abilities or ideas. This gives us the freedom to try new things, to experiment, and even to fail. If stuff works, we keep it. If it doesn’t, we cut it and try something new.
We Are Welcoming
“If you don’t have a positive experience of church, it’s hard to have a positive experience of God.” -Pastor Greg
We want you to love being at church and feel like you belong here. So, we’ll greet you with a wave in the parking lot and a warm cup of coffee in the lobby. What you’ll find at RiverLife is a God who loves you, people who welcome you, and a place to call home.
We Have Fun
“It’s a sin to bore a person with the gospel.” -Jim Rayburn
Church shouldn’t be boring. We want RiverLife to be a positive, life-giving experience that you enjoy coming to each week. So, we smile, laugh, and try not to take ourselves too seriously. We’re all on this faith journey together, so let’s make it a fun ride.
Learn More about Our Vibe
“Would you describe yourself as family-oriented, welcoming, innovative, and fun? Do you contribute to our vibe or detract from it? If not, are there some people you can bring around you to help you move in this direction? Because I alone can’t create this. We all create this vibe. And I love that so many of you contribute to this vibe every single Sunday morning. Let’s keep doing it.” -Pastor Greg