Riverwood readies for major ministry expansion
WINNIPEG, MB—"Modest facility, but major impacting ministry" is one of the key phrases the leadership team at Riverwood Church Community is using as the Elmwood-area church expands its facilities to accommodate the growing number of people attending its Sunday morning services and weekday programs.
For the past three years, Riverwood—located in an 18,500-square foot building on Riverton Avenue—has drawn more people to its three Sunday morning services than it has room for. The church also owns a food bank and drop-in ministry nearby on Talbot Avenue called Community of Hope.
Last year, the church bought an old firehall on Talbot Avenue that previously served as the home of Youth for Christ. The church is moving its offices from the Riverton building to the second and third floor of the building, with the main floor to serve as a 160-seat community gathering space and auditorium.
The church also bought a 2.7-acre property nearby on Riverton. The property includes a 6,000-square foot auditorium fit for 400 people.
In a video the church released online for its members in January, lead pastor Todd Petkau explained that the four-building, multi-site approach will allow the church to stay in Elmwood without building a multi-million-dollar, 1,500-person big box church.
"We believe that God has got an amazing future in store for us, and it involves four facilities, brilliantly networked together, [a total of] 44,000 square feet of functional ministry space within this community so we can continue to do what God has called us to do together," Petkau says.
Petkau added that part of the church's philosophy is, "Everybody serve, everybody give." With members donating their time and money to work on the renovations, the church will be able to renovate its facilities for a modest $1.2 million.
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