Under the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit, Rev. Dr. Norris W. Sydnor, Jr., received a vision from the Lord. This vision led him to act on faith and on Sunday, March 7, 1982, with a service held in the Fort Foote Elementary School, Fort Washington, Maryland, The Riverside Baptist Mission was founded. Riverside began as a mission church of the Seabrook Baptist Church of Seabrook, Maryland and was incorporated as Riverside Baptist Church, Inc., of Fort Washington, Maryland in January 1984. Pastor Sydnor and members worshiped in the school for more than three years. Meetings and rehearsals were held in the homes of some of the early members and Bible Study was held in the school’s recreation center. As space became accessible in the school, all such activities were brought under one shelter. Riverside became the centerpiece of the Fort Foote community, where nightly activities were held during the week in addition to the Sunday worship services. Pastor Sydnor and his family walked the streets of the area, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ door-to-door in the early days. During the growing years, God provided Riverside, through the kindness of Whitehall Baptist Church, a baptistry to accomplish the high percentage of baptisms. Riverside’s membership started with one faithful member and continued to grow weekly. In January 1984, God blessed the church with the ability to purchase five acres of land located at 9111 Oxon Hill Road to build a new church building. On December 1, 1985, the Lord gave the church the use of the Williams Center to conduct worship services, rehearsals, and meetings. This rental space provided Riverside with adequate office and storage space. God blessed Pastor Sydnor and the church further to break ground for a new edifice on May 9, 1987. God gave Pastor Sydnor a vision for the new church building and he and the congregation worked diligently through completion. Sunday, April 2, 1989, was the first worship service in the new edifice. Riverside is blessed by having sponsored three missions – New Image Baptist Church, Greater Fellowship Baptist Church, and Gospel Missionary Baptist Church. The Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, The Prince George’s Baptist Association, Seabrook Church, West Hyattsville Baptist Church, Faith Baptist Church, Landover Hills Baptist Church, and friends have all been significant elements of the Master’s plan for the church. Several members of the Gospel were licensed under the tutelage of Pastor Sydnor, and went on to establish churches of their own. On Friday, July 25, 2003, God called His servant home to rest. Even though Pastor Sydnor is not physically here, his spirit will dwell in Riverside and with this church family. During the period of July 25, 2003 until January 20, 2007, Riverside Baptist Church carried on Pastor Sydnor’s vision under the leadership of Rev. Dennis Slade and Deacon Lawrence Ford, Chairman of the Board of Deacons. Riverside sustained the trials and tribulations that came their way by continuing with the foundation that was laid by Pastor Sydnor and keeping their minds, hearts and souls stayed on Jesus Christ our Savior. In May of 2006, carrying out the final vision of the founder, Rev. Dr. Norris W. Sydnor, Jr., Riverside held a special dedication and thanksgiving service with a ribboncutting ceremony for the new Rev. Dr. Norris W. Sydnor, Jr. Annex.

On January 20, 2007, Riverside was blessed once again and selected the Rev. Dr. J. Madison Thomas, Jr., as the new Pastor of Riverside Baptist Church. Pastor Thomas officially stood in the pulpit as the second (2nd) Pastor of Riverside Baptist Church on February 17, 2007. Pastor Thomas was installed as Riverside’s own in a special worship experience on Sunday, April 1, 2007. As a direct result of the love, knowledge, expertise, God-given anointing, ability, teaching, preaching, leadership, and direction of Pastor Thomas, Riverside has flourished in all areas, over the last 15 years. Pastor Thomas has established several new ministries, choirs, avenues of education, and facilitated the purchase of new equipment and technology; all to God’s glory such that the body of Christ may prosper. Riverside continues to grow and prosper under Pastor Thomas’ instruction and dedication. May 2011, marked another significant moment in Riverside’s history, when Pastor Thomas appointed the first female Deacon (Brenda Gibson) to the Diaconate Board. During 2011, Pastor Thomas appointed 3 additional females to the Deacon Board. Because of God’s faithfulness, through Pastor Thomas, Riverside’s staff and leadership continues to increase in number and development. February 12, 2012, marked an additional significant moment with delivery of the first sermonette of the first Junior Minister. To date, Riverside is blessed with 10 Ministers, 10 Deacons and 14 Deaconesses. Under the leadership of Pastor Thomas, Riverside has 26 active ministries. As a church family, according to Ephesians 4:12-13, we continue to equip God’s people for the work of service so that the body of Christ may be built up, until we all reach the unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

In January 2014, Pastor Thomas established the Martin Luther King, Jr., Award for Social Justice and Community Service. The first recipient of this award was Mother Betty White, Mother of our Founder, Rev. Dr. Norris W. Sydnor, Jr., and Mother of the Church. In March 2020, the country and the world were struck with the Coronavirus Pandemic. During this time, houses of worship were closed down. However, Pastor Thomas continued to minister through Bible Study, Prayer and Worship Services through various means of communication. Riverside stayed strong through the Pandemic. To date, Riverside is open and delivering the word via Facebook, YouTube, Zoom and in-house worship Riverside’s spiritual growth and maturity is skyrocketing. We thank and praise God for His favor on this body of believers. We give Him all the glory, and look forward to continued growth and development in the body of Christ. “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” (Psalm 34:8)​