About Us

About Us

Rivergate Christian Community is a vibrant evangelical church that is committed to being part of the community rather than standing apart from it.   It is earthy and real.   Some phrases you can expect to hear at Rivergate include:

“This is a safe place to be real"
“This is a safe place to ask questions”
“This is a safe place to cry”

Perhaps for these reasons, Rivergate is a church in which many people find healing.

Our Pastor 

Our Pastor at Rivergate is Dr Nick Hawkes.   Nick has two degrees in science and two in theology.   He is the author of a number of books including The Country is Different, and The Dance Between Science and Faith.   He is also the author of the Basics discipling series.   Nick is a noted speaker who has been invited to preach in America and India.   He is married to Mary and has two adult children Michael and Katie.

Location and Map 

Rivergate Christian Community has a Sunday service and a host of small group activities throughout the week for adults and kids.

Our Sunday Service is at 10am (including Kid's Church).
We meet at Athelstone Primary School (in the John Poole Hall) accessed from Brookside Road.

See the map below for directions:
Signs will direct you from Gorge Road opposite the Athelstone Shopping Centre, and from Lower Athelstone Road.

We look forward to seeing you there!

 Rivegate Map

 

Our Values and Vision

Our Vision:
Is to be a:

  • people transforming
  • memorably worshipping
  • friendship providing
  • locally blessing
  • nationally resourcing
  • internationally partnering
    church. 

Our Mission Statement:  
We seek to:

  • worship God
  • grow as disciples
  • bless our community
  • bring others to faith

Our Values:
We commit to:

  • Wholehearted worship   (Mt 22:36-37)
  • Being Bible based   (1 Thess 2:13; 2 Tim 3:16)
  • Being a blessing   (Mt 5:13-16; Rom 15:2; Tit 3:8)
  • Being culturally relevant   (1 Cor 9:19-23)
  • Living godly lives   (Mt 5:16; Rom 12:1; 1 Pet 2:12)
  • Honouring our leaders   (1 Thess 5:12-13; Heb 13:7)
  • Using our gifts   (1 Cor 12:12-27)
  • Excellence   (Num 18:29; Mal 1:12b)
  • Being real and authentic   (Rom 15:1-2)
  • Finishing well  (Jn  19:30; 1 Cor 9:24-27; Heb 12:1) 

 
Our Membership Statement
We seek to:  

  • Pray each day
  • Read the Bible regularly
  • Share our faith
  • Worship together each week
  • Belong to a home group
  • Tithe faithfully
  • Contribute our abilities
  • Accept the lonely and broken
  • Live attractive lives
  • Encourage each other 

 
What we believe:
We believe that:

       1)  There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

       2)  Our Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human.  We affirm his virgin birth, sinless humanity, divine miracles, bodily resurrection, ascension and personal return in power and glory.

       3)  The salvation of sinful humanity is possible only through the merits of Christ's death on the cross on our behalf.  This saving act of God through Christ is received by faith and cannot be earned by doing good works.

       4)  The Holy Spirit indwells believers to enable them to grow Christ-like qualities within them and empowers them for mission.

       5)  God will ultimately judge the living and the dead.  Those who have accepted Christ's death on their behalf and who seek to live as disciples of Christ will be resurrected to eternal life with God.

       6)  The Holy Scriptures (comprising the Old and New Testaments) are divinely inspired, entirely trustworthy and constitute the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

       7)  Christ invites us to celebrate the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion together. 


Who are Crosslink Christian Network?

Rivergate Christian Community does not belong to any denomination but we do belong to the Crosslink Christian Network. This network keeps us accountable, resources us and encourages us. Crosslink consists of about 50 churches, four of which are in South Australia.

To find out more about the Crosslink Christian Network click on their logo below to go their website!

crosslink logo

 

How we are governed

The Board of Directors

(where the buck stops!)

  • Nick Hawkes (Pastor)
  • Mary Hawkes (Associate Pastor)
  • Ross Mc Ilwraith (Company Secretary)
  • Pamela Nelson
  • Suzanne Conniff (Treasurer)

Company Members

(Responsible for determining the policy of Rivergate)
  • Bronwyn Sheldrick
  • Peter Branson
  • Naomi Rattley
  • Craig Priest
In practice, the Board Members and the Company Members combine together as the Management Team to determine policy, ministry and to administer the Rivergate company.   The Management Team meets monthly.

The Leadership Team

The Leadership Team determine Rivergate's ministry (along with the Management Team) and develop teams that will carry them out.   They include the leader's of:

  • Children's ministry
  • Youth Ministry
  • International Mission
  • Local Mission
  • Music
  • I.T.
  • Pastoral Care
  • Adult Home Groups
  • Welcoming & Integrating New People –W.I.N. Team
  • Intercession

Servant Ministries

  • Sunday Set Up
  • Hospitality

Ministers

  • Every member of Rivergate

 

 

 

 

 
 
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