The River will be sending a team of folks to the national Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) Conference taking place this upcoming November 5-8, 2025 in Grand Rapids Michigan. Christian Community Development Association’s annual conference has been inspiring, training, and connecting Christian community development practitioners for close to 40 years. The conference will have amazing speakers, workshops, worship, networking sessions, and more.
The River Compassion and Justice Ministries
At the River Church Community we are a people on mission, and our focus initiatives this year are in the areas of Food and Shelter.
Upcoming Workshops and Events
Compassion & Justice Volunteer Celebration
Sunday, August 31 | 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Did you volunteer at a Compassion & Justice event in the last year? We will be celebrating you and all of our volunteers who have served with us over the past year. We will be remembering and honoring the work that’s we’ve accomplished together after the second service in the upstairs lounge! Please RSVP so we can have an accurate head-count for catering!
San Jose Pride Parade
Sunday, August 31 | 10:30 – 12:00 PM
The San Jose Pride Parade begins Sunday morning in downtown San Jose on Julian St. & Market St. and ends at Plaza de César Chávez Park. All individuals, groups, and organizations who wish to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community are welcome. A group of us from The River Church Community will be gathering and attending together. If you are interested or would like more information, contact Uchanma (Iheoma) at Iheoma@the-river.org
Sankofa Fall 2025 Pilgrimage
Wednesday, September 25-28 • Atlanta, GA
Sankofa (Fall 2025) is a powerful, immersive pilgrimage taking place September 25 - 28, starting and ending in Atlanta. Centered on the African concept of “seeking from the past to move forward,” this historic justice journey leads participants through Civil Rights sites in Birmingham, Jackson, and Memphis to foster understanding, lament, and racial reconciliation. All participants will be required to find their own partner for this pilgrimage. Designed for believers to deepen their faith and commitment to justice.
CCDA National Conference 2025 Interest Meeting
Dates TBD - Signup for notice
River Rule of Life
Resources and Church Collaborations
River Small Groups: Ballot Party
How to Fight Racism with Jemar Tisby
Reading While Black | A Public Conversation with Dr. Esau McCaulley
The River Church Community Disaster Response Website & Resources
Anti-Racism & The Church Webinars | Moving towards True Repentance | Dismantling Systemic Racism
The Color of Compromise with Jemar Tisby
Austin Channing Brown "I'm Still Here"
Oriented to Love Fishbowl Dialogue on Sexual/Gender Diversity in the Church
Compassion & Justice Call to Action
Civic Engagement: This month live your faith out loud by speaking at a civic forum, city council meeting, school board meeting or legislators via 5 calls app (an app that facilitates phone calls to legislators), What does your faith say about your issues in our world? Take some time to reflect, and move into action, speaking out!
Download the app "5 Calls: Contact your Congress" or visit the website https://5calls.org/.
Taco Talk
Taco Talk fulfills the compassion & justice objective to equip the community to engage thoughtfully and gracefully the conversations of our day with theological depth and understanding. Taco talk is a facilitated sharing dialogue for small to medium/large groups of people on one of the following topics: Race & Ethnicity, technology, life in silicon valley, wealth, gender and sexuality, housing. Talk with Iheoma for more information.
Sustainability Cohort
A majority of Compassion & Justice initiatives are outward focused, this one is inward focused, helping the River practice creation care and increased ecological sustainability. There are a number of initiatives (and increasing) available for members of this cohort. From the "Smiling Mug" initiative to our regular "Park Cleanups" of our local green space stay tuned for an upcoming workshops and events! Talk with Iheoma for more information.
Compassion & Justice Ministry Model
Service Teams &
Volunteer Opportunities
The River Church community is a proud partner and collaborator with Abrahamic Alliance International as they work with Jewish, Muslim & Christian communities to serve the poor. See future Abrahamic Alliance events here:
More information about other upcoming events can be found on our flowpage or contact Iheoma.
People on Mission
Compassion & Justice
River Church Ministry Partners
River Church financially supports Ministry Partners locally, nationally and around the world. Check this space for updates on ways you connect, pray and support them even further. Learn about the people who our church has partnered with, learn about their organization and ministry and about their service work in the communities in which they are embedded.
One of my roles as a campus minister with InterVarsity is coaching and training staff to reach and love LGBTQ+ students and faculty with the radical and sacrificial aloha of Jesus Christ. While the organization has a traditional theology around marriage and sex, we work on secular campuses with students and faculty holding a range of beliefs. Good theology drives Christians to see queer people reflecting the image of God and to walk with them to know Christ.
Francesca serves as part-time staff with Transform Arts under Cru in the Bay Area. She has a focused ministry on discipling and encouraging artists within her community- specifically dancers and actors. She also participates in an anti-trafficking art ministry (in partnership with Transform Arts and Reintegra) that has taken her to Mexico City several times in recent years. This year, her ministry focus is specifically on actors seeking to know more about God through community. She will also be running an anti-trafficking training workshop specifically with arts advocacy in mind, and specifically designed for artists seeking to use their gifts to serve this particular community of women.
EvaSUE has recruited twelve new campus staff members to join the ministry, bringing the total number of EvaSUE staff members to 112. In the past weeks, these staff members have gone through our Staff Orientation Training. We are so excited for these staff members and their commitment to “Follow the King” in campus ministry. They are ready! We thank God for them! Please join us in praying for these workers as they head to their assigned regions and for God to give more supporters to their needs!
Gary Claassen is the Bay Area Director with International Students Inc. He and his wife Lily absolutely love fostering a global community, mentoring team members, and supporting students in their goals to make a difference around the globe. International students are truly courageous as they leave home in this season of life and Gary’s teams are equipped to be extended family for them. It’s a rare ministry that has a global reach and an eternal impact. Would you consider being a part of it?
