River West Church started in 1989 when a small group of Christians gathered together to pray that God would transform their lives and their community in a special way. God is still answering that prayer today. What started out as a small prayer group soon became the planting of a new, non-denominational Christian church. Pastor Guy Gray, along with his wife Maureen and three children, answered the call to come and pastor this tiny new church plant. The story that follows from that prayerful beginning is the story of God’s grace and love at work in many lives.

God is ever at work, by His grace, to bring forth newness of life in the wastelands of our world. Our story is the story of how God is drawing us together to become a community of Christ—a community built on our shared faith, life and mission in a broken world.

The name “River West” was chosen because of a promise from the Book of Isaiah: "Forget the former things and do not dwell on the past. Look, I am doing a new thing! I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:18-19)

A river is a flowing, refreshing, renewing source of life. At River West Church, we believe our church experience ought to be the same. The story of River West Church isn't the story of a religious organization, or particular place of worship—a church building. It's the story of people whose hearts have been captured by Jesus Christ.

Over the years, River West Church has grown into a vibrant community of faith. Along the way, we have been through all kind of transitions. For over 10 years we were a mobile church, setting up in auditoriums and school cafeterias in Southwest Portland. Then we purchased our first small church building in Lake Oswego. Since then we have moved again to accommodate our growing community of faith. But through all the transitions, the heart and mission of River West Church has stayed the same: building a community of Christ for the world.

River West Church is a community of people who have come to faith in Jesus Christ. Each one of us has a story. Every journey to faith is unique. But there is one common thread that binds us all together: our shared faith in Christ.

In many ways, the story of River West Church is the blending together of many personal stories of faith in Christ: stories of rescue and reconciliation, despair turned to hope, guilt finding forgiveness, and bitterness swallowed up by joy. Each story is unique. Some came to faith late in life, others responded as children, having seen the love and faith of Christ in their home. None of our stories are finished. There are still struggles and setbacks and breakthroughs yet to come. But for each there is a common theme: Jesus is the hero of every story.  

Christ is taking our individual stories and weaving them into a tapestry of faith, hope and love called Christian community. Faith in Christ has opened the door to a whole new life… a whole new world. A radical gift has been given: a love infinitely deep, a salvation immeasurably great, a hope that cannot die. The implications are extreme. Apathy gives way to passion. Because we believe, we step forward; we answer the call of Christ. We join the quest to experience, understand, serve and proclaim Jesus.  

This is our story.