A BUILDING FOR OUR
CHURCH TO CALL HOME
FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, A MIRACLE BUILDING IS WITHIN REACH
God planted the dream of a miracle building in our hearts over two decades ago, and we’ve prayed and saved ever since.
In July 2024, Jubilee Community Church rang to ask us if we’d be interested in purchasing the church building they’ve now outgrown.
Our answer?
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
But it won’t be easy. If this is God’s will, then we know there are miracles waiting ahead of us. Big ones. Not least the money we need to raise. It’s going to be an incredible journey, and we want you to be a part of it.
Our Miracle Building will be birthed out of prayer.
THE STORY TILL NOW…
2025 will be River’s 50th birthday.
This means that almost 50 years ago, we started as a house church called the Marlow Fellowship. Over time, we outgrew the living room and other gathering spaces so we met in Maidenhead Town Hall, we continued to grow, we joined forces with another Marlow church and became River Church, we multiplied and planted more congregations and these days our Maidenhead fellowship meet in Altwood School.
But since 2004, this has sometimes felt like camping out in the wilderness whilst waiting for the promised land.
Over the years, we’ve been visited by wonderful prophets. People we love dearly, like Dale Gentry, Jim Paul, Steve Backlund and Emma Stark.
Jim and Steve, without realising it, emphasised the same things:
1: There is a building coming.
2: But not yet – it’s not the right time.
“There’s a building coming to you. It’s not now; if it was, it would be an albatross around your neck not a dove of peace”
“There’s a miracle building coming.
Getting that building is going to be easier than you think.”
But then, a few years ago, Emma Stark came and told us that now is the right time.
“Pursue the building; get the building team in place; this is the opportune moment to own territory.”
It’s clear, looking back, that every building we pursued would have been an albatross around our neck.
The building from Jubilee, however, feels like a dove of peace. So far, we haven’t even had to push on doors, they’ve been opened for us. Previously, doors wouldn’t open at all. Not even with a crowbar.
Jesus immediately said to them, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
Matthew 14
WHY DO WE WANT A BUILDING?
Our church is named after the river in Ezekiel 47. This river flows from the temple and brings life wherever it goes, and it goes to some very dead places.
Our vision is to bring that life – the life of Jesus and His Kingdom – wherever we are.
A building won’t do that. The building isn’t the vision. You are. The people who make up our church family are the vision, and we want that family to grow and grow. As we grow, we want to bless our town and introduce as many people as we can to Jesus and the life that He brings.
Our opportunities will increase exponentially to impact Maidenhead, bringing hope, joy and the love of Jesus wherever we go. We are already an outwards focused church, constantly seeking ways to bless those in need, partner with other groups and organisations and see Maidenhead thrive as a community.
A building isn’t just to ease the logistics of hosting Sunday mornings – it enables us to be in the centre of our community providing practical and spiritual support.
We are passionate about being involved in our town, reaching out to its residents with the love and life of Jesus… Having a permanent home will provide the ideal springboard for this.
The building isn’t the vision, the people are…
HOW CAN I SUPPORT?
There are two main areas we need help:
1: Prayer
This is the most important of all. We really need God to answer our prayers, without him, there will be no miracle building.
2: Money
We need just over £1 million.
It’s a huge amount of money. But incredible value for a ready-made church building. We truly believe that God is in this, so if you have any money to give, please consider contributing.
