About Us
Learn about our mission, values, leadership, beliefs, denomination, and our history.
Mission & Values
Our mission is simple yet transformative: we are a next-gen Hmong church experiencing God together.
We’re committed to passing on faith to the next generations by creating authentic encounters with God that change lives. We believe people experience God best in community, not just by consuming content, but by singing, praying, serving, learning, and growing together.
Our mission calls us to a faith that is experiential, theological, and communal, empowering people of all ages to know God deeply, love others well, and live out God’s kingdom every day.
We Apprentice Under Jesus
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:3
Following Jesus is a lifelong journey of being with Him, becoming like Him, and doing what He did. It’s simple, but it’s not easy. Yet together, we learn, grow, and live out His way.
We Are Ministers of Restoration
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Cor. 5:18-19
Through Jesus, God restores our relationship with Him and invites us into His work of reconciliation. We embody His grace and bring His love, hope, and healing to a hurting world.
We Have an Abundance Mindset
"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Cor. 9:8
God’s kingdom is one of abundance, not scarcity. We trust that He provides more than enough. So we live with open hands, free from fear, ready to give and serve.
We Entrust the Next Generation
"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Set an example for believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.” 1 Tim. 4:12
Kids and youth are not the church of tomorrow; they are the church of today. We invest in their faith, empower them to serve and lead, and guide them to hear and respond to God.
We Are Courageously Transparent
"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." James 5:16
We believe true community is built on honesty, vulnerability, and grace. Instead of hiding our struggles, we choose to be real with one another by confessing our weaknesses and sharing our burdens.
We Have Fun Together
“Our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues with songs of joy. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” Psalm 126:2-3
Joy is a gift from God, and we believe following Jesus should refelct that. We laugh and create spaces for fun because faith and joy go hand in hand. Church isn’t just something we attend. It’s a community where we enjoy life together.
We Apprentice Under Jesus
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:3
Following Jesus is a lifelong journey of being with Him, becoming like Him, and doing what He did. It’s simple, but it’s not easy. Yet together, we learn, grow, and live out His way.
We Are Ministers of Restoration
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Cor. 5:18-19
Through Jesus, God restores our relationship with Him and invites us into His work of reconciliation. We embody His grace and bring His love, hope, and healing to a hurting world.
We Have an Abundance Mindset
"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Cor. 9:8
God’s kingdom is one of abundance, not scarcity. We trust that He provides more than enough. So we live with open hands, free from fear, ready to give and serve.
We Entrust the Next Generation
"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Set an example for believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.” 1 Tim. 4:12
Kids and youth are not the church of tomorrow; they are the church of today. We invest in their faith, empower them to serve and lead, and guide them to hear and respond to God.
We Are Courageously Transparent
"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." James 5:16
We believe true community is built on honesty, vulnerability, and grace. Instead of hiding our struggles, we choose to be real with one another by confessing our weaknesses and sharing our burdens.
We Have Fun Together
“Our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues with songs of joy. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” Psalm 126:2-3
Joy is a gift from God, and we believe following Jesus should refelct that. We laugh and create spaces for fun because faith and joy go hand in hand. Church isn’t just something we attend. It’s a community where we enjoy life together.
Leadership Team
Our Beliefs
What we believe about God, how He relates to us, and how we relate to Him are foundational to the way we do church.
We hold to the core, orthodox truths of the Christian faith, and they guide how we worship, lead, and love others. We share this collection of beliefs with The Alliance.
God
There is one God (Deut. 6:4), Creator of all things (Rev. 4:11), who is infinitely perfect (Matt. 5:48), existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19).
Jesus
Jesus Christ is the true God and true man (Phil. 2:6-11). He was sent by the Father (John 20:21), conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin, Mary (Luke 1:34-38). He died on the cross, the Just for the unjust (1 Pet. 3:18), as a substitutionary sacrifice (Heb. 2:9). All who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood (Rom. 5:9). He rose from the dead according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3-4). He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high as our great High Priest (Heb. 8:1). He will come again to establish His Kingdom of righteousness and peace (Isa. 9:6-7).
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a divine person (John 14:16-18), sent to indwell, guide, teach, gift, empower, and bear His fruit in every believer (John 16:13; 1 Cor. 12:4, 11; Acts 1:8; Gal. 5:22-23). He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:7-11).
The Bible
The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for our salvation. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice (2 Pet. 1:20-21; 2 Tim. 3:15-17).
Humanity
Man and woman, created in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:27), fell through disobedience, incurring both physical and spiritual death (Rom. 6:23). Therefore, everyone is born with a sinful nature (Rom. 5:12), is separated from the life of God (Eph. 4:18), and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:25).
Salvation
Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all people (1 John 2:2). Those who repent and believe in Him are justified by grace through faith (Rom. 3:21-24), born again of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-7), delivered from the dominion of darkness, transferred into the Kingdom of God’s Son (Col. 1:13), granted the gift of eternal life, and adopted as the children of God (Rom. 8:14-16; John 1:12).
Sanctification
It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly (1 Thes. 5:23), being separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service (Acts 1:8). This is both a crisis and a progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion. (Rom. 6:1–14)
Healing
Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the whole person (Isa. 53:4-5; Matt. 8:16-17). Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the Scriptures (James 5:13-16) as privileges for the Church in this present age (Acts 4:30).
The Church
The Church consists of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again by the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of His Body (Eph. 1:22-23, Col. 1:18), the Church, which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world making disciples of all peoples (Matt. 24:14, 28:19-20).
The local church is a body of believers in Christ (Eph. 5:30) who are called to love (1 Thess. 3:12) and joined together for the worship of God, edification through the Word of God, prayer, fellowship, proclamation of the gospel through word and deed (Luke 4:18-19), and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:41-47).
Resurrection
There will be a bodily resurrection of all people (Acts 24:15). Our Lord Jesus Christ will judge with perfect justice (Acts 17:31, John 5:28-30) as the unrepentant and unbelieving are raised to the conscious anguish of eternal separation from God (Rev. 20:15, 21:8, 2 Thess. 1:9), and repentant believers are raised (John 6:40) to the unending joy of eternal life with God (Ps. 16:11, Rev. 21:1-4).
End Times
The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent (Hebrews 10:37) and will be personal, visible, and premillennial (Luke 21:27). This is the believer’s blessed hope and is a vital truth which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service (Titus 2:11–14).
Our Story
Discover how RiverLife began and how God has shaped us along the way. Journey with us through the moments that made RiverLife who we are today.
Aug 2012: The Birth of an Idea
Greg hears about a ministry reaching second-generation Koreans and wonders if something similar could be done for the Hmong community. That spark of curiosity becomes the seed that will one day grow into RiverLife Church.
Sept 2012: Dreams & Plans
Greg and Pang Foua begin praying and dreaming about a ministry focused on second-generation Hmong. God starts turning their vision into a calling. What began as a faith-based nonprofit quickly transforms into an idea for a church.
July 2013: The Alliance Approves
Greg and Pang Foua meet with District Superintendent Don Wiggins, who officially approves the launch of RiverLife. What began as an idea now becomes a reality with the blessing of The Alliance.
Jan 2014: God Gathers a Team
The new Ministry Launch Team meets for the first time with seven members (and one baby). A small but passionate group begins laying the foundation for what God will soon build.
Sept 7, 2014: First Service
RiverLife celebrates its first Sunday at Dayton’s Bluff Rec Center with 125 people in attendance. Hope fills the room as a brand-new church is born in St. Paul.
Oct 2014: Our First Move
In less than a month, RiverLife outgrows Dayton’s Bluff and moves to Central High School. Growth comes quickly as word spreads about an English-speaking Hmong church designed for second-gen Hmong.
Feb 2015: Life Together
After training leaders for six months, we launch weekly Life Groups to study God’s Word in together. People begin forming deep relationships that define RiverLife’s culture to this day.
June 2015: Be the Change
Our Community Engagement ministry begins, serving neighbors and those in need. RiverLife starts living out the gospel not just inside the church but throughout the city and Hmong commiunity.
July 2015: Our Second Move
When the air conditioning fails at Central High, we relocate to Washington Tech Magnet School. God uses even the unexpected to lead us where we’re meant to be.
Sept 2015: Blessing on a Stick
RiverLife joins Hmong Minnesota Day at the State Fair. It’s our first opportunity to participate in a big Hmong event. We host a booth to share about the church and our worship band plays a few songs.
May 2016: A Place for Youth
Our Youth Ministry meets for the first time, giving students a place to grow in faith and friendship. Despite meeting in an awkward alcove between a stairwell and lockers, a new generation makes RiverLife their spiritual home.
Feb 2017: A Place to Call Home
We move into our current St. Paul location on the Eastside. After years of being mobile, RiverLife finally has a permanent home where ministry can flourish.
Sept 2017: Mission Change #1
We expand our mission to include third-generation Hmong, ensuring our children also experience God’s hope and healing. RiverLife officially becomes a church for every generation.
June 2018: Pastor to Reverend
After two and a half years of study and preparation, Greg becomes an ordained Reverend in The Alliance. The milestone affirms RiverLife’s commitment to spiritual depth and healthy leadership.
July 2018: Food for the Hungry
We launch The RiverBank Food Shelf to provide diverse foods for a diverse community. We distribute food weekly out of the church. Every bag of groceries becomes a tangible expression of God’s love.
Apr 2019: Packed House
More than 500 people pack RiverLife on Easter Sunday for worship, baptisms, and a community egg hunt. Our largest service ever makes it joyful, chaotic, and unforgettable.
May 2019: Mission Change #2
We add “growth” to our mission to highlight life-long spiritual development. RiverLife commits to helping people not just find faith but mature in it.
Oct 2019: The Sent Ones
We send our first missions team to serve at the Envision site in Chicago. RiverLife steps beyond Minnesota to join God’s work in the wider world.
Mar 2020: We Move Online
When the pandemic hits, we close down in-person services and launch RiverLife At Home, whih we livestream from Pastor Greg’s spare room. Even in lockdown, God keeps the church connected and strong.
Mar 2021: In-Person & Masked
We return to in-person worship with smiles under masks but hearts full of joy. Community feels sweeter after almost a year apart. We master elbow-bumps, distance hugs, and the art of smiling with our eyes.
Sept 2021: We Expand to Multi-Site
RiverLife launches a second campus in Brooklyn Park to bring more hope, healing, and growth to the Twin Cities. One church, two locations, same mission.
Oct 2024: Mission Change #3
We unveil a new mission and refreshed values to guide RiverLife into the next decade. Our vision is clear—to thrive among third and fourth-gen Hmong by experiencing God together.
Why Are We Called RiverLife?
We chose the name RiverLife from Ezekiel 47:9, which says, “Where the river flows, everything will live.” The river symbolizes God’s Spirit bringing life wherever it goes. Our dream is to be that kind of church—where God’s presence flows through us, bringing hope, healing, and growth to our families, our city, and the next generation.
