Hope Is Knowing God Is On Your Side

WHO WE ARE

We at RVFC are called to help people become joyful, mature followers of Jesus.


God in the Bible tells us being a joyful, mature follower of Jesus is the true good life in this world.  It is also the one that will be best rewarded for all eternity in the next. We need to have an eternal perspective.



We want to become a fellowship of believers who continually grow in bringing the light, love, and hope of Christ to our neighbors for their good and God's glory.



We are loosely associated with Venture Church Network Northeast. We function like a baptistic non-denomination church, although by Constitution we are a Baptist church.



A Small Church With A Big God - And Big Aspirations


Do You Have Questions?

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Our Team

  • Ed Moser, Pastor

    Rev. Dr. Edward Moser grew up in nearby Ellington, CT. He brings to the ministry at River Valley a degree in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Duquesne University. Pastor Ed has a passion and a gift for proclaiming God’s word clearly and in a manner that connects with people at various spiritual levels. He has been at River Valley since December, 2005.


    In his spare time, Pastor Ed likes to exercise (Zwift & Kinomap), read history and philosphy, and listen to music - everything from contemporary Christian worship to classical to bluegrass.  He's an avid New England Patriots fan.  Now in his early sixties, Pastor Ed is content with God’s call to live life as a single person, making use of the extra time it affords him for ministry and learning.

  • Wayne T. Despard, Deacon

    Wayne Despard grew up in Windsor Locks.  He has been a dedicated servant in the church for decades.  


    Wayne is married to Sandy, and has two grown children and six grandchildren.  He is an avid sportsman. He's also a great handyman.

  • Worship Team

    Lori Beauchesne and Kyle Chmielecki comprise our Worship Team at present, with Lori being the leader.  Both are gifted musicians. Lori has an amazing voice. They desire to lead the congregation into God's presence each week.  They would love to add more people to the team.  Interested?

  • RVFC Children's Teachers

    We have dedicated children's teachers at RVFC. Donna Dufour, June Lawrence, Brandon Blais, and Wayne Despard. They are committed to providing hands-on, memorable Bible lessons each week, that will help your children grow in character.

  • June Lawrence & Lori Rutovich, Deaconesses

    The deaconesses at RVFC serve in various ways, but have a special concern for the woman at RVFC.

Practical Beliefs

We Believe ...

  • that God loves people
  • that he wants people to live truly meaningful and satisfying lives
  • that he told us how we can do that in the BIble
  • that we need Christian fellowship to help us to do it

We Believe in ...

  • accepting people as they are, while encouraging growth
  • cultivating loving, supportive friendships
  • making a difference in the community
  • helping families and individuals meet the challenges of living in the 21st century



Abbreviated Doctrinal Statement

  1. The Bible is God's inerrant, infallible word.
  2. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are co-equal and co-eternal.
  3. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh and our only Savior.
  4. The Holy Spirit is at work in salvation and sanctification.
  5. All people have sinned and need to be forgiven.
  6. Jesus Christ is our substitutionary sacrifice.
  7. Salvation is by grace through faith alone, and believers are eternally secure.
  8. Jesus Christ was resurrected bodily, and his return is imminent.
  9. Everyone will be resurrected bodily and spend eternity in either heaven or hell.
  10. Believers baptism by immersion is the condition for local church membership.
  11. The Lord's Supper is symbolic of Christ's body and shed blood.

Full_RVFC_Doctrinal_Beliefs.pdf

Our Story

  • River Valley Fellowship Church (RVFC) came into existence on June 25, 2006 at the Windsor Locks Senior Center when a group of believers voted to accept the name and Constitution and By-laws of the church.

  • Those believers had been members of Immanuel Baptist Church of Suffield, Connecticut, and so RVFC has an earlier history.

  • In 1981 a group of people in Suffield, CT committed themselves to learn more about Jesus and to sharing the gospel of Christ with people.
     
  • Pastor Len Waterman, who was a Conservative Baptist Church Planter led the original Bible Study, which consisted of 6 people. The group soon grew. 

  • The first church service of Immanuel Baptist Church was held in July, 1982 with 14 people in attendance. 

  • David Johnson was called as the pastor of IBC for that first service. Pastor Dave and his wife Christina served for 11 years at IBC. The church grew numerically and in the knowledge of God’s Word under his leadership. 

  • In 1994 the church called Pastor Alan Graffam, who brought a new vision for a cell church ministry to IBC. Pastor Al and his wife Paula served at IBC for 9 years growing the church spiritually through his preaching ministry, focus on practical application of God’s Word and oversight of the cells of the church.

  • In November 2005 the church then called Dr. Edward Moser as the pastor of IBC with an understanding that the church was looking for a new start. Within a few months Pastor Ed had established a Transition Team, which selected a new church name, wrote a new Constitution and By-Laws, and detailed a new mission and ministry style for the church. All of the recommendations of the Transition Team were accepted by vote of members of the church and River Valley Fellowship Church came into existence on June 25, 2006.