Riverdale Baptist is a relatively new church, having been established only in 1963. We are affiliated with the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada and Canadian Baptist Ministries.

At present our membership consists of 82 households, including 140 adults and 84 children and youth. These numbers also include 21 young adults who are out of the Territory at college/university. About one half of our congregation is under 30 years of age. Of 136 adult adherents, 20 are single and 116 are married.

Our average Sunday church attendance is presently at 130.

One of Riverdale Baptist’s distinguishing features is the fact that we are from diverse cultural and church backgrounds including Mennonite, Pentecostal, Brethren, Evangelical Free, Presbyterian and others. As a member church of the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada we respect the individual thoughts of congregants while striving to maintain high biblical standards. We have surprisingly few conflicts of any great significance. We strive for unity of the Spirit and our diversity has become a strength.

Approximately 8% of our congregation is made up of persons who are new immigrants to Canada. These include Chinese and Filipino members for the most part although we also have members whose origins are in Japan, Africa, South and Central America, and Europe.

Riverdale is a very active church and one of the things we are know for in the community is that we are musically blessed. We love to sing and listen to music in a wide variety of styles. Our senior choir, orchestra, worship band and a myriad of talented individual musicians and singers of all ages and stages lend to our worship.

History

The idea of establishing a Convention Baptist Church in Whitehorse was first discussed in 1955 between Everett Ball, an Insurance underwriter for Life Assurance Company, who made regular trips from his home in Edmonton to Whitehorse, Yukon, to visit clients, and Rev. G.M. Ward, who was the Home Missions Secretary for the Baptist Union of Western Canada.

In a letter written from Everett to Rev. Ward in Port Arthur, Ontario, Everett says, “I have a very keen interest in our Convention work and this interest has become greater with my very good friend T. Elgar Roberts being church organizer.” At the time Everett and his family were members of the Bonny Doon Baptist Church, Edmonton, Alberta. Bonny Doon was a Convention Baptist Church affiliated with the Baptist Union of Western Canada.

“In the fall of 1955, the Union had thought to send Rev. T. Elgar Roberts to Whitehorse for an appraisal of the Whitehorse situation, ‘with a possible thought of a work then or later.’ This possibility was discussed with an active layman, Everett Ball from the Edmonton Church, who had taken semiannual business trips to Whitehorse since 1949.”

On these trips Everett attended, and also spoke at the Independent Whitehorse Baptist Church (previously known as Whitehorse Gospel Chapel). Several other Convention Baptist and Mennonite families also attended this church. These folk had difficulty accepting some parts of the Independent Baptist Church constitution’s membership requirements. Ball says, “The constitution (Whitehorse Gospel Chapel) was changed to express completely the doctrinal position and beliefs of the Berean Bible College, some three or four years ago.” These constitutional disagreements finally effected a quiet exit of these members, who then joined together to form the “Baptist Fellowship” later to be known as the “Riverdale Group” and finally the “Riverdale Baptist Church.”

On the thirteenth day of May 1963, fifteen residents of Whitehorse met with Rev. G. Elgar Roberts of the BUWC at the home of Mr. K. Harris, in the Valleyview subdivision of Whitehorse, Yukon. They met to discuss the possibility of starting a Baptist Fellowship in the Riverdale district of Whitehorse, to unite with the Baptist Union of Western Canada.

Several other meetings followed in which this group decided to canvass the Riverdale area to ascertain the Sunday school potential, passed a proposal to purchase property for a proposed church building in Riverdale, and with the suggestion of Rev. J.C.A. Barton, Director of Home Missions, who was present, contact other Baptist churches of the Union of Western Canada to help to raise funds for the mission work in Whitehorse. This was done and with the funds provided by the Union, White Gifts donate by many Baptist Sunday Schools, and much fund raising by the group themselves, money was provided to begin to build.

Planning for the establishment of the new congregation went on throughout the rest of 1963 and by the end of the year the group was meeting for fellowship on a weekly basis. Among those involved in this early stage of Riverdale Church and still active in the present congregation are Loverna Armstrong, Gladys Burrows, Freda Baker and Ursula Heynen.

In January of 1964 an 80 year old, retired minister, Duncan Ritchie arrived in Whitehorse to lead the congregation.

Through the efforts of John Froese, Superintendent of Education, Selkirk Street School was made available to the congregation and on January 12, 1964 the first worship service was held in the school gym. On that Sunday there were 32 in Sunday School and 46 in the worship service.

The Church Manse was built first to accommodate the pastor, Rev. Bob McLaren and his family, and completed in December, 1966. The congregation continued to meet in the school until the first Riverdale Baptist Church building, located at the corner of Tutshi and Teslin roads, was completed in 1968. The Dedication Service was held on November 3, 1968.

By the 1980’s spatial problems had developed in this church building due to the increasing number of members and adherents. Zoning problems prevented the congregation from expanding their existing facility so the decision was made to sell the existing property, buy a larger one and erect a new facility. After much work and praying by the congregation, God led the way and provided the necessary finances to build at a new location on Duke Street in Riverdale.

During the transition time between selling the old building and the new one being erected, the congregation met in several various locations around town, such as, The Seven Day Adventist Church and Jeckell Junior High School.

The new church was finished Nov. 15, 1990 and the Dedication was held August 26, 1991.

Mission Statement

It is the mission of of Riverdale Baptist Church

• To witness into our surrounding community that God alone is to be worshiped and that Jesus Christ alone is the way to God and holistic human experience.
• To provide opportunities for corporate worship for the glory and praise of God, the edification of people and the spiritual development of the church.
• To provide instruction and development through a Christian education program for the understanding of the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ by people of all ages and to promote Christian discipleship as individuals and as a congregation.
• To provide a nurturing and caring fellowship for the support and encouragement of members and our wider community.
• To promote the wider horizons of spiritual concern for spreading the Gospel and providing material help at home and abroad.
• To be worthy stewards for the support of the spiritual and social programs of our Church and denomination.

What We Believe

Riverdale Baptist Church is a Baptist Church in the evangelical tradition. This means we take the Bible as our final authority, and are committed to believing and sharing the “Good News” of salvation from sin for all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Our Church affirms the Apostles’ Creed, which is a summary of the fundamentals of the Christian faith confessed by all major branches of the Church since the 4th Century. We also have our own statement of faith which is part of our constitution.

Riverdale Baptist is affiliated with the Baptist Union of Western Canada and the Canadian Baptist Ministries.

Statement of Faith

We, the congregation of Riverdale Baptist Church, believe in:

1. The unity of the Godhead, the Sovereignty and Grace of God the Father the maker of Heaven and Earth, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
2. The full deity and humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, obedience unto death, bodily resurrection, and future physical return.
3. The work and power of the Holy Spirit in the regeneration, sanctification, spiritual enlightenment and production of the fruit of the Spirit in all who believe.
4. The divine inspiration and authority of the Holy Scripture, and the One it proclaims, in all its parts as the supreme and sufficient rule of faith and practice.
5. The Fall, and our inherent sinful nature prior to regeneration, still recognizing our capacity of sin after regeneration.
6. Regeneration through the confession and forgiveness of sins, and the justification of the sinner by grace through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ.
7. The immediate and unhindered personal access to God, through prayer, for every person who knows Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
8. The Church as established in the New Testament, which includes in God’s covenantal family all believers in Christ.
9. The ordinances of the Church, which are Believer’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.