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| Frequently Asked Questions |
| We know what it's like to try anything for the first time - the anxiety, the
questions, the curiosity. So
we've come up with the top nine questions people have before visiting a church.
How did we come up with
this list? We all started off as first-time guests, too! |
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1. What kind of church?
River Oak adheres to a unique philosophy of ministry, a purpose-driven
ministry. This means that
everything we do is done to support or as a result of our purpose. River Oak's
purpose
is
to lead people
into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and membership into His family,
develop them to
Christlike maturity, and equip them for their ministry in the church and life
mission in the
world, in order to magnify God's name. Just as there are three main environments in your home (foyer, living room, and
kitchen), it seems that
there are three main environments that are most important in leading people
into a growing relationship
with Jesus Christ at River Oak: |
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| Foyer Environments: (Sunday morning celebration) |
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 The front door area of your home where people feel like a guest. Offering a
Sunday morning celebration time which includes worship, Caraway Street, and
Helping Hands (nursery).
The foyer environment is the time when we put our best foot forward seeking to
be exceptionally warm
and inviting to each member, attender, and guest. Here you feel like a
welcomed guest. Our multi-media, contemporary music and practical messages are
used to present the timeless truths of Scripture
at an introductory level easily understood by non-churched people. |
Living Room Environments: (Sunday morning Bible Encounter) |
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  The environment where people begin to connect relationally. This includes
service/ministry teams and teaching units that nurture and disciple
individuals. These groups are
brought together for a purpose of leading a ministry or teaching a group.
Living Room environments
include Bible Encounter classes and Classes 101,201,301,& 401, our Caraway
Street team, setup and
take-down crews, worship teams, each of the teams forming around our bases.
These groups may be
10-40 people in each. Here you feel like a friend. Bible Encounter classes
that occur after the worship
celebration
provide small group discussion and learning at every age level that brings
God's Word into
practical, everyday living. Here social interaction cements individuals into
relationships where they get a
sense of belonging. |
Kitchen Environments: (LIFE Groups) |
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 The intimate, sharing area of your home where "real" discussion occurs. Our
goal is to move everyone in River Oak to the kitchen environment. These groups
are for the purpose of
networking and connecting with others in groups of no more than 8 couples.
There is an automatic sense
of genuine, relationally-driven accountability. When someone is gone, they are
missed and contacted.
Here is where care takes place. This includes our L.I.F.E. Small Groups and
InsideOut. |
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2. What should I wear?
The casual dress code of River Oak is different than most churches. People are
encouraged to come in
whatever casual wear is comfortable for them. So feel free to leave the tie at
home and
if you like, put
on your jeans this Sunday and try us on for size. |
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3. How
long will the service last?
The weekend services at River Oak typically last an hour, with the average
service coming in at around 1
hour 5 minutes. |
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4. What
will the service be like?
River Oak adheres to a unique philosophy of ministry. Our service includes
multi-media, contemporary
music, and practical messages are used to present the timeless truths of
Scripture at an introductory
level easily understood by non-churched people. |
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5. Will
I have to say anything, sign anything, give anything, or be singled out in any
way?
As a guest at River Oak, you can rest assured you will never be put on the
spot, never singled-out, and
never embarrassed. Further, if you are a guest, you will be encouraged to not
feel obligated to
participate in the offering. Our hope is that you will let the service be our
gift to you! You don't have to
sign anything, or register your attendance in any way (unless you place your
child in our children's
ministry - for security reasons, we have to get some basic information). |
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6. What
about my kids - do they come in with me, or is there something going on for
them?
Our children's ministry, KidZone, provides an exciting, quality experience for
your birth-4th grade child
simultaneously with each and every service. This allows you to maximize your
experience at River Oak
while your child is receiving high-levels of care and attention. |
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7. Is
this a Christian church, or something else?
Though non-traditional in style, River Oak is deeply committed to the eternal
truths of the Christian faith. We are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. |
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8. What
is the time of the service?
Our worship celebration service for adults is on Sunday at 9:00 AM.
Caraway Street for grades K through 3rd grade and High Tide for 4th through 6th grade starts at also starts 9:00 AM.
Bible Encounter for all ages runs from 10:30 to 11:30. |
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9. How do I get there?
Click here to go
to our directions page. |
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