The Rock Church

Reflections From Europe by Caleb Yetton

Recently, my family and I returned from a 10-day trip to Croatia. While we called it a mission trip, in most ways, it was more of a serving trip. My family (and our team of 18) provided childcare for European missionaries so they could fully engage in a conference taught by Pastor Bill. They also got some much-needed relaxation. We watched over a lot of kiddos, swam, and played night games. Not to mention, we also got to eat good food and gelato. Consequently, I’d like to share a few reflections from the trip. 

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Caleb Yetton
Tags: caleb yetton, Croatia, europe, faith, Mission, missions, pastor Mac, proverbs, risk, serve, serving overseas, short term mission trip, Steve McInroy, the rock, the rock church, the rock missions, The Rock Music, travel, trip

Look Ahead! by Tony D'Amico

I’ve always had a passion for all things boards. From the freedom of skateboarding through city parks to carving fresh powder on snow-capped mountains. Not to mention the rhythm of surfing ocean waves. Without a doubt, it’s a thrill like no other. I love feeling the wind rushing against my face. Strangely, times like this are also when I find myself in deep prayer. Yes, you read that right; I absolutely connect with God profoundly while gliding on a board!

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico
Tags: adrenaline, christ, creation, endurance, failure, fall, fluid, focused, Future, game, goal, Heaven, Hope, humility, imperfect, inheritance, looking forward, nature, Paul, perfect, perfection, Philippians, prize, Race, riding, Running, skate boarding, skiing, snow, snowboarding, sports, struggle, surf, surfing, the rock church, Thrill, Tony, tony damico, waiting, watching, wipeout, Wisdom

Seek Wisdom by Tony D'Amico

As we continue in our spiritual walks, Proverbs (Chapter 2) provides lessons for us on the value of wisdom. At the same time, it reveals that wisdom protects us and guides us away from wrong decisions and people who want to lead us astray. Wisdom isn’t merely intellectual. We can certainly read, know, and even teach about it. However, it has to be applied to our actions as well to affect our lives.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico
Tags: actions, answers, armor, bad company, bad friends, community, decision making, decisions, dependence, direction, doubts, evil, good company, guard your heart, guidance, hearing from God, intellectual, Key, knowledge, navigate, paths, Prayer, protection, proverbs, Questions, safety, seeking, shield, the rock church, thoughts, Tony, tony damico, unwise, Wisdom, words

Witnesses of God’s Work: Reflections from Croatia by The Rock Church

“God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out on you what you both see and hear.” — Acts 2:33

By God’s grace, we finished our mission successfully. The missionaries were blessed and our team has made lasting friendships and memories. 

Posted in Missions, News by The Rock Church
Tags: childcare, Croatia, europe, europian missionaries, God, mission work, missionary, missions, same god, Witness, witnesses, work

A Marathon Day of Fun in Vrsar by The Rock Church

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Acts 20:35

Today was our marathon day, of sorts, with thirty-six children, nine adults, and eleven hours of childcare. This allowed the parents an entire free day to rest and /or adventure around Istria. 

Posted in Missions, News by The Rock Church
Tags: childcare, Croatia, europe, europian missionaries, GCE, jesus, marathon day, missionary, missions, refresh, serve others, service, serving

The Beauty of Fellowship: A Glimpse of Heaven with God’s People by The Rock Church

“For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable, eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” — 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Our team joined all the missionaries and their children on a boating excursion in the Adriatic Sea today. We stopped for lunch in Rovinj, then headed up the Lim Fjord, stopping at a historic pirate cave. 

Posted in Missions, News by The Rock Church
Tags: Croatia, europe, europian missionaries, fellowship, Heaven, Mission, missionary, rovinj, the rock missions

Third Culture Reality: A Metaphor for the Christian Life by The Rock Church

 “Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!” — Psalm 90:1

Our team had a full day with the European missionary kids. The older kids (12-19) had a hike, devotional, polar plunge in the Adriatic, rock climbing, board games, and a night game of kick the can. For kids 11 and under, they went swimming, played tag, looked at tide pools, skipped rocks, did an obstacle course, watched a movie, and played video games. It was a full day that hopefully gave their parents essential rest.

Posted in Missions, News by The Rock Church
Tags: childcare, christian, Croatia, europe, europian missionaries, Heaven, identity, jesus, mission trip, missions, reality, third culture

Welcoming the Children: A Connection Through Generations by The Rock Church

“He told them, ‘Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes Him who sent me. For whoever is least among you – this one is great.” — Luke 9:48

After a sunny day with some planning, exploring, and swimming in the ocean, the work we came here for officially began. Children ranging from toddlers to nineteen years old were gathered for a time of getting acquainted and worship on the beach. Thirty-seven children in all made for a lot of volume and kinetic energy, but our time was fruitful. The night ended with a rousing game of hide-and-seek amongst the tweens and teens. This game was of course in the dark, outside, on the large resort campus of a foreign country. God was definitely gracious to us.

Posted in Missions, News by The Rock Church
Tags: childcare, Children, Croatia, GCE, GMR, mission trip, missions, the rock missions, Vrsar

Prayerful by The Rock Church

Are you a prayerful person? Most of us would say we have room to grow in prayer. One of the most encouraging aspects of believers’ lives is pouring out our hearts to God and watching as He responds. There is absolutely no better way for us to communicate our thankfulness, adoration, desires, or grievances with God than through prayer. Yet, for so many of us, it becomes an afterthought. We can also be robotic or neglect to pray altogether.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: Billy, billy johnson, christ, communicate, connect, doubt, God's throne, grief, help, intercede, intercession, James, jesus, power, pray, Prayer, pry, puritan, Romans, separation, talking, talking to God, the rock church, Thessalonians, Thomas Watson, throne, throne of grace

Gathering with Brothers and Sisters: Following the Example of Paul by The Rock Church

“There we found brothers and sisters and were invited to stay a week with them. And so we came to Rome. Now the brothers and sisters from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as the Forum of Appias and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked them and took courage.” — Acts 28:14-15

It has been an encouraging coincidence that I happened to be studying the book of Acts both leading up to, and during this trip to Croatia. My family, church family, and I (18 of us in all) are here in Croatia to minister to the Saints living abroad as full-time missionaries. These missionaries live scattered throughout Europe, even as far as Africa. I haven’t met most of them yet, but am assuming that they don’t have the same comforts that come from having a close church family back in the States. These missionaries are all familiar with each other, but all working in different parts of the world. So, when they reunite tomorrow, I imagine it unfolding much like those verses above. Where brothers and sisters in Christ gather, there is mutual encouragement.

Posted in Missions, News by The Rock Church
Tags: Croatia, europe, GCE, GCZE, missions, the rock missions, Vrsar