Hebrews 13:8
About Us
Our History
Richmond Christian Fellowship (RCF) as a church began over 30 years ago. Our first Pastor was Bob, followed by Alan.
Initially RCF was a non-denominational church, but after a few years it joined the Foursquare Church of Canada -- which we remain a part of until today.
Our history is diverse; our journey complex at times. Yet God has been gracious and we are still going strong, still abiding by God’s word and still loving each person that walks through our doors.
RCF has always been known as a loving place to be and that is always what we strive to be. No matter where old RCFer’s are, whenever we meet, the bond is as strong as ever. It is amazing to feel that love for each other, even if we haven’t seen each other for many years.
Vision and Value Statement
Acts 2:42
Consistency in following the principles from this verse of scripture will bring results. Jesus asked us to “continue” or “hold fast” to the word. (John 8:31) The principles are: 1) Apostles teaching 2) fellowship. 3) Breaking of bread. 4) Prayer
Word Based
Apostles teaching: We are a group of believers who are motivated by being a word-based Church, rightly dividing the Word of truth. One of the signs of the latter times is that there will be the counterfeit that will masquerade as the genuine, which will if it were possible, deceive the very elect. So let us “get back to the Bible” and derive our vision and values from the Word.
Family oriented
Fellowship: We are a family, consisting of pioneers who have been here for many years supporting and building up this congregation, and also the new generation of people who are looking forward to great things in the future. Hence, while embracing the style and the culture of the “now generation” we also want to build together with those who have been a source of strength and support to RCF all these years. Fellowship is caring for and sharing with each other. What binds us together is love!
Central theme
Breaking of bread: Salvation is the central theme of the Bible. The cross is what we remember in the “breaking of bread”. We want to be people who are always pointing to Jesus, the “Living Bread”. Our theme should always be the cross, and His vicarious sacrifice. Jesus is the main focus in our church. Let us not try to compensate style, music, ethnicity, or personal preference to take the place of exalting the Lord. Nothing else can take its place.
Prayer Acts 4: 31
Prayer cannot be minimized as a mere ritual. This is where we touch God. Nothing can be substituted for prayer. In the Bible, nothing was ever done without prayer, and nothing will be accomplished in the life of the church without it. This is the place of communion with God, form where we get direction, purpose, and power.
Visible in the community – Matthew 5: 13-14: 2 Corinthians 3: 2-3
We do not want to have a “holy Huddle” and be religious, catering only to those whom we feel comfortable with. We want to be “out there” where the people are, giving graciously to the community in tangible ways. We want to be a church that cares, reaching out to the poor, both spiritually and materially, driven with the Love and compassion of Christ.
Forgiving – Matthew 11: 25-26: Isaiah 58;12 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 2 Corinthians 2: 10-11
Forgiving does not mean condoning that which is wrong. It is building bridges across Chasms that are caused by misunderstandings, hurts or even sin. We are called to be “bridge builders”. This means reaching out, being non-judgemental, and sometimes even taking the first step. We must determine to see nothing else but Christ crucified in others. There is no power on earth that can fight against genuine love, which motivates us to forgive. Love is patient and kind, love bears every thing, it does not keep a record of wrong, It is ever ready to believe the best of every person, and love never fails (1 Corinthians 13) Forgiveness crossed boundaries that cannot otherwise be crosses.
Diverse - Matthew 28: 18-20, Galatians 3: 28, Colossians 3:11 Acts 10
We are a church that is multi-coloured, and ethnically diverse. This diversity is not divisive. Diversity becomes divisive only when ethnicity is emphasized. Diversity in RCF is expressed in our worship, flavour, food, teaching and ministry. This is called the “Peter-Cornelius” principle. With this mind-set we reach out with open arms to those who are around us.
Mission minded - Matthew 4: 19 Mark 1:17
We want to be a church that is not pictured as an aquarium, just making the fish happy by maintaining the system, but “fishers of men” That is looking beyond our walls to missions both locally and abroad. There is a whole community out there that has to be reached.
Raising up leaders - 2 Timothy 2:2
This is crucial. Rising up leaders from within the church means, mentoring, Pastoring, nurturing, and protecting. This requires patience, discipline, submission to authority, long-suffering and love. This is not essentially the work of one person, but it also involves the whole church. We are all in this together, looking out for each other, and protecting each other.
Aspiring Spiritual gifts - Ephesians 4: 11-13, 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Corinthians 14 Acts 4:31
This is ordinary people doing extra-ordinary things for God through the power of the Holy Spirit. The five-fold ministries working within the framework of the Word is of utmost importance. These are gifts given to the building up of the body of believers. Just like the fish that needs water to live, and we need air to breathe the Church cannot do without the Holy Spirit and His guidance. He is here to inspire, teach, exhort, correct, and fill. We must be ready to express what He gives to us with out fear within the context of His word. The Church as a whole must desire these gifts and be motivated to “move in the Spirit”
Separated – John 8:23 2 Corinthians 6:17 2 Corinthians 3: 2-3
Oswald Smith, the founder of People’s Church once said, “I looked for the church and I found it in the world, and I looked for the world and I found it in the Church”. While we are encouraged to “go into the world” to be a testimony, we are to be separate from the attractions and this culture. Our walk, talk, attire, attitude and life must conform to the word. We are not perfect, but we must aspire towards a higher goal.
Awaiting His return – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Revelations 22:20
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