When Rev. Debra Klein walked into the Riverside Park Church of God in 2005, she encountered a congregation that was bruised, hurt, and angry. Several years of intense trials had resulted in heartache and distrust. Attendance had dropped from as many as 150 to no more than 20. However, since accepting the call as senior pastor, Rev. Klein has seen a spiritual awakening take place among those who attend the church.

During Rev. Klein’s first year at Riverside Park, the church welcomed seventeen new families, followed by seven more during the second year; and an average of one new family began attending each month during the first half of 2007. Not all have remained at Riverside, but with each family that felt called somewhere else, God has been faithful to provide more people who are hungering for a relationship with him and his children. Current average attendance is more than 50, and encompasses a wide range of age groups. The church is also blessed to have its Sunday school and midweek attendance at 80 percent of the weekly worship attendance. This includes people who may attend another church on Sunday but come on Wednesday because they like the class offerings. Something very unique to Riverside Church is that many of the families attending do not live near the church but travel from other areas to attend. Three families drive an hour because they so desire what the church has to offer.

Rev. Klein attributes the success of Riverside Church to several important things. First and foremost, everything they do is bathed in prayer. No decision is made without first praying about it. Special times of prayer are set aside each Wednesday evening and Sunday morning before any activity begins.

Another important aspect in the life of the church is that it offers practical classes to help people where they are in their daily walk. Even when attendance is low, there are always at least three classes to choose from, and each class includes members from more than one generation. As the congregation grows, new classes will be added.

Fellowship also is a big part in the life of the church. All-church barbeques were held each week this past year at the parsonage. Church members were invited to come, bring food and friends, and spend an evening eating, laughing, and enjoying time together. Although the faces changed from week to week, each barbeque was always a success no matter how many people came. The community of Livonia itself holds many large family activities, so the church does not try to compete on a grand scale. Instead, the congregation’s money and energy are spent on building one-on-one relationships.

A practical way of building these relationships came in 2006 when each family in the church was given a portion of the church’s evangelism budget to use in their own neighborhoods. Some bought gas cards for their neighbors; others provided food for families on their block. No mention was made that the church was associated with these random acts of kindness, but new friendships have been forged all over town.

There is a new excitement and vitality at Riverside Church. God is leading in new directions, and although growth is coming slowly, it is coming. “It is easy to measure our success by numerical growth,” says Rev. Klein, “but I believe that numerical growth only comes when you are spiritually connected to God. What we are seeing here is a real spiritual awakening.”