The Rest of the Story...

Commonly asked questions (and answers) from Pastor Rob Ketterling

Who started RVC?

I started the church along with my wife, Becca.

Why did you start RVC?

We wanted to start a new church while I was a youth pastor in Milwaukee, WI.; a church that would be relevant to the changing culture and also friendly, creative, and “outside the ordinary.”  So back in 1995, I loaded up my family, moved back to the metro area and launched RVC. We knew it would be a different kind of church, one that would embody impactful ministry while meeting the needs of this growing community. We had no idea what we were getting into, but as we look back now, we wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.  It’s been the greatest ride of our lives!

How has RVC grown since the early days?

In September 1995, a group of 40 people met for the first time at Shannon Park Elementary School as Hosanna Christian Center (later to be named River Valley Church).  After outgrowing Shannon Park elementary and then Falcon Ridge Middle School, River Valley Church moved in November 2000 into its own innovative building where the congregation has continued to grow to over 1,400 people.

What is the future vision of RVC?

It’s amazing that we have achieved the initial goals set for this church when it first began – growing to a church of 1,400, having an annual missions budget of over $350,000, purchasing our own building and planting our first church.  I believe RVC will continue growing to a church of 3,000!  We will then start new churches/satellite locations across the metro area.

Why do we do what we do the way we do it?

It’s simple: people matter to God even if they don’t know it yet. So we strive to meet them in their comfort zone, with messages that deal with their everyday challenges, hopes and heartbreaks.  And in ways they can relate – through movies, books and music because we believe God is present in all things, at all times. You just have to open your eyes.  


Our beliefs

Missions @ RVC