Riverside Church is a "come as you are" kind of place where people who might not consider themselves particularly religious find grace and a safe space to grapple with the life changing reality of Jesus.
An Evangelical Presbyterian church, Riverside was founded in 2001 with the vision of "learning life together with Jesus for the sake of our city and the hope of our world." The congregation met at Hixson Middle School until last year when it purchased the vacant Church of the Open Door at the corner of Big Bend and Grant Road in Webster Groves.
The congregation is led by Pastor Zack Eswine, PhD. Jen Hahn joins him as the children's ministry director, Katy Martin as senior high ministry team leader and Eswine's wife Jessica as junior high ministry team leader.
Worship service is on Sundays at 10 a.m. Numerous weekly events include "Evening Brew: Asking Our Honest Questions;" children, junior, senior high and college ministries; parenting classes; mother's mornings; men's and women's Bible studies; board game night; house groups; and Alcoholics Anonymous.
The congregation is also active in the community organizations such as the Alliance for Interracial Dignity, the Dr. Martin Luther King annual event, the Clergy Alliance for Racial Equality and Webster-Rock Hill Ministries. The church also supports ministries for orphans in Honduras and ministry leaders in New Zealand.
Pastor Eswine, in addition to leading Riverside, is an author. His latest works include "The Imperfect Pastor" (Crossway 2015) and "Spurgeon's Sorrows: Realistic Hope for Those Who Suffer from Depression" (Christian Focus, 2015).
As pastor of the church, he "longs for a Riverside environment that fosters a prayerful, human, truthful attempt to love and learn from Jesus."
Riverside Church
9440 Big Bend Blvd. • Webster Groves
314-918-9922
