Service Times

Sunday
Intercessory Prayer 10:00 am
Worship Service 10:30 am
Children's Church 10:30 am
Youth 10:30 am

Wednesday
Intercessory Prayer 7:00 pm

Mid-Week Service 7:30 pm

Friday

Singles' Ministry: 4th Friday of each month
7:00 pm

meet pastor chris

Pastor Chris Christovale was born in Oakland, California, and was raised in a Christian background, but wandered away as he grew into his teen years and early adult life, never really knowing the true born again experience. He joined the U. S. Marine Corps on October 17th, 1969 and served faithfully for 16 years.

In 1973 Chris met Cindy, and they were married in 1974, and now have two beautiful children, Chris Jr., and Felicia. Throughout the early years of their marriage Cindy was always searching for a church. Chris on the other hand, refrained from going to church, mainly because when he did hear the message that was preached it did not interest him. That all changed the day he heard Dr. Frederick K.C. Price on television, and the message he heard lifted his heart and peaked Chris' interest. But even then, Chris was still deeply involved with the things of the world.

The seed of the Word of God planted by Dr. Price, and watered by other men of God with the same Word of Faith message, began to take root in Chris' life, and on January 3rd, 1981 Chris accepted Jesus and made Him the Lord of his life.
Chris made a decision to serve God in whatever He would have him to do. He started in the Ministry of Helps, and then in 1982 God called him into the five-fold ministry as a teacher. In 1984 Chris was ordained and licensed under the Association of Faith Churches and Ministers (AFCM) and most recently, in 1999, received a Certificate of Ordination from the Board of Directors of the Fellowship of Inner-Cities Word of Faith Ministries (FICWFM).

Chris served at Heart of the Bay Christian Center in Hayward, California under Pastors Mark and Brenda Thomas for over 9 years. There, he taught in home care groups, ministry of helps classes, foundational truths Bible classes, served as Survey Director for the Capitol Stewardship Campaign, recruited, interviewed and trained workers for the Ushers Department of which he was head of, and ministered to various church groups.

Chris has had the opportunity to serve great men and women in the Body of Christ through conventions and in the local church such as Dr. Frederick K.C. Price, Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin, Gloria Copeland, Dr. Lester Sumrall, Billye Brim, Jerry Savelle, Mario Murillo, Dr. Jim Kaseman, Dr. Roy Hicks, Dr. Ed Dufrense, Pastor Mac Hammond and many more.

In 1988 and 1989 Chris attended the RHEMA Ministerial Association International Continuing Education Seminars in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

For three years Chris was an Associate Pastor/Director of the Ministry Training Institute for Faith Temple Christian Center in Oceanside, California, and for five years he was a Faculty Teacher for both Living Word Institute and Jubilee International Training Center (formerly Faith Bible College) of Jubilee Christian Center, San Jose, California.

Presently Chris, together with his wife Cindy, Pastor a growing church, River of Life Christian Fellowship in Oakland, California. Pastor Chris’s purpose is to Reach out to the Community and the World with the Demonstrated Power of God’s Love.

River of Life Christian Fellowship is a contemporary Christian church committed to encouraging people with the love of God, equipping people with the Word of God, and providing a safe environment to worship the Lord.

Pastor Chris has a passion to reach the Bay Area and beyond with the redeeming love and restorative power of God. To use every effective means of bringing as many people as possible to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, that they may enjoy eternal life which comes from knowing Him and abundant life that comes from knowing and applying His Word.

Pastor Chris’s vision is to reach out to the lost with the Gospel in a sensitive and relevant way. To offer a ministry that is characterized by a loving, healing, faith-filled environment where everyone can grow to their full potential in Christ. To envision a large and growing body of believers, knit tightly together in relationship by the love of God; equipped to live victoriously in life; empowered to carry out the ministry of Jesus toward a lost and hurting world; and unified in corporate worship of God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Another outreach of the ministry is Life Development Corporation(LDC). Founded by Pastor Chris’s wife Cindy. Life Development Corporation provides services that enrich the lives of those in Oakland and the Greater Bay Area. These services include economic and housing development, education, health, and outreach. These services are designed to empower homeless, unemployed, economically disadvantaged, and challenged individuals and families to become self-sufficient.
The education component of Life Development Corporation has developed an Employment & Training Program that will prepare youth for further education as well as to instill skills, work ethic and knowledge that will enable them to successfully compete in a technologically advanced job market and economy. This program includes providing a comprehensive pre-employment training, employment placement, support services and follow-up services for youth. This will culminate in successful student transition to employment, lifelong learning and quality adult life.

Life Development Health Information and Referral Services is providing The Healing through the Spirit Conferences. LDC has Professionals that have years of experience working with individuals who are in a transitional period as it relates to health.

Serving as the Local Event Coordinators for Hunger Strike Force (HSF), Pastor Chris and Dr. Cindy Christovale worked behind the scenes along with Operation Blessing, members of River of Life Christian Fellowship, members of the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Safeway Stores, and Fresh Express to feed over 4,000 people in the years 2000 and 2001 in Oakland, California.

LDC has also partnered with (OCHI) Oakland Community Housing, Inc. to provide Thanksgiving baskets, employment training, home buyer education and tutoring services to challenged individuals and families.

The home ownership component of LDC provides safe, affordable and attractive housing options for moderate to low-income families located in Oakland and the surrounding communities, by either building new homes or renovating existing housing or providing education on how to buy a home; thereby stimulating the local economy and making dramatic, and visible improvements in our neighborhoods. These services are offered through quality home ownership education and counseling services

Pastor Chris also sits on the Board of East Bay Faith-Based Home Ownership Alliance(EBFBHA). East Bay Faith-Based Home Ownership Alliance provides services that educate, advocate and build bridges to increase home ownership opportunities for minorities and low to moderate income households. These services are designed to empower minorities and low to moderate recipients to become self-sufficient by obtaining the American Dream of home ownership. Therefore, a unique public-private partnership has been developed to create a one-stop, home ownership assistance program that will expand mortgage credit opportunities to the East Bay Faith-Based Communities.

Pastor Chris is a member of the Fellowship of Inner-Cities Word of Faith Ministries since 1991 and also an Area Representative for Region I (FICWFM). In 1996, Chris became the Assistant Regional Director for the Association of Faith Churches and Ministries (AFCM) for the state of California, Nevada and Hawaii with over 80 members statewide and well over 1,000 worldwide. Chris also sits on the board of five churches and one ministry and three Not For Profit Organizations.