Riverwood Staff:
Pastor Keith Robinson, Senior Pastor
Pastor Keith is a graduate of University of Northwestern, St. Paul (formerly Northwestern College) with a B.A. in Christian Ministries, and he received his Master of Divinity Degree from North Park Seminary College in Chicago, IL. Before coming to Riverwood to be Senior Pastor in 2004, he served as a Pastor in Youth Ministries for 25 years at Covenant Churches in Brooklyn Park, Forest Lake and Maple Grove, Minnesota as well as in Grand Rapids, Michigan and in the Kansas City area. He resides in Rockford with his wife Amy and they have four children and six grandchildren. He loves riding his motorcycle (often with the “Fossil Apostles”), smoking ribs and other meats, and following most/all of the Minnesota sports teams. He is working on writing a book about the “Squares” – a concept he teaches often in messages at Riverwood. It is a way of considering how God uses circumstances in our lives and how that impacts our walk with God. Pastor Keith also moonlights as an adjunct professor in Christian Ministries at the University of Northwestern, St. Paul and as the Cornerstone instructor at Solid Rock School of Discipleship at Lake Beauty Bible Camp. His life verse is 3 John:4 which says “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” This being closely followed by Galatians 5:6, Riverwood’s key verse, which says “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love.”
Denise Kesanen, Associate Pastor
Denise comes to Riverwood with 25 years of ministry and nonprofit leadership experience. Currently, Denise is the Executive Director of RiverWorks Community Development in Rockford, MN. She and her husband Brian live in Rockford and have 2 fur-kids, Moll,y a spoiled chocolate lab, and Lucy, a kitten. Denise has earned a BA in Psychology from Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas and a MA degree in Higher Ed Admin/Counseling from Emporia State University, Kansas. She also holds an MA in Biblical Studies from University of Northwestern, St. Paul. Denise was ordained with the Evangelical Covenant Church in 2017. Her life verse is Psalm 143:10 which says, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
Andrea Canniff, Worship Director Andrea has been active in the Worship Ministry since 1998. She held several Worship Ministry positions at Plymouth Covenant Church including an Internship in Worship Arts, Apprenticeship in Worship Arts and finally as the Interim Worship Director. She came to Riverwood and has been serving on the Worship Team since August of 2013. She and her husband Rory reside in Delano with their two children. Andrea loves Music (singing/writing/attending concerts) and spending her time with family and friends. Andrea’s life verse is Galatians 2:20 which says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Rachel has spent much of her life as a student, but she is now excited to start something new and to be able to serve the Lord in her capacity as Office Administrator at Riverwood. She received her Ph.D. in Agricultural History and Rural Studies from Iowa State University in 2013 and spent her graduate school years as a college history instructor. She lives in Rockford, Minnesota and enjoys reading, writing, cooking, spending time with her husband Micah and corgi Waffles, and singing with the Worship Team. Her favorite Bible verse is Psalm 150:6, which reads, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”
Leadership Board:
