Celebrating 32 Years of God’s Faithfulness at Faith Baptist Church Riverside

September is anniversary month at Faith Baptist Church, Riverside. I started attending FBCR in 1998, and it has become home. Many people have served and supported the congregation over the years: some for 30 years, others for 3 years and others for 3 months. People have come and gone. Relationships have been forged and broken. There have been welcomes and goodbyes. Removals and reconciliations. Weddings, baby dedications, baptisms and funerals have all had their seasons. Projects and programs have started, finished, or failed. Yet, this family of believers has kept marching on. Dynamics inside and outside the church have kept changing, but our mission and message have remained constant. I am very grateful for God’s unfailing grace and unfailing goodness. Here are my four points of gratitude.

For 32 years, the preaching of God’s word has been central. Week after week, the pulpit has not been a platform for opinions or rumblings on social issues, but a steady anchor of biblical truth. Over the years, every preacher opens the Bible, reads it, explains its meaning, and applies it to our lives. Scripture has shaped our convictions, moulded our values, and guided our mission. In every season, the Word of God has been the anchor and the rule of faith and practice. Equipping us for every good work.

I am also grateful for the real sense of family and the oneness—the genuine concern for one another and the meaningful relationships forged. More than just a gathering place, it has been a home where brothers and sisters in Christ rejoice, weep, and bear one another’s burdens. Friendships are forged through various seasons, and some have found marriage partners. Young and old have formed relationships that have left a long-lasting impact on their lives. Wins have been celebrated, burdens and tears have been shared. Some hold bible studies together, others read books. Some host one another for meals, and others invite themselves to their homes! The warmth of genuine love has made the gospel visible, testifying that we are Christ’s disciples.

Another hallmark of Faith Baptist Church Riverside has been its intentional investment in men for pastoral ministry. From the earliest years, the church understood that the health of the body of Christ depends on faithful shepherds. Through mentoring, training, and opportunities for men to grow in ministry, the church has sent labourers into the harvest field. Many pastors and leaders serving today trace part of their journey back to the nurturing environment of this congregation. It is a privilege to see generations of men raised to proclaim Christ and shepherd His people.

Flowing out of this commitment to God’s Word, pastoral training, and family oneness has been a passion for church planting. Faith Baptist Church Riverside has never been content to build within its walls; instead, it has looked outward with the conviction that the gospel must go forth. By sending people, resources, and prayers, the church has participated in planting and strengthening other churches. The willingness to support gospel work is a great blessing to my soul.

As we mark 32 years, we look back with deep gratitude and look forward with eager expectation. The same God who has carried us through these decades remains faithful for the future. May the gospel light shine forth into the utter darkness of the world so that the many peoples may praise the glorious name of our God.