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History


Our story as of June 2013 - 
River City Baptist Church was birthed in the early months of 2011 as God changed the burden of Pastor Justin Soto for the Natomas area into an actual call to plant a brand new church.  Upon the arrival of summer that year, the workings for a new church were in full operation as a location was secured, tracts were printed, and like minded churches began partnering with this new work.  God allowed several families to yoke up with Pastor and his family and so a starting base of 9 adults and 6 children existed prior to the first service.

10,000 door hangers announcing a new church were printed and on September 9, 2011 the first door was knocked with an invitation to experience Christianity as outlined in the book of Acts.  8,600 doors and 5 weeks later, the church was ready for its first service.  On October 9, 2011, within the walls of a freshly painted conference room of Westlake Charter School at 4400 East Commerce Way an empty church sat waiting for its inaugural service.  Somewhere around 10:45 the car of the first guest hesitantly pulled into the parking lot paving the way for many to follow. Of the fifty-three people who attended the first service, forty of them were guests from the local area!  What a blessing.  The second week, traditionally speaking, for a new church may be the hardest as oftentimes the crowd is half of the first week.  We were blessed to have returning families as well as brand new visitors and had a total 45 on our second week.  One guest was a young man named Sina who was born in the Middle East and attending college here in the US.  He returned on Sunday night and after a half an hour of conversation was saved.  Not only was he the first person saved at River City Baptist he was also the first baptism as he returned on week three to follow God's command of believer's baptism.  Nineteen have followed in baptism in our history.  

The winter months can be slow for church growth but work continued and a nucleus of people were being gathered.  On April 15th we had our official charter signing service and we had thirty-six people sign our charter.   

During the summer of 2012 the charter school needed to convert the conference room into two class rooms so we were moved to the gymnasium of the same building.  This would require weekly set up and tear down, but the RCBC folks gladly volunteered as we continued to persevere forward as a new young church.  We labeled October as our anniversary month and pushed to have an increased attendance.  Our average weekly  a.m. attendance of 68 proved to be the best in our church's history to date.  Our efforts to find a new place were increased as it seemed like that next step was the one that God would have for us. 


2013 came and the steady growth continued.  119 people attended on Easter morning which was and still is our record attendance.  On April 10th we signed a lease to move to our new building.  We are anticipating a July 7th move-in date and are thrilled with anticipation as to what God has in store for us.  

This could be labeled the incomplete history as we're just getting started.  Join us on a Sunday or Wednesday and be a part of something that is without a doubt, God blessed.