April 30, 2025
Local News | The Times
Local News

River Valley Church launches in Ottawa

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River Valley Church in Ottawa is pastored by Joel Badal, an ordained pastor who graduated from Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, with Bachelor of Arts and Master of Divinity degrees. He received his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster, Pa. He has over 20 years of pastoral experience and serves as administrative dean for the College of Biblical Studies, a global Bible college which prepares leaders for the church. He is married to Lisa and they have five children. (Contributed)

Nearly 25 years ago, a group of Christian believers in Ottawa formed Illinois Valley Evangelical Free Church, with a commitment to the Bible and the Gospel of Christ. The fledgling work grew, adding new members and discipleship programming.

In 1994, they rented, and later purchased, the old Knights of Columbus building in downtown Ottawa and joined the Evangelical Free Church of America, a fellowship of 1,500 churches who agreed on congregational polity and a common confession of faith (formerly the Swedish Evangelical Free Mission 1884). Other similar mission churches of the Norwegian and Danish groups merged in the 1950s to form the Evangelical Free Church of America. The word "free" in the name means that each local church is autonomous and belongs interdependently to the others in beliefs and mission. Each church calls its own pastor(s) and is self governed without denominational oversight.

In the early 1990s the church saw increased growth, but later experienced seasons of ups and downs familiar to all churches. Four years ago, they purchased the Faith Lutheran Church building at 1611 Adams St., Ottawa.

In 2018, their pastor of nearly 15 years announced his retirement and they learned that other older members would be relocating to different states. The dwindling congregation felt that the work and ministry God had gifted nearly 25 years ago should not cease. They decided to ask the Evangelical Free Church of America to provide assistance with starting a new church.

In February, the church began a "replant strategy."

A replant is a plan to take existing resources from a declining church and use those resources to plant a new church, with the existing membership, its assets and resources.

On July 28, Illinois Valley Evangelical Free Church celebrated a "closing service," with a message from their former, and now retired, pastor.

On Aug. 4, the new church gathered to discuss their mission and vision and, with the assistance of the Evangelical Free Church of America, called a "replant pastor."

They chose the name River Valley Church and continued meeting together from August through October 2019, organizing, planning and preparing the building.

On Halloween, they distributed trick-or-treat bags with candy and church invitations to children and their families in the community.

On Nov. 3, 2019, the church launched public services.

The new church continues to renovate the property and, most recently, remodeled the sanctuary stage.

Plans are underway for an Easter Egg Grab for children in the early spring.

River Valley Church's mission is to glorify God by helping people come to know Jesus, leading to life transformation, becoming fully engaged disciples of Christ. The church is committed to the centrality of the Bible.

The church's pastor is Joel Badal.

River Valley Church meets for worship services at 10 a.m. Sundays. The worship style is a blend of both historic hymns and contemporary Christian songs. The teaching style is expository with messages based on biblical themes and passages. Child care is provided during the Sunday service.

For more information, call 815-434-7230 or go online to myrivervalleychurch.org or, on Facebook: RiverValleyChurch.Ottawa.