To fulfill our mission...

We will spread the Good News

We are committed to spreading the good news (Mark 1:15) about Jesus. We believe this is the best news anyone could receive; that Jesus loves us, that he died for us, that he conquered death, and wants to walk through life with us, in relationship with him. We will share this news both at home and around the world. We will teach the good news each week when we gather together, and we want to take it to our friends and neighbors in the River Valley. Ultimately, we want the good news to reach the entire world. ​

We will teach people to be more like Jesus

​We are passionate about carrying out Jesus’ mission to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). We believe that every person who is committed to following Jesus should be in the process of being transformed into the image of Christ. As we become more like Jesus, one of our key tasks is to call people to be more like Him as well. 

We will care for our family while welcoming everyone with love

​This congregation is committed to doing everything we can to nurture, encourage, and challenge the people that God has entrusted to our care. We are a body of broken people, who desperately need the grace and love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. One of our deepest desires is to be a welcoming, loving family. Regardless of where you are or where you have been, we welcome everyone who is seeking a relationship with Jesus. We want our family to grow and we believe that no one should go through life’s challenges alone. We believe this reflects the character of God as expressed in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 

We will serve the hurting

​We have a responsibility before God to serve those who are in need. This includes our church family but stretches far beyond the walls of our building. We want to be known as a church that loves and cares for anyone who is hurting, down and out, or struggling. Come as you are. We want to do what we can to serve. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27). 

We will pressure meaningful worship

​For us, worship extends far beyond Sunday. In fact, we believe that we offer our entire lives to God as an act of worship (Rom. 12:1-2). When we meet together as a family, our prayer is that we will have moving, heartfelt, and inspiring moments of worship. We hope to create an environment that empowers people to worship God with all of their heart, soul, and mind. We seek to worship not only when we get together as a church family, but also as we serve God’s Kingdom, every day. 

​We will invest in and guide the next generation

​We are passionate about investing in young people (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Our goal is to see them follow Jesus, become disciples, and become leaders in our churches and in our world. We will use all available resources to see this aspect of our vision carried out. 

We will cooperate with others to be a force for good in our community and the world

One of the last things Jesus prayed for when he was on earth was the unity of all who would believe in Him. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:20-21). We will do everything within our power to work with believers outside of our family, other churches, and organizations to impact our community and the world. We will remain rooted in our core beliefs while doing everything we can to reach the world for Christ and promoting the unity of all believers.

Our Ministry Team

This texts is to help your site visitors with pressing questions.

Tim Tripp // Senior Minister

​Tim has been a member of the ministry team at West Side since July of 2015.  He comes with a variety of ministry experiences in the past serving as Youth Minister, Preaching Minister and Family Minister for churches in Indiana, Pennsylvania and Ohio.  He and his wife Lenore both have a passion for helping people.  They both have Master’s Degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy and have done marriage and parenting classes, seminars and retreats in a variety of settings.  Tim is a pastoral counselor and considers it an honor to walk with people through life’s challenges.  Tim and Lenore are both (1987) graduates of Harding University.  Their Master’s Degrees are from Butler University (1991). They have 3 children, Sam (’92), Anna (’94) and Lizzy (’97).  In May of 2015 Sam married his Harding University sweetheart Carissa to add a wonderful daughter-in-law to the family.

“Sharing the word of God is a wonderful privilege and an awesome responsibility.  I am humbled daily in the opportunity to work with the ministry team and elders and deacons at West Side.  The church family is a loving, big hearted, grace centered, group of Christians, one I will feel blessed to share life with on earth and eternity with in heaven.  If you are looking for an active, engaged church family that is truly the hands and feet of Jesus in the community, then West Side is the place for you as well.”

Jake Greer // Youth Minister

Jake joined the West Side ministry team in June 2015. A graduate of Harding University and an Arkansas native, Jake is passionate about coming alongside youth and families to help cultivate mature faith in the next generation. After serving in youth ministry in Northwest Arkansas for seven years, Jake and his wife, Tasha, have made the River Valley their home. Jake holds a B.S. in Exercise Science and completed his Master of Ministry degree in August 2015. While at Harding, Jake also played for the Bison football team. Jake and Tasha have been married since July 2005 and have two children: Josh and Lilly.

"I cannot begin to describe how excited we are to be part of the family at West Side! God is at work in this community and we are excited to be able to join into it. Not only are we thrilled to be joining a body of believers that has a heart for students, but it is also one that played a big part in my own faith journey -- being able to visit West Side to attend CHRISTeens as a student myself. It's my prayer that the student ministry at West Side comes alongside families as we strive to focus on Christ, encourage meaningful relationships, nurture a mature faith, and call students to service."

Josh Clem // Associate Minister

Josh came to West Side in January 2014 after leaving a career in Advancement to pursue a call to ministry.  Prior to joining our team, Josh worked as an Advancement Officer for Abilene Christian University- representing ACU in San Antonio and Austin, TX.  After graduating from Harding University in December 2002 with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, Josh worked as a Customer Executive for the Hormel Foods Cooperation- covering the midwest region and living in Cincinnati, OH.  He has also spent time in the non-profit sector, working with Arms of Hope - as the Director of Development and Public Relations for the Boles Home campus; and where he and his wife, Tiffany, spent time serving as house parents for at-risk youth.  After two years in Youth Ministry, Josh transitioned into the role of Associate Minister at West Side; where he supports the elders, deacons, and ministry team, oversees church administration, coordinates our annual summer series, and leads our small group ministry.  He will begin working on a Master’s degree in Christian Ministry this summer. Josh and Tiffany have been married since August 2001 and have two daughters: Katie and Lily.
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“It is a blessing to be part of such a loving church family and to work with so many talented, servant hearted people.  It’s an honor to serve with a team that is united in our mission to Love, Share, and Disciple; letting the Spirit guide us as we follow Jesus together.  That spirit of unity and collaboration is one of the many reasons I am so excited about what God is doing here."

Aris Ortiz // Hispanic Minister

Aris has been a member of the West Side ministry team since April of 2015. He is originally from El Salvador has worked with ministries in Texas and Arkansas. He graduated from the School of Biblical Studies of Harding University in Bible and Ministry and is married to Carina, who graduated from Arkansas Tech University with degree in Elementary Education and a Masters in English. She teaches Kindergarten at the Dardanelle School District, Arkansas. They have three children: Aristides Jr.(94’), Jonnathan (96’) and Albertt (04’). Aris has collaborated in jail ministries; helped establish new Spanish congregations in Searcy, Clarksville, Dardanelle and Russellville Arkansas; and, has participated in mission efforts in Belarus, Nicaragua, Mexico and El Salvador.

“Preaching the Word of God is a special call from God. It’s a work that has great blessings and also great responsibilities with great challenges that only with a strong Faith in the Lord, can it be reached. Teaching the Word is powerful, because with that, you will guide the minds of people to recognize a Divine authority that will transform lives, traditions and beliefs to a simple and humble way of life in obedience to God by the Word of Truth. Christ is the center of the message. Salvation is the purpose. Preaching forgiveness of sins and the promises of eternity in Heaven, is God’s main concern before death is reached. Eternal condemnation will be the consequence if the gospel is not obeyed.” We are so blessed to have this opportunity to worship God under the same roof at West Side with a group of people that want to please God.

Zac George // Worship Minister

Zac has dedicated his life to spreading the Gospel through music. He was a member of the singing group Acappella for 9 years touring around the U.S. and the world. Zac has lead worship all over the country and has a passion for leading God's people in worship. Zac also has a passion for relational ministry and the marginalized. In addition to leading the West Side church in worship, Zac is the lead ministry leader of Celebrate Recovery. 

"I love music, and I love leading God's people every week. Regardless of the style, it is a blessing to be a part of a church that loves to worship God and loves to sing."

Neil Reynolds // Campus Minister

Neil's connection with the CCSC goes back to his days as a student at Arkansas Tech. He was a student intern for two years prior to earning a Speech & Communication degree from ATU in 2005. Neil married his wife, Katie, shortly after graduation, and began work as the CCSC's first Apprentice in January 2006. After serving as the youth minister at West Side for over six years, Neil became the director of the CCSC in the summer of 2013. Neil and Katie have two daughters, Eden and Graceann. Neil received a master's degree in Christian Ministry from Harding School of Theology in 2012.

"It is an honor for me to serve my alma mater by leading the ministry that changed my life. My involvement with the CCSC was the beginning of something special. Those years ignited a passion in me that continues to burn strong. It has become my life's passion to ignite lives for purposeful adventure at ATU because that's exactly what the CCSC did for me. My prayer is that our ministry is the beginning of something that lasts for a lifetime as we launch students out to partner with God in His mission of redemption and restoration."