Riverside Baptist Church sits along Highway 52 in Helena, Alabama, just off I-65, where it serves both as a gathering place for Sunday worship and as a year-round hub for children and families across Shelby County. The congregation has adopted the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as its statement of faith, and the building pulses through the week: the Early Learning Center and After School Care drop off before dawn, homeschool students gather twice a week for Riverside Christian Academy classes, and Summer Camp fills the gym and playground from late May through early August. On weekends, members and visitors gather for Sunday Bible study at 9:15 a.m., blended worship at 10:30 a.m., and Wednesday night Bible study for all ages at 6:30 p.m. The church also runs a livestream and posts recordings on YouTube so that those who cannot attend in person can follow along.
Sunday Mornings on Highway 52
Sunday at Riverside begins at 9:15 a.m. with small groups for every age. The nursery welcomes babies and toddlers. Preschoolers use Lifeway's Bible Studies for Life curriculum, while elementary-age children dig into The Gospel Project curriculum, divided by age into classes for kindergarten through second grade and third through fifth grade. Students in middle school and high school meet in the POD, a trailer behind the worship center that stands for "Place of Discipleship." On the adult side, five classes gather:
- Joyabel Class - taught by Jerry Hubbard, studying the Life and Ministry of Jesus
- College and Career Class - led by David Long through The Gospel Project
- Paul Class - led by Edgar Rodriguez through The Gospel Project
- Shamgar Class - led by Lead Pastor Chris Wilson through The Gospel Project
- Timothy Class - led by Todd Schaefer through The Gospel Project
At 10:30 a.m., the congregation gathers in the sanctuary for family worship that runs about an hour. The worship is blended, mixing hymns and contemporary songs led by the church's vocalists and band, alongside a tech team working behind the scenes. Children's Church welcomes kindergarten through fifth grade for a portion of the service, and Extended Teaching Care is available for babies through pre-kindergarten throughout the morning. Visitors entering the front doors are greeted by a Welcome Team and pointed toward either a small group or the sanctuary.
Wednesday Nights for All Ages
Wednesday nights at Riverside build on the Sunday rhythm. From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Bible study classes meet in rooms across the campus. Preschoolers and children gather in TeamKID for Bible study, scripture memory, and practical application through the school year, August through May. Students head to the POD for middle and high school study. Adults gather in the Fellowship Hall, Room 110, for their own time in the Word. The church describes these evenings as a chance to go deeper alongside the Sunday gathering.
What to Expect as a First-Time Visitor
Riverside is intentional about helping first-time visitors feel at home. Free parking is available, with easy access from I-65 to the front doors at 1919 Highway 52. The church encourages visitors to dress comfortably and come as you are. Guys typically wear jeans, slacks, polos, or button-downs, with a few choosing a suit and tie. Ladies wear skirts, pants, or jeans. Visitors can engage as much as they like or remain anonymous; no one will single them out. A Guest Form is available so the pastoral team can follow up after the visit, and the church office can arrange a time to meet the pastor if he is missed after worship.
For families with children, babies through twelfth grade meet at 9:15 a.m. for their own time of study, divided by age into separate rooms with age-appropriate surroundings and supervision. During the worship service, all kids are welcome to participate in worship. Nursery and childcare are offered for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers throughout the entire service. After the service, a parent or authorized pick-up person checks each child out from the Sunday School room, with a registration table in front of each classroom staffed by volunteers and staff.
What Riverside Believes
Riverside Baptist Church has adopted the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as its statement of faith. The church teaches that the Holy Bible is God's revelation, written by men divinely inspired and trustworthy in all it affirms. There is one living and true God, who reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, distinct in person but unified in nature. Christ, the eternal Son of God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and through His substitutionary death on the cross provided redemption for humanity. The Holy Spirit exalts Christ, convicts of sin, and empowers believers and the church for worship, evangelism, and service.
Salvation is offered freely to all who repent and place faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, encompassing regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. The church is described as an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, operating under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes, with the office of pastor reserved for qualified men. Baptism is by believer's immersion in water; the Lord's Supper is a memorial act of obedience. Marriage is held to be the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime.
Riverside frames its mission in three words: GATHER, GROW, GO. The church gathers as followers of Jesus for worship, accountability, and encouragement; grows in God's grace through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship; and goes out in mission to proclaim the gospel locally and globally. The church holds that a great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will grow a great church.
Cornerstone Kids and Student Ministry
Cornerstone Kids is the church's children's ministry, with a vision to partner with parents in building a foundation for children to love God, love others, and serve the lost. The ministry runs in a safe, secure environment with trusted parent volunteers who serve on a rotational basis. Every volunteer completes a current background check and DHR clearance before serving. Children's ministry leaders Bill and Pam Golden grew up in Cullman, Alabama, came to faith as teenagers, and have served across the United States in preschool and children's ministry through Bill's military career. They now lead the Cornerstone Kids team at Riverside.
Riverside Students, the student ministry for middle and high schoolers, seeks to lead students into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, to provide a biblical foundation for them to become mature followers of Christ, and to equip them to be witnesses wherever they go. Students gather in the POD for small group Bible study at 9:15 a.m., worship in the Main Sanctuary at 10:30 a.m., and on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. they engage in practical application of biblical truths back in the POD.
Weekday Ministries: A Full Campus
Beyond Sunday and Wednesday, Riverside runs four weekday ministries that serve Helena-area families from cradle through preteen.
The Early Learning Center is a gospel-centered preschool for children from 6 weeks through pre-kindergarten, using Lifeway materials for Bible study and the Abeka curriculum. The center is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., follows the Shelby County School system inclement weather plan, and admits students of any race, color, national, or ethnic origin. Tuition tiers run by age group: $215 weekly for 6 weeks to 18 months, $205 weekly for 18 months to 3 years, and $195 weekly for 3 years through 5 years, with a $125 annual registration fee. A sibling discount takes $15 off the weekly tuition of each additional child. The center does not offer part-time or drop-in care.
After School Care serves as more than just an afternoon program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Riverside provides transportation from Helena Elementary, Helena Intermediate, and Helena Middle Schools. Each afternoon includes a Bible-centered curriculum with daily Scripture lessons and memory verses, dedicated homework help, optional private tutoring, music lessons including piano and the Helena Community Children's Choir, arts and crafts, gym and outdoor play, nutritious snacks, and ministry projects such as making cards for nursing homes and assembling care packages. Monthly tuition runs $280 for five days a week for the first child and $255 for the second, with a $50 annual non-refundable registration fee. Children enjoy a game room, an arts and crafts room, a full-size gymnasium, a playground, a ball field, and a library.
Riverside Christian Academy was established in 2005 in response to the growing movement of parents desiring to educate their children at home. The academy assists families by filing paperwork and records, providing high school transcripts, organizing field trips and class pictures, producing yearbooks, and hosting graduation ceremonies. It also offers on-campus classes twice a week for math, science, history, and English for high school students. Annual tuition runs $250 per family, with a $50 registration fee. Requirements include that the teaching parent be a Christian, regular attendance in a local fellowship, a signed Statement of Faith, attendance at required meetings, and submission of attendance records and a curriculum plan.
Riverside Summer Camp runs from late May through early August for children ages 5 to 12 who have completed kindergarten. Each day includes morning devotion and prayer, Bible study, uplifting worship music, gym and outdoor field games, a game room, music, arts and crafts, themed activities, water days, and a week dedicated to Vacation Bible School. Camp is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with the campus closed on July 3rd. Weekly tuition is $140 for the first child, $270 for two, $390 for three, and $500 for four. A non-refundable registration fee applies per family, plus a $10 weekly deposit that is applied to tuition.
Adult Small Groups and Women's Ministry
On Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m., five adult Bible study classes meet across the campus: the Joyabel, College and Career, Paul, Shamgar, and Timothy Classes. The goal of these groups is to encourage one another in faith journeys and reach family, friends, and neighbors with the gospel through engaging Bible study, support, fellowship, and relationships, helping men and women meet the challenges of being husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, friends, co-workers, and homemakers.
The Women's Ministry is led by coordinators Meredith Wilson and Donna Layton and focuses on nurturing, encouraging, and equipping women to use their gifts in service to God. Two regular gatherings anchor the year. Tables of Grace meets for lunch immediately following worship, with women from middle school age up discussing recent sermon topics over a provided meal. F.A.I.T.H. with Friends - Fellowship, Accountability, Inspiration, Teaching, and Hospitality - gathers on a Friday evening and all day Saturday for personal projects, crafts, or conversation. Each July, the Women's Ministry collects school supply donations from church members and divides them among four Helena public schools for resource counselors to give to students in need.
Worship Through Music
Riverside's Worship Team is comprised of adult vocalists and band members alongside a tech team working behind the scenes. The team's purpose is to facilitate biblical and relevant worship that engages every multi-generational worshipper, encourages the body of Christ, and creates space to encounter the presence of God. Worship is described as both a corporate and private response to God, expressing glory to Him as the congregation recognizes the atoning work of Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit. Worship Music Director Heather Atkins is a native of Birmingham who has lived in Shelby County since age 14. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from the University of Alabama and a Master of Music Education from the University of Montevallo and has served in Riverside's worship ministry since March 2008.
Missions: Local and Global
Riverside describes itself as committed to local, national, and international missions, with the understanding that God is always at work extending the message of His salvation to the ends of the earth. Two partners anchor the church's outreach. Locally, Riverside supports Sav.A.Life Shelby, a pregnancy resource ministry in Shelby County. Globally, the church supports Refuge and Hope International, a faith-based organization serving the urban refugee community in Kampala, Uganda, through programs providing hope, empowerment, and sustainability. A Prayer Covenanters group at Riverside prays for renewal and awakening for the church, the local community, and the world.
Pastoral Leadership and Staff
Lead Pastor Chris Wilson grew up in Alabama, graduated from Troy University in 1996, and earned a Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School in 2000. He has served in ministry in Alabama, in Seattle as a church planter, and in Nashville. He and his wife Meredith were called to Riverside in February 2016. They have four children.
Heather Atkins serves as Worship Music Director. Bill and Pam Golden lead Children's Ministry as Cornerstone Kids leaders. Mission Outreach Ministry Directors include Tracy Lambert for After School Care, Laura Rodriguez for the Early Learning Center, Terri Gossett for Riverside Christian Academy, and Anslie Paulk for Summer Camp. Women's Ministry Coordinators are Meredith Wilson and Donna Layton. The church is led as well by an elected Lay Leadership team that includes an Administrative Ministry Team, Trustees, and Deacons who serve rotational terms.