Our Faith
Who We Are
Our lives wouldn’t be complete without God. During our worship services, we have a chance to express how much we love Him. Sometimes it looks like exuberant shouting and dancing and at other times it looks like praying quiet whispers of the heart. No matter how different they are, they are all natural overflows when we think about who Christ is and what He’s done for us. We also see these expressions in the history of the Bible.
We pray out loud together just as they did in the book of Acts: "They lifted up their voice to God with one accord." Acts 4:24
We lift our hands in praise because the psalmist writes, "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the Lord." Psalm 134:2
We sing with all our hearts because in Psalm 84, it says, "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth. Make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise." Psalm 98:4
We dance before the Lord because in Psalm 150, we read, "Praise him with the timbrel and dance, praise him with stringed instruments and organs." Psalm 150:4
We testify publicly because it says "I will declare your name to my people, in the assembly I will praise you” in Psalm 22:22.
We anoint with oil for divine healing because it was modeled in the Bible. "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." James 5:14
We allow the operation of the gifts because in 1 Corinthians, Paul says "When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation." 1 Corinthians 14:26
What We Believe
God
There is one God who as the Father, is the ground and source of all things, is manifest to the world in the Son and dwells in men as the Holy Ghost (Deuteronomy 6:4, Genesis 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:16, John 14:17-18).
The Bible
The Bible is the inspired and only infallible and authoritative written Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16, Ephesians 3:5, 2 Peter 3:2).
The Gospel
The gospel, or “good news,” is that Christ has suffered the curse of sin once and for all men, providing deliverance (salvation) to all who receive by faith what He has done (Romans 1:16-17, Acts 2:37).
Salvation
Salvation for mankind is provided only through the efficacious, shed blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 5:12, 26). Salvation is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). When one accepts the message of Christ by faith, they will be “obedient to the faith” (Romans 1:5; Acts 6:7). This “obedience of faith” (Romans 16:26) is what the believer does in appropriating the fullness of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
Christ died – We “die to the old life” through repentance (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Christ was buried – We are buried with Him in water baptism (Romans 6:4).
Christ was resurrected – We are resurrected with Him through the infilling of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:4, Romans 8:11, 1 Corinthians 15:45). The Apostle Peter capsulized this at the birth day of the church (Acts 2:38).
The Name of Jesus
The authority of God is vested in the name of Jesus (Philippians 2:9-10, Matthew 7:22, Mark 16:7, John 14:14, Acts 4:12). All that the believer does “in word or deed” is to be done in Jesus’ name (Colossians 3:17). The name of Jesus becomes our new “family name” (1 Corinthians 1:12-15, Romans 6:4, 2 Corinthians 5:17), replacing the old family name of “Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45-50). The authority of the Godhead is vested in the name of Jesus (Philippians 2:9-10, Matthew 7:22, Mark 16:7, John 14:14)!
The Second Coming of Christ
Jesus Christ will return to the earth to catch the church away (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17), and will, after a short time, return to set up His kingdom on earth (Revelation 19:11-16; Matthew 24:29-31).
Our History
Church on the Rock has a long and exciting history. Our church has been a shining light in our city for over 60 years. Since the church was started in 1947 by Pastor Jesse & Edna Francis, we have seen God move time and time again. We are proud of the history of this church and we love to take the time to honor those who came before and made a way for great things to happen today.
Jesse & Edna Francis (1947-1949) Started church in 1947
Edward & Ruby Williams (1949-1953)
Jimmy & Bobby Shoemake (1961-1962)
L.A. & Lena Mae McVay (1966-1968) Church became United Pentecostal Church
Glenn & Esther Wakefield (1968-1979) Changed the name to New Life Fellowship
Larry & Linda Renison (1979-1984)
Burl & Oma Woodward (1984-1991)
Ken & Lavette Baglin (1991-1995) Changed the name to True Life Church
Ronald & Jeri Green (1995-2024) Name changed to 'Church on the Rock'
Jesse & Gynifer DeAro (2024-Present)