The Rock Church

Sharing Love in Hard Places: A Mission to the Landfill Community by The Rock Church

Before our visit, I tried to imagine what life is like for the Roma families living in the landfill. A place surrounded by trash. A place where hunger and struggle are daily realities. My heart ached knowing we were about to witness conditions so different from our own.

To prepare, we made over 100 sandwiches and assembled essential kits for the children. Our mission was to share the love of Christ. We led a Vacation Bible School centered on Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Posted in Missions, News by The Rock Church
Tags: Church, europe, europe missions, God's plan, gospel, Isaiah, joy, landfill, mission trip, missions, News blog update, none of this, on mission, Peace, Purpose, rock mission, Romania, romania team, service, the rock church, the rock missions, trc, Update

Breaking Walls by Tony D'Amico

Admittedly, the news cycle loves walls—border walls, paywalls, and also social-media echo chambers. Two thousand years ago, Paul wrote about one of history’s most infamous walls: a five-foot stone balustrade in Herod’s temple. It warned Gentiles, “Enter and die.” In Ephesians (2:14-18), he stunned his readers with the headline: “Christ has destroyed the dividing wall of hostility.” In fact, the claim still shatters our walls today.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico
Tags: alien, alienated, balustrade, barriers, border, boundary, Class, divide, dividing, Ephesians, Free, freedom, Herod, hostility, near, obstacle, Peace, politics, prison, prisoner, Race, segregation, separation, social media, temple, the rock church, Tony, tony damico, wall, walls

None of This is Random: Trusting God’s Plan on This Mission Trip by The Rock Church

At 3 a.m., I was awakened by three taps on my shoulder and saw a hand pointing to the window. I looked out and saw one of the most beautiful, star-filled skies I have ever witnessed. None of this is here by accident. It felt like God was trying to show me something.

Days later, during my quiet time, I read Isaiah 40:26, “Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of His might and because He is strong in power, not one is missing.” This verse hit me.

Posted in Missions, News by The Rock Church
Tags: blog update, Church, europe, europe missions, God's plan, gospel, Isaiah, joy, mission trip, none of this, on mission, Peace, Purpose, rock mission, Romania, romania team, the rock church, the rock missions, trc, Update

Peace, Joy, and a Deep Sense of Purpose by The Rock Church

As the sun rose over the rolling hills of Cluj-Napoca, we were reminded of God’s beautiful creation all around us. Despite the long hours of travel and little sleep, our first day in Romania was marked not by exhaustion or nerves, but by peace, joy, and a deep sense of purpose.

From the warm welcome at the airport by Liz and Bogdan to the incredible hospitality at Casa Speranței, we felt like we had come home to a place we’d never been before. Sharing this mission with our family and church team from The Rock has already made this journey unforgettable.

Posted in Missions, News by The Rock Church
Tags: blog update, Church, europe, europe missions, gospel, joy, mission trip, on mission, Peace, Purpose, rock mission, Romania, romania team, the rock church, the rock missions, trc, Update

Mighty Ways by The Rock Church

Ever since I became a follower of Christ, I’ve prayed that God would use me and others in mighty ways. There’s nothing wrong with this prayer. It’s a prayer that applies faith to a “Here am I, send me!” boldness. That is certainly not bad at all. However, I’ve prayed this prayer for over two decades. And a quick Google search of my name proves that God hasn’t used me in any of the “mighty ways” this broken world would recognize. I’m actually thankful for that.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: a beautiful life, accomplishment, amazing, Billy, billy johnson, bold, career, devotion, dreams, Eternal, glorify, glory, Gods will, Here I am send me, hopes, hosanna, Isaac Watts, love, love your neighbor, poem, power, powerful, Prayer, quiet, quiet life, relationship with God, spiritual, strategic, strategy, success, successful, the rock church, use, use me, way, will, Word, work

Bringing the Gospel to Romania: Our Mission and Prayer Needs by The Rock Church

As our Romania Mission Team prepares to depart, our hearts are filled with anticipation and faith. With just two days remaining before we board our flight, we’re reaching out to our church family with a heartfelt request.

Will you stand with us in prayer and covering?

We believe that your prayers will make a difference as we go to serve, minister, and share the love of Christ. Here are specific ways you can pray for us:

Posted in Missions, News by The Rock Church
Tags: blog update, Church, europe, europe missions, gospel, mission trip, on mission, Prayer, prayer need, Prayer request, rock mission, Romania, romania team, the rock church, the rock missions, trc, Update

D.A.W.G. by The Rock Church

I acquired a habit in my earlier days as a Christ follower. I made time in my busy schedule for what we lovingly called a D.A.W.G. (Day Alone With God). We can all agree that life can sometimes be overwhelming. Not only do we want to do it all, but we also want our families to do even more than we ever did. Our phones throw data at us like ants marching toward spilled pie and ice cream on a hot summer sidewalk.

As I look back on my early days as a young Christian, I see a wife, three kids, and working overtime as an electrician. In hindsight, I was just learning to zealously serve the Lord. Along with trying to figure out the concept of a balanced life. Much like a skateboarder learning complicated tricks, it was a roadrashy time in my walk with the Lord. I specifically remember one of the many conferences my wife Jeanne and I used to frequent. The speaker introduced me to the idea of a Day Alone With God.  

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: alone time, be still, be still and know that I am God, busy, busyness, conference, consistent, dawg, Day Alone with God, Day away with God, devotion, discipline, encounter, God's voice, habit, hebrews, Hebrews 4:12, jesus, listen, listening, Mac, macinroy, Mark, Mark 6:46, Peace, personal retreat, plan, pray, proverbs, Proversb 3, quiet, quiet time, recovery, Rest, retreat, sabbath, sabbatical, spiritual practice, Steve McInroy, still, the rock church, whisper, yoke, yoked, zealous

Times of Refreshing by The Rock Church

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” — Acts 3:19-20 (NIV)

Peter had just performed a miracle—healing a man who couldn’t walk. The crowd was obviously amazed. But Peter didn’t take the credit. Instead, he pointed people to Jesus. Additionally, he told them to repent and turn to God.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: Acts, Acts 3, addiction, bear fruit, Change, comfort, confess, confession, Crosswhite, Crowhite, fail, flowing, forgiveness, fruit, Grace, growth, healing, help, Hope, how to change, jesus, journey, love, miracle, new, new life, overcome, recovery, refresh, refreshing, relapse, repent, repentance, rhythm, river, safety, sin, steel, Steele, Steele Croswhite, succeed, truth, walk, waterfall

Survival of the Fittest vs. God Provides? by The Rock Church

The other day, I found a dead bird. Consequently, it got me thinking. In 1859, Charles Darwin wrote “On the Origin of Species.” He talked about limited resources and survival of the fittest. Basically, Darwin decided there were limited natural resources, like food or water. On this basis, he theorized that these limited resources led to competition (survival of the fittest) in the natural world.

In one sense, Darwin was right. As Christians, we certainly know that creation is cursed (Romans 8:20-22). This is self-evident in the death and disease we see around us. However, Darwin approached this question of resources from a naturalistic (godless) perspective. In his worldview, there was never a Creator who provided for His creation.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: ask, atheism, bird, Charles Darwin, cry, cry out, Darwin, Darwinism, death, Does God care, feed, food, God cares, Job, Job 38, Josh, Josh Whitney, Luke 12, natural, nature, needs, pray, provide, provision, psalm, psalm 104, psalm 147, rain, ravens, reap, Science, season, Sow, survival, survival of the fittest, survivla, Thankful, the rock church

The Purpose of Life by The Rock Church

“For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?” – Ecclesiastes 6:12 (NIV).

Let’s be honest. Life without purpose can certainly feel empty. I believe that with all my heart. Maybe you’ve felt that weight, too?

Dr. Viktor E. Frankl was a Jewish psychiatrist who survived Nazi concentration camps. He wrote a powerful book called “Man’s Search for Meaning.” In it, he makes two unforgettable statements:

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: Auschwitz, baby, Bill, Bill Young, delight, Dr. Viktor E. Frankl, Ecclesiastes, empty, Eternal, eternity, Fathers, Future, glorify, glory, God the Father, happiness, Jewish, joy, live, mans search for meaning, meaning, meaning of life, parent, Peace, pleasure, Purpose, real, Rock, suicide, the rock church, the why, what am I living for, whats the point, why