-On June 26, 1949, a group of 19 individuals met for a potluck dinner and organizational meeting at the home of Carroll and Phyllis Wood. The original congregation, known as Bethany Baptist Church, began meeting in a rented room in the Iowa City Community Building , located on the northeast corner of the intersection of College and Gilbert streets.

-Property for the first church building was purchased in October, 1951 with the help of the Baptist General Conference. In July, 1953, a 30' x 60' building was begun with volunteer labor at 1839 B Street . God's perfect timing allowed use of one room of the new building's basement by early winter of 1953, the same winter that the Community Building burned down. The church was dedicated to the Lord in September, 1956. An educational wing was added to the B Street building in 1963.

-By 1973 Bethany had outgrown its facilities. Property was purchased at 3001 Muscatine Avenue (at Dover Street ) and a new building was begun. The next year (1974) saw the Bethany congregation move into the new partially finished facility, with much work remaining to be done. Carpeting and permanent pews were installed in 1980. Continued improvements have made the present facility a more effective place for the building of God's kingdom.

-Average Sunday morning worship attendance for 1999/00 was 142. Attendance has been up and down over the past 15 years with a peaks of 221 (1983) and 203 (1994).

-On January 29, 2002 the name of the church was changed to The River Community Church, and thats where we are today!