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About Risen King

The Risen King Story

The story of Risen King begins in 1989, when a small band of believers led by Terry Wardle and Ron Walborn started a new church in Redding. The vision of these initial "Risen King-ers" was to have a church that would be contemporary in style, attractive to seekers, would grow through evangelism and intentional discipleship, and would emphasize Kingdom ministry through small groups – priorities that endure to this day.

Although they met at first in the senior pastor's garage, before long it became evident that they would need to find larger quarters. In early 1990 the church moved to a couple of remodeled warehouses at 900 Twin View Boulevard. Initially, only a portion of the front building was used for offices, worship space, classrooms – everything! Over the years, as God caused us to grow, we expanded into all of the front building, and then all of the back building as well.

In January, 2007 we moved our services to Mistletoe School.  (The Twin View facilities we had been leasing were sold.)  While there, we recaptured some of the feeling of being a church plant (setting up and tearing down every weekend will do that for you!).  We also developed a greater heart for serving our community, and have grown in our connections with one another through Life Groups.

As we look back over the past 20 years, we can reflect on the many amazing things God has done in and through Risen King. Long standing members of Risen King will never forget how God moved powerfully during a season of brokenness and healing that the senior pastor experienced and then led the church through. Later in the 90's the church experienced dramatic and powerful manifestations of the Holy Spirit's presence in a special time of renewal. Another highlight was our "Go Camps" through which we reached out to our community in creative ways including music, dance and "random acts of kindness." And no one can forget the special celebrations of God's work among us as we have baptized new believers in Whiskeytown Lake through the years.

Risen King has grown over the years from that initial band of folks meeting in a pastor's garage to a church of over 530 adults, youth, children and young adults meeting in two Sunday morning worship services, junior high and senior high youth groups, and Sunday school classes. In addition to these large-group meetings, there are numerous Life Groups that meet throughout the week.

Read about our Journey to Oasis