WHO WE ARE

RiverTree Sandy Valley a is part of a non-denominational movement of churches within the RiverTree Christian Church network providing leadership collaboration and local eldership.

Each local church has its own location-specific mission, vision, and values with alignment in our beliefs and strategy across the RiverTree Movement.

Our Lead Pastor, Ryan Wilson, is actively building a launch team, core leaders,  and community volunteers leading up to our Sunday service launch. We'd love to hear from you in the form at the bottom of this page if you have questions or think RiverTree Sandy Valley may be a good fit.
Located south of Canton, Ohio, RiverTree Sandy Valley is a new church plant in the area that is often referred to in the context of the Sandy Valley Local school district, which unites multiple small, rural communities.

The key communities and locations associated with the Sandy Valley area include:
  • Magnolia: A village located in Stark and Carroll counties, which serves as a central hub to the area.
  • Waynesburg: A village situated in Sandy Township, Stark County.
  • Sandy Township (Stark County): The township containing Waynesburg and part of Magnolia.
  • Sandyville: An unincorporated community located in Sandy Township, Tuscarawas County.
  • East Sparta: Located in Pike township in southern Stark county
Learn More About Our Story!

Our Mission

We are on mission with Jesus together, real in our purpose, rooted in His Word, and ready to bring hope and healing to Sandy Valley.

Our Vision

REAL

A REAL church, made up
of REAL people, living
with REAL purpose:
to love boldly, live
authentically, and raise
up the next generation to
know and follow Jesus.
ROOTED

ROOTED in Sandy Valley
and ROOTED in the truth
of God’s Word, where
healing happens, growth
begins, and true freedom
is found.
READY

READY to make a
difference by being
equipped and empowered
to serve, make disciples,
and impact our
community and schools
with the hope of Christ.

Our Values

REAL PEOPLE, REAL PURPOSE

We choose authenticity over appearance. No masks, no pretending, just real people walking in grace, truth, and purpose. We believe honesty opens the door to healing, growth, and genuine transformation. God doesn’t bless who we pretend to be. He blesses who we REALLY are.

ROOTED IN THE WORD, READY FOR THE WORLD

God’s Word is our foundation. We don’t just read it; we LIVE it. The Bible is our daily guide, shaping how we love, how we serve, and how we lead. It drives us to impact our community and our schools with the hope of Jesus. Scripture isn’t just something we believe; it’s something we BECOME.

TOGETHER FOR THE VALLEY

We’re called to be a community that walks in unity—serving together, healing together, and growing together. We don’t just exist IN Sandy Valley; we exist FOR it. From the schools to the streets, we’re here to meet real needs, build real relationships, and bring lasting hope TOGETHER.

WE RUN TO THE LOST

Jesus left the 99 to go after the one, and so do we. We are a church that moves toward the forgotten, the unchurched, and the broken with bold compassion and open arms. We don’t wait for people to come to us. We go to them because that’s what LOVE DOES. No one is too far gone and no story is too messy for the grace of Jesus.

RAISING UP THE NEXT GENERATION

We are a church that equips and empowers the next generation to know Jesus, walk in His truth, and grow in lasting faith. We believe in calling out their God-given purpose and preparing them to lead, disciple, and carry the Gospel wherever life takes them. They’re not just part of the church’s future; they’re part of its FOUNDATION.

JESUS IS OUR FREEDOM

Not all prisons have bars. Jesus brings freedom to those imprisoned by anxiety, shame, trauma, grief, broken homes, depression, addiction, and more. He is the center of recovery and the healer of hearts. We are a church where people don’t just cope; they CHANGE. Where chains are broken. Where freedom is REAL.

Our Story from Pastor Ryan

Get to know more about what makes us different and why we are here.

Sandy Valley is a community we care deeply about; a place filled with people we love and believe in. But it is also a place that is hurting. We see the weight people carry every day: poverty, division, addiction, broken families, and deep personal loss. In our schools, students are wrestling with anxiety, bullying, identity confusion, substance use, and pressure that leaves them feeling lost, unseen, and far from Jesus. Behind closed doors and in quiet moments, people wonder if there is more to life—more hope, more healing, more purpose. Deep down, everyone longs for a place to belong, a reason to hope, and a path toward wholeness.

Many of the churches in our community have faithfully served for years, teaching the Word and caring for their people. But as needs grow and generations change, some have found it difficult to keep up. Sanctuaries grow quieter, and the light of Jesus flickers in places where it once burned bright. At least five churches have closed in recent years, and no new churches have launched since 2008. As a result, many are left without spiritual community or consistent care. There are not enough Christ-centered support groups for those walking through recovery, grief, trauma, or mental health challenges.

But Jesus has more for Sandy Valley.
Jesus came to set people free from fear, addiction, shame, and anything else that holds hearts captive. There is no heart too far from Jesus to be reached. At RiverTree Sandy Valley, we are joining Him in that work. We will be a REAL church that is made up of REAL people, living with REAL purpose: to love boldly, live authentically, and raise up the next generation to know and follow Jesus.

We will be ROOTED in Sandy Valley and ROOTED
in the truth of God’s Word, where healing happens, growth begins, and true freedom is found. And we will be READY to make a difference by being equipped and empowered to serve, make disciples, and impact our community and schools with the hope of Christ. We will fight for our youth and our schools. We will invest in our community and our
future. And we will contend for the lost, the overlooked, and the forgotten.

Transformation is possible, not just for individuals, but for Sandy Valley as a whole. And it starts now.

Join us now as we are actively making community impact, growing intentional relationships, and forming the first church of its kind in the Sandy Valley area.

Get to know more about what makes us different and why we are here.

Our Story from Pastor Ryan

Sandy Valley is a community we care deeply about; a place filled with people we love and believe in. But it is also a place that is hurting. We see the weight people carry every day: poverty, division, addiction, broken families, and deep personal loss. In our schools, students are wrestling with anxiety, bullying, identity confusion, substance use, and pressure that leaves them feeling lost, unseen, and far from Jesus. Behind closed doors and in quiet moments, people wonder if there is more to life—more hope, more healing, more purpose. Deep down, everyone longs for a place to belong, a reason to hope, and a path toward wholeness.

Many of the churches in our community have faithfully served for years, teaching the Word and caring for their people. But as needs grow and generations change, some have found it difficult to keep up. Sanctuaries grow quieter, and the light of Jesus flickers in places where it once burned bright. At least five churches have closed in recent years, and no new churches have launched since 2008. As a result, many are left without spiritual community or consistent care. There are not enough Christ-centered support groups for those walking through recovery, grief, trauma, or mental health challenges.

But Jesus has more for Sandy Valley.
Jesus came to set people free from fear, addiction, shame, and anything else that holds hearts captive. There is no heart too far from Jesus to be reached. At RiverTree Sandy Valley, we are joining Him in that work. We will be a REAL church that is made up of REAL people, living with REAL purpose: to love boldly, live authentically, and raise up the next generation to know and follow Jesus.

We will be ROOTED in Sandy Valley and ROOTED
in the truth of God’s Word, where healing happens, growth begins, and true freedom is found. And we will be READY to make a difference by being equipped and empowered to serve, make disciples, and impact our community and schools with the hope of Christ. We will fight for our youth and our schools. We will invest in our community and our
future. And we will contend for the lost, the overlooked, and the forgotten.

Transformation is possible, not just for individuals, but for Sandy Valley as a whole. And it starts now.

Join us now as we are actively making community impact, growing intentional relationships, and forming the first church of its kind in the Sandy Valley area.

Want to learn more, get involved, or have questions?

Fill out the form below to get started and we will connect with you soon!

Contact Us