COMING 2027
River City Church is launching early 2027 in Keokuk, Iowa with a clear mission Inspired by the life-giving culture of our Planting church, The Bridge Church in Ottumwa, Iowa! Whether you're new to faith or have followed Jesus for years, our hope is that you’ll encounter opportunities for growth, community, and support. Together, we will take steps closer to Jesus and become the people God intended us to be.
We are launching a church where everyone is welcome, nobody is perfect, and real change is possible. We believe church should feel alive, hopeful, and ready for you the moment you walk in.
Our vision is bigger than a Sunday service. We see River City Church making a real impact across our corner of Iowa, into Illinois and Missouri, through intentional community outreach, a thriving and safe kids ministry that the next generation loves, small groups that build real friendships, and life-giving Sundays filled with powerful worship and biblical, engaging messages that connect to everyday life. We want every first-time guest to feel seen, valued, and genuinely excited that they came.
We are preparing now with focus and faith so that when we launch, we launch strong, unified, and ready to serve our city in a way that makes a lasting difference.
As we prepare to launch River City Church in 2027, we invite you to prayerfully consider partnering with us financially. Your generosity is helping lay the foundation for a healthy, life-giving church in our city, from securing space and equipment to building strong systems that will serve families for years to come. While we are in the process of obtaining our own 501(c)(3) status, our sending and planting church, The Bridge Church, has established a secure giving portal on our behalf. This structure ensures that 100 percent of every gift designated for River City Church goes directly to River City Church, and all contributions are fully tax deductible. Your partnership is not simply funding a launch, it is investing in changed lives and lasting kingdom impact.
HOW YOU CAN HELP US LAUNCH
ABOUT OUR SENDING CHURCH
THE BRIDGE CHURCH
The Bridge Church is the sending and planting church behind River City Church. The Bridge Church exists to make Jesus known to those who feel far from Him, empower believers to live out their God-given purpose, build authentic community, and impact the next generation.
What began as a bold step of faith in Ottumwa has grown into a thriving, multi-campus church serving Ottumwa, Centerville, Fairfield, and Oskaloosa, Iowa and now planting River City Church in Keokuk, Iowa! Over the years, God has used The Bridge to see many lives changed, addictions broken, marriages restored, families strengthened, and countless people take their next step with Jesus. Under the leadership of Pastor Marty Schmidt and his wife Jenny Schmidt, whose passion for their family, the local church, and reaching the lost is unmistakable, the vision has remained clear: build a church where anyone can encounter Jesus and grow in their faith.
Now that same heart and momentum is coming to Keokuk, Iowa through the leadership of Pastor Chris & Abby Sanchez and Pastor Joe and Dena Prainito. This is more than a church launch. It is a faith-filled step toward seeing the Love of Jesus impact Southeast Iowa, Illinois and Missouri! With strong leadership, trusted covering, and a deep love for this community, we believe God is preparing to do something powerful in Keokuk. What He has already done across Iowa, He is ready to do here, and we invite you to be part of what God is building from the ground up.