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History
Birthed through the classic Pentecostal movement, New River Church has a rich multicultural heritage and was caught up in the wave of the Holy Spirit that swept the UK Church in the 1980’s and 1990’s and continues to flow through us to this day.
New River has a long history in North London. It started life situated alongside the New River. This was followed by a few years in Wood Green and then Muswell Hill. Dave and Sue eventually took on the leadership in 2002 and in 2006 New River moved into our current premises on Croyland Road Edmonton as part of a merger with Croyland Evangelical Church. In recent years the church has grown substantially and established itself as an essential part of the community in Edmonton.
Values
Family
The Kingdom of God is a family not an organisation. That’s why we pray ‘Our Father’. We believe that God uses family to build His Kingdom, in fact God completed the greatest mission ever - the salvation of the world - through family when He sent His Son. It is also the very heart of Jesus. In John 17, Jesus prays that we, as believers, would be one. At New River we celebrate and mourn together. We share in each other’s burdens, we contend for each other’s breakthrough. Family is at the heart of all we do.
Presence
In the wilderness the Israelites moved wherever the pillar of fire or cloud went. So it is with us. We are a people who camp around the presence of God. If God doesn’t show up we might as well go home. In Exodus 33:15 Moses declares “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”
Our cry is the same. That doesn’t mean we do not value the word, fellowship or worship, we just don’t value it without the presence of God.
Kingdom minded
Jesus instructed us to seek first His kingdom. We desire to build the Kingdom of God, not just New River. This means we are releasing of people and their gifting and it also means we believe in strong partnership and relational unity with other local Christians and churches. New River Church is involved with: Enfield Church Leaders Network, Street Pastors, Directions, Pray London, Viva Network, Paalam Project and The Cinnamon Network. We are also a member of The Evangelical Alliance.
Mission
Jesus did not give a mission to His church; He formed a church for his mission. Without the mission the church is not the church. Jesus has commissioned us to make disciples of all nations. This means we are a local church with a global vision. We serve and witness to our community but we also support and send missionaries all over the world.
Worship
When Jesus is asked to teach the disciples how to pray he says ‘your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ The picture we get of heaven in Revelation and other places is constant, non-stop worship. If earth is to reflect heaven then worship must be at the centre. We believe that it is God’s desire that we become, first, worshippers of God. For this reason, we value worship that permeates every aspect of our lives, as well as the gathered worship experiences where we say “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Rev. 5:13) in song.
Statement of faith
NICENE CREED AD351
WE BELIEVE in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
New River is a member of the Evangelical Alliance and adheres to the EA Statement of Faith
