Living Different on Belt Line Road
On a tree-lined stretch of East Belt Line Road in Coppell, Texas, Riverside Church of Christ has made its home for decades. The congregation describes itself as a family of faith that meets together in the name of Jesus with a sincere desire to live differently because of Him. The phrase Live Different runs through the church's vocabulary, and the mission it points to is straightforward: to help people experience a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Members are drawn from Coppell and the wider Dallas/Fort Worth area, and the church is known in its community as a loving, serving, and welcoming place with strong ministries for children, students, and young families.
Riverside's life together revolves around four verbs that frame everything the church does: Live Different, Invite, Invest, Engage. In a world marked by division, isolation, and need, the church welcomes anyone looking for a place to belong, a family to come home to, or a fresh start. Believing that Jesus offers the best life imaginable, the Riverside family seeks to follow His teaching and experience the abundant life He promised.
Sunday Mornings: Bible Class Then Worship
The weekly rhythm at Riverside is built around two Sunday gatherings held at 150 East Belt Line Road. At 9:00 a.m., adults meet for Bible classes while children gather for their own classes at the same hour. The 10:00 a.m. Worship Gathering is the highlight of the week, when everyone from the youngest to the oldest comes together in the presence of God.
Visitors who arrive for the morning will find a relaxed atmosphere. Some come dressed up and others wear blue jeans. Worship is a cappella and instrumental, blending traditional congregational singing with the sounds of the Worship Team, choir, and instrumentalists. A weekly observance of Communion pauses the service to remember what Jesus did on the cross, and a Bible-based sermon follows. First-time guests are invited to pick up a small thank-you gift before they leave.
A Cappella and Instrumental Together
Worship Ministry at Riverside describes its calling in three movements that echo the church's broader mission: to invite people into the presence of God, to invest in the lives of the people around us, and to engage our communities in what matters most. The ministry's heart is to make much of God and to give glory to His name.
There are several ways to serve through Worship Ministry: the Worship Team, the Choir, and instrumental opportunities for musicians; the AV Team handling sound, media, and video technology; Communion Preparation and Service; and Communication roles in graphic design, videography, photography, and verbal or print media. Riverside's services are livestreamed each Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. for those who cannot attend in person.
Shepherds, Staff, and a Preaching Minister
Riverside is led by a group of Shepherds (the term the congregation uses for its elders) and a preaching-led ministry team. Five Shepherds currently shepherd the flock. Paul and Dan have served since 2025 and are longtime members. Jeff has served since 2014 and has been a member with his wife Lisa since 1995. Drew, also a Shepherd since 2014, has been a member since 2011. Frank has served as a Shepherd since 2014 as well.
Jason Graves joined the Riverside staff in 2008 and served as the Spiritual Formation Minister until 2024, when he became the Preaching Minister. A graduate of Abilene Christian University, he earned his Master of Divinity from ACU in 2004. Rhonda Cullum has served as Children's Minister since November 2012 and is a graduate of the University of North Texas with a degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. Lance joined the staff as Student Minister in November 2025, a graduate of Harding University with a degree in Bible and Ministry. The team is rounded out by administrative assistants Claire (since 2022), Gwen (since 2008), and Nicole (since 2024), and the three directors of Butterfly School, Laura Goodman, Laura Chron, and Tracy Truax.
Beliefs and the Meaning of Baptism
Riverside's teaching on baptism is centered on three ideas: obedience to Jesus, identification with Him, and entering new life. At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus was baptized by John, and at the end of His ministry He told His disciples to make more disciples and to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is therefore both an act of obedience and a public identification as a follower of Jesus.
Drawing on Paul's words in Romans 6 that those who are baptized are united with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection, Riverside teaches that in baptism a believer becomes a new creation, as 2 Corinthians 5:17 puts it. Jesus, the church teaches, did not die on the cross to make bad people better but to resurrect people who were dead in their sin to new life. The church holds periodic Baptism Sundays and provides a Frequently Asked Questions document to help people study the topic.
Children from Nursery through Fifth Grade
The Children's Ministry is designed for children from newborn through fifth grade. On Sunday mornings, children from six months through fifth grade attend Bible Class at 9:00 a.m., and children from six months through Pre-K attend an attended nursery during the 10:00 a.m. Worship Gathering. The ministry aims to create a safe, age-appropriate, and fun environment where the Bible is taught in creative and relevant ways.
Check-in for both Bible classes and Worship Gathering happens at kiosks staffed by volunteers, and guests are asked to arrive ten minutes early to register. Parents are asked to remain in the hallway during check-in and check-out, and children are supervised by parents or guardians outside the classroom. Children who are ill are asked to stay home and worship online until they are symptom-free.
Student Ministry for Sixth through Twelfth Grade
Riverside Church Student Ministry, also known as RSM, gathers middle school and high school students from across Coppell and the wider Dallas/Fort Worth area. Sunday meetings happen at 10:00 a.m. in the Teen Room during the Worship Gathering hour, and a Wednesday gathering runs from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on the Riverside campus. The ministry's purpose is to be a safe place where students can grow closer to God, learn about the love of Jesus, and surround themselves with Christian peers.
RSM frames its calling around four commitments: to be disciples of Christ, to be lights in the darkness, to be bearers of His kingdom on earth, and to love God and love others. The ministry partners with parents and adults of all ages to create intergenerational connections and encourages students to be present in their schools and campuses as Christ's ambassadors. Students can follow @riversidestudentministry on Instagram for the latest updates and weekly events.
Adult Bible Classes for Every Season
At 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings, Riverside offers six adult Bible classes designed to deepen understanding of the Bible and to build relationships with other believers. Kingdom Seekers meets in Room 201 and draws young adults and young families. Lifelines meets in Room 208 and is open to mixed ages. Compass Class meets in Room 206 and welcomes mixed ages. My Sisters & Me meets in Room 204 and is a class for women. Together these classes form a key part of how Riverside members grow in faith and get to know one another.
Home Groups Across the DFW Area
Beyond Sunday mornings, Home Groups are the primary smaller gathering for fellowship, prayer, and Bible study. Groups meet on Sunday evenings in various homes throughout Coppell and the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The church's theology of community runs through this ministry: believers are made for relationships and thrive in community, and Home Groups are one of the main ways that reality is lived out.
Women's Bible Study and Ministry
Women's Ministry at Riverside gathers women of all ages around the truth that God has never overlooked women in His story. The Women's Bible Study meets on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in the auditorium for Bible study and fellowship. Throughout the year, special gatherings add rhythm to the ministry: Boards and Bunco in June, Snack and Serve in August, a Favorite Things Party in October, and an Ornament Exchange paired with a Food Pantry Collection in December.
Butterfly School: Thirty Years of Preschool
Butterfly School, the church's preschool ministry, recently celebrated its thirtieth anniversary. It serves children from 12 months through Pre-Kindergarten and uses thematic units to teach pre-reading skills, reading readiness, number concepts, science, and social studies. Special classes in Art, Chapel, and Music enrich the curriculum, and four-day classes attend an additional Science class each week.
Christian values are woven throughout the curriculum. Bible stories, songs, and prayer are part of the daily program. After-school care is offered on campus from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on school days. The school is staffed by a Christian team trained in CPR and emergency care, and each year staff members complete at least 24 hours of training in early childhood development. Tours can be scheduled by calling (972) 745-0372 or emailing butterflyschool150@gmail.com.
Prayer Walking Every Street in Coppell
One of Riverside's distinctive ministries is Prayer Walking. Borrowing the phrase praying on-site with insight from Steve Hawthorne and Graham Kendrick's book Prayer-Walking, the church encourages members to walk through their neighborhoods and pray as they go. The goal is ambitious: to see members of the church prayer walk every street in Coppell.
Members can pick a route from maps covering West Coppell, East Coppell, and Cypress Waters, walk and pray through their area, and then submit their walk so it can be added to the church's tracking map. Prayer walking can be done individually or in groups, and the church provides downloadable tips and resources to help members get started.
Missions: From Coppell to Honduras and the Muslim World
Riverside's missions work reaches from the local neighborhood to the ends of the earth. The church supports mrnet.org, a ministry focused on refugees who have fled to Greece from Muslim-majority countries. Riverside also partners with Reach Out Honduras, which serves the most vulnerable in the remote La Mosquitia region through discipleship, education, and sustainable solutions. In Lewisville, the church supports an Apartment Life team at Chapel Hill Apartments, made up of the Worship Minister Zach and his wife Madison, who have been building relationships with residents since March 2022.
Building Faith at Home
The @Home ministry curates a wide library of resources for families who want to build faith at home. The 9 helps believers grow in the fruit of the Spirit. The Bible @Home Road Map encourages families to spend time individually and together in God's Word. Connected 3D addresses screen-time habits and encourages real-world relationships. Legacy Grandparents equips grandparents to pass faith to the next generation. Tell The Story helps families share their faith stories with others. Faith Path partners with parents as they guide a child's faith journey step by step. The Best Summer Ever and Faith-Filled Holidays guides round out the year with ideas for serving, bucket lists, and seasonal family traditions.
Giving, Sermons, and Staying Connected
Sermons can be watched, listened to, or downloaded, and the Riverside Podcast carries the same messages for those who prefer audio. Online giving is available, and a church directory and member tools are accessible through My Riverside. The church keeps in touch with members and the community through Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Vimeo, and Instagram at @riversidecofc.